Fine-tuning evolution: germ-line epigenetics and inheritance

Stringer, Jessica M; Barrand, Sanna; Western, Patrick

doi:10.1530/rep-12-0526

Cited by 52 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 123 publications

(187 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This embryonic phase consists of two major epigenetic remodelling events: the first occurs immediately after fertilization; and the second induces the reestablishment of totipotency in primordial germ cells. These cells are the precursors of all offspring gametes, which is one of the reasons why periconceptional processes have implications for more than one generation 73 .…”

Section: Periconceptional Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescence and the next generation

Patton

Olsson

Skirbekk

et al. 2018

Nature

290

228

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Adolescent growth and social development shape the early development of offspring from preconception through to the post-partum period through distinct processes in males and females. At a time of great change in the forces shaping adolescence, including the timing of parenthood, investments in today’s adolescents, the largest cohort in human history, will yield great dividends for future generations.

show abstract

Section: Periconceptional Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescence and the next generation

Patton

Olsson

Skirbekk

et al. 2018

Nature

290

228

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition, it is important to note that the observed mRNA and miRNA changes in the patient fibroblasts are most likely driven by genetic susceptibility to the disease, rather than effects of the environment and lifestyle: most of the epigenetic changes, environmental influences and drug effects are likely to disappear over time, as the fibroblasts continuously divide in the culture (25, 26). However, our experiments cannot exclude the possibility that some of the extremely stable, cell-division-resistant epigenetic factors might also contribute to the observed changes (47, 48). In summary, the molecular changes observed in cultured fibroblasts of MDD patients can provide us clues about lifestyle- and medication-independent, conserved disturbances in MDD across the various tissue types.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Coordinated Messenger RNA/MicroRNA Changes in Fibroblasts of Patients with Major Depression

Garbett

Vereczkei

Kálmán

et al. 2015

Biological Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Peripheral biomarkers for major psychiatric disorders have been an elusive target for the last half a century. Dermal fibroblasts are a simple, relevant, and much underutilized model for studying molecular processes of patients with affective disorders as they share considerable similarity of signal transduction with neuronal tissue. Methods Cultured dermal fibroblast samples from patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and matched controls (CNTR) (n=16 pairs, 32 samples) were assayed for genome wide mRNA expression using microarrays. In addition, a simultaneous qPCR-based assessment of >1,000 miRNA species was performed. Finally, to test the relationship between the mRNA-miRNA expression changes, the two datasets were correlated with each other. Results Our data revealed that MDD fibroblasts, when compared to matched controls, showed a strong mRNA gene expression pattern change in multiple molecular pathways, including cell-to-cell communication, innate/adaptive immunity and cell proliferation. Furthermore, the same patient fibroblasts showed altered expression of a distinct panel of 38 miRNAs, which putatively targeted many of the differentially expressed mRNAs. The miRNA-mRNA expression changes appeared to be functionally connected, as the majority of the miRNA and mRNA changes were in the opposite direction. Conclusions Our data suggest that a combined miRNA-mRNA assessments are informative about the disease process, and that analyses of dermal fibroblasts might lead to the discovery of promising peripheral biomarkers of MDD, which could be potentially used to aid the diagnosis and allow mechanistic testing of disturbed molecular pathways.

show abstract

“…However, the regulatory activities underlying these marks vary among loci. To regulate imprinting, parental-specific epigenetic modifications must be established in the germline, maintained throughout development and then erased before they are re-established in the host germline (reviewed in Saitou and Yamaji, 2010;Hackett et al, 2012;Saitou et al, 2012;Stringer et al, 2013). In eutherians, the majority of epigenetic reprogramming occurs in utero, with some de novo methylation occurring postpartum in the oocytes (Seisenberger et al, 2012;Tomizawa et al, 2012).…”

Section: Differential Methylation As a Conserved Mechanism Of Imprintmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-natal imprinting: evidence from marsupials

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Genomic imprinting has been identified in therian (eutherian and marsupial) mammals but not in prototherian (monotreme) mammals. Imprinting has an important role in optimising pre-natal nutrition and growth, and most imprinted genes are expressed and imprinted in the placenta and developing fetus. In marsupials, however, the placental attachment is short-lived, and most growth and development occurs post-natally, supported by a changing milk composition tailor-made for each stage of development. Therefore there is a much greater demand on marsupial females during post-natal lactation than during pre-natal placentation, so there may be greater selection for genomic imprinting in the mammary gland than in the short-lived placenta. Recent studies in the tammar wallaby confirm the presence of genomic imprinting in nutrient-regulatory genes in the adult mammary gland. This suggests that imprinting may influence infant post-natal growth via the mammary gland as it does pre-natally via the placenta. Similarly, an increasing number of imprinted genes have been implicated in regulating feeding and nurturing behaviour in both the adult and the developing neonate/offspring in mice. Together these studies provide evidence that genomic imprinting is critical for regulating growth and subsequently the survival of offspring not only pre-natally but also post-natally.

show abstract

Fine-tuning evolution: germ-line epigenetics and inheritance

Cited by 52 publications

References 123 publications

Adolescence and the next generation

Adolescence and the next generation

Coordinated Messenger RNA/MicroRNA Changes in Fibroblasts of Patients with Major Depression

Post-natal imprinting: evidence from marsupials

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About