Maternal high-fat diet consumption modulates hepatic lipid metabolism and microRNA-122 (miR-122) and microRNA-370 (miR-370) expression in offspring

Abstract

Maternal consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy and lactation is closely related to hepatic lipid accumulation, insulin resistance and increased serum cytokine levels in offspring and into their adulthood. MicroRNA (miRNA) have been implicated in cholesterol biosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism. We evaluated the modulation of hepatic fatty acid synthesis (de novo), b-oxidation pathways, and miRNA-122 (miR-122) and miRNA-370 (miR-370) expression in recently weaned offspring (day 28) of mouse dams fed a HFD (HFD-O) or a standard chow (SC-O) during pregnancy and lactation. Compared with SC-O mice, HFD-O mice weighed more, had a larger adipose tissue mass and were more intolerant to glucose and insulin (P,0·05). HFD-O mice also presented more levels of serum cholesterol, TAG, NEFA and hepatic IkB kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation compared with SC-O mice (P,0·05). Protein levels of fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase were similar in HFD-O and SC-O mice, whereas expression levels of SCD1 mRNA and protein were more abundant in HFD-O mice than in SC-O mice (P,0·05). Interestingly, mRNA expression levels of the b-oxidation-related genes ACADVL and CPT1 were decreased in HFD-O mice (P,0·05). Furthermore, the expression of miR-122 was reduced but that of miR-370 was increased in HFD-O mice compared with that in SC-O mice (P,0·05). Changes in hepatic lipid metabolism were accompanied by increased mRNA content of AGPAT1 and TAG deposition in HFD-O mice (P,0·05). Taken together, the present results strongly suggest that maternal consumption of a HFD affects the early lipid metabolism of offspring by modulating the expression of hepatic b-oxidation-related genes and miRNA that can contribute to metabolic disturbances in adult life.

Addition of coconut oil to the diet based on maize dried distilled grains with solubles (DDGS) alters miR-122a expression in the pig liver

“…Interestingly, it was previously shown that the level of miR-122a expression depends on nutrition factors. Maternal high fat diet (HFD) alters the level of miR-122a expression in the liver of mouse offspring (Benatti et al, 2014). Lower expression of miR-122a was observed in the offspring of mothers fed HFD when compared with the offspring of mothers fed a standard chow diet during pregnancy and lactation (Benatti et al, 2014).…”

“…Maternal high fat diet (HFD) alters the level of miR-122a expression in the liver of mouse offspring (Benatti et al, 2014). Lower expression of miR-122a was observed in the offspring of mothers fed HFD when compared with the offspring of mothers fed a standard chow diet during pregnancy and lactation (Benatti et al, 2014). Furthermore, miR-122a was down-regulated in the adipose tissue of mice after a long-term HFD feeding (Chartoumpekis et al, 2012).…”

Maternal Nutrition and Metabolic Disorder-Related Mirnas in the Offspring

“…Additionally, the authors associated these results with decreased levels of hepatic miR-122 and increased levels of hepatic miR-370 in the offspring [10].…”

“…Complementarily, study performed by Benatti et al [10] showed that the early exposition to maternal high-fat diets during pregnancy and lactation acts harmfully in the body weight, fat depots, food intake, glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, lipid metabolism and hepatic inflammation (changes in the JNK and Toll-like receptor 4 pathways) of mice pups with 28-day-old. Additionally, the authors associated these results with decreased levels of hepatic miR-122 and increased levels of hepatic miR-370 in the offspring [10].…”

The Impact of Traditional Food and Lifestyle Behavior on Epigenetic Burden of Chronic Disease

“…Global hypomethylation of germ cell DNA in F0 mice Altered testes mRNA (414 genes involved in nitric oxide and ROS pathways, Sertoli cell junction signaling, EIF2 signaling, NF-κβ signaling and inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism), and sperm and testes microRNA (11 microRNAs mostly involved in metabolic disease, cell death, production of ROS, DNA replication, NF-κB signaling, p53 signaling, recombination and repair, lipid metabolism, spermatogenesis, and embryonic development) expression Mice High fat diet during pregnancy and lactation [143,170,173,175,180,186,192,195,196,198,200] Increased body weight, body fat content, inflammatory markers and serum insulin and leptin concentrations [181] Increased body weight in female mice in F1 and F2 generations (most severe in F2)…”