Title:Epigenetic Programming of Adipose Tissue in the Progeny of Obese Dams
Volume: 20
Issue: 6
Author(s): Simon Lecoutre, Kelvin H.M. Kwok, Paul Petrus, Mélanie Lambert and Christophe Breton*
Affiliation:
- University of Lille, EA4489, Equipe Malnutrition Maternelle et Programmation des Maladies Metaboliques, F-59000 Lille,France
Keywords:
Perinatal period, maternal obesity, developmental origin of health and disease, epigenome, gene expression, fat
expansion.
Abstract: According to the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept, maternal
obesity and the resulting accelerated growth in neonates predispose offspring to obesity and associated
metabolic diseases that may persist across generations. In this context, the adipose tissue has emerged
as an important player due to its involvement in metabolic health, and its high potential for plasticity
and adaptation to environmental cues. Recent years have seen a growing interest in how maternal obesity
induces long-lasting adipose tissue remodeling in offspring and how these modifications could be
transmitted to subsequent generations in an inter- or transgenerational manner. In particular, epigenetic
mechanisms are thought to be key players in the developmental programming of adipose tissue,
which may partially mediate parts of the transgenerational inheritance of obesity. This review presents
data supporting the role of maternal obesity in the developmental programming of adipose tissue
through epigenetic mechanisms. Inter- and transgenerational effects on adipose tissue expansion are
also discussed in this review.