Transgenerational Inheritance of Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Alterations during Mammalian Development
- PMID: 31816913
- PMCID: PMC6953051
- DOI: 10.3390/cells8121559
Transgenerational Inheritance of Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Alterations during Mammalian Development
Abstract
Genetic studies traditionally focus on DNA as the molecule that passes information on from parents to their offspring. Changes in the DNA code alter heritable information and can more or less severely affect the progeny's phenotype. While the idea that information can be inherited between generations independently of the DNA's nucleotide sequence is not new, the outcome of recent studies provides a mechanistic foundation for the concept. In this review, we attempt to summarize our current knowledge about the transgenerational inheritance of environmentally induced epigenetic changes. We focus primarily on studies using mice but refer to other species to illustrate salient points. Some studies support the notion that there is a somatic component within the phenomenon of epigenetic inheritance. However, here, we will mostly focus on gamete-based processes and the primary molecular mechanisms that are thought to contribute to epigenetic inheritance: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. Most of the rodent studies published in the literature suggest that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance through gametes can be modulated by environmental factors. Modification and redistribution of chromatin proteins in gametes is one of the major routes for transmitting epigenetic information from parents to the offspring. Our recent studies provide additional specific cues for this concept and help better understand environmental exposure influences fitness and fidelity in the germline. In summary, environmental cues can induce parental alterations and affect the phenotypes of offspring through gametic epigenetic inheritance. Consequently, epigenetic factors and their heritability should be considered during disease risk assessment.
Keywords: environmental factors; epigenetics; genome reprograming; histone modifications; transgenerational inheritance.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Transgenerational inheritance: how impacts to the epigenetic and genetic information of parents affect offspring health.Hum Reprod Update. 2019 Sep 11;25(5):518-540. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmz017. Hum Reprod Update. 2019. PMID: 31374565
-
Environmental epigenetic inheritance through gametes and implications for human reproduction.Hum Reprod Update. 2015 Mar-Apr;21(2):194-208. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmu061. Epub 2014 Nov 21. Hum Reprod Update. 2015. PMID: 25416302 Review.
-
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in mammals: how good is the evidence?FASEB J. 2016 Jul;30(7):2457-65. doi: 10.1096/fj.201500083. Epub 2016 Apr 1. FASEB J. 2016. PMID: 27037350 Review.
-
A hypothesis: Retrotransposons as a relay of epigenetic marks in intergenerational epigenetic inheritance.Gene. 2022 Apr 5;817:146229. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146229. Epub 2022 Jan 19. Gene. 2022. PMID: 35063571 Review.
-
Elusive inheritance: Transgenerational effects and epigenetic inheritance in human environmental disease.Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2015 Jul;118(1-2):44-54. doi: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.02.011. Epub 2015 Mar 16. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2015. PMID: 25792089 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Comparative transcriptome and methylome of polar bears, giant and red pandas reveal diet-driven adaptive evolution.Evol Appl. 2024 Jun 17;17(6):e13731. doi: 10.1111/eva.13731. eCollection 2024 Jun. Evol Appl. 2024. PMID: 38894980 Free PMC article.
-
Sex-specific transgenerational effects on murine thyroid gland imposed by ancestral exposure to neonicotinoid thiacloprid.Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 6;14(1):13047. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63986-w. Sci Rep. 2024. PMID: 38844538 Free PMC article.
-
In-Depth Genomic Analysis: The New Challenge in Congenital Heart Disease.Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 1;25(3):1734. doi: 10.3390/ijms25031734. Int J Mol Sci. 2024. PMID: 38339013 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Influence of Maternal BLV Infection on miRNA and tRF Expression in Calves.Pathogens. 2023 Nov 3;12(11):1312. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12111312. Pathogens. 2023. PMID: 38003777 Free PMC article.
-
Epigenetics, cryptorchidism, and infertility.Basic Clin Androl. 2023 Sep 21;33(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12610-023-00199-7. Basic Clin Androl. 2023. PMID: 37730534 Free PMC article.
References
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources