title: Prenatal famine exposure, health in later life and promoter methylation of four candidate genes.
abstract: Poor nutrition during fetal development can permanently alter growth, cardiovascular physiology and metabolic function. Animal studies have shown that prenatal undernutrition followed by balanced postnatal nutrition alters deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation of gene promoter regions of candidate metabolic control genes in the liver. The aim of this study was to investigate whether methylation status of the proximal promoter regions of four candidate genes differed between individuals exposed to the Dutch famine in utero. In addition, we determined whether methylation status of these genes was associated with markers of metabolic and cardiovascular disease and adult lifestyle. Methylation status of the GR1-C (glucocorticoid receptor), PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), lipoprotein lipase and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase p85 proximal promoters was investigated in DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples of 759 58-year-old subjects born around the time of the 1944-45 Dutch famine. We observed no differences in methylation levels of the promoters between exposed and unexposed men and women. Methylation status of PPARγ was associated with levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides as well as with exercise and smoking. Hypomethylation of the GR promoter was associated with adverse adult lifestyle factors, including higher body mass index, less exercise and more smoking. The previously reported increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease after prenatal famine exposure was not associated with differences in methylation status across the promoter regions of these candidate genes measured in peripheral blood. The adult environment seems to affect GR and PPARγ promoter methylation.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Veenendaal
authors.affiliation: 2 Academic Unit of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.affiliation: 3Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lillycrop
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: de Rooij
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van der Post
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bossuyt
authors.affiliation: 2 Academic Unit of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Roseboom
mesh_terms: D058543:Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics*; D013217:Starvation
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D058543:Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase