title: Parental vitamin deficiency affects the embryonic gene expression of immune-, lipid transport- and apolipoprotein genes.
abstract: World Health Organization is concerned for parental vitamin deficiency and its effect on offspring health. This study examines the effect of a marginally dietary-induced parental one carbon (1-C) micronutrient deficiency on embryonic gene expression using zebrafish. Metabolic profiling revealed a reduced 1-C cycle efficiency in F0generation. Parental deficiency reduced the fecundity and a total of 364 genes were differentially expressed in the F1embryos. The upregulated genes (53%) in the deficient group were enriched in biological processes such as immune response and blood coagulation. Several genes encoding enzymes essential for the 1-C cycle and for lipid transport (especially apolipoproteins) were aberrantly expressed. We show that a parental diet deficient in micronutrients disturbs the expression in descendant embryos of genes associated with overall health, and result in inherited aberrations in the 1-C cycle and lipid metabolism. This emphasises the importance of parental micronutrient status for the health of the offspring.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, NIFES, Norway.
authors.forename: Kaja H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Skjærven
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars Martin
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jakt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: John Arne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, NIFES, Norway.
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Håvard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aanes
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, NIFES, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamre
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Norway.
authors.forename: Jorge M O
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins