Maternal diabetes mellitus and the origin of non-communicable diseases in offspring: the role of epigenetics.
Offspring of diabetic mothers are susceptible to the onset of metabolic syndromes, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity at adulthood, and this trend can be inherited between generations. Genetics cannot fully explain how the noncommunicable disease in offspring of diabetic mothers is caused and inherited by the next generations. Many studies have confirmed that epigenetics may be crucial for the detrimental effects on offspring exposed to the hyperglycemic environment. Although the adverse effects on epigenetics in offspring of diabetic mothers may be the result of the poor intrauterine environment, epigenetic modifications in oocytes of diabetic mothers are also affected. Therefore, the present review is focused on the epigenetic alterations in oocytes and embryos of diabetic mothers. Furthermore, we also discuss initial mechanistic insight on maternal diabetes mellitus causing alterations of epigenetic modifications.
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Reproductive Medicine Center, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R. China Reproductive Medicine Center, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R. China.
Zhao-Jia
ZJ
Ge
Reproductive Medicine Center, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R. China Reproductive Medicine Center, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P.R. China.
Cui-Lian
CL
Zhang
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
Heide
H
Schatten
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China sunqy@ioz.ac.cn.
Qing-Yuan
QY
Sun
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology
embryo; epigenetics; maternal diabetes; offspring; oocyte