title: Maternal epigenetics and fetal and neonatal growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The article provides an update on new insights of factors altering inherited maternal epigenome that ultimately affect fetal and neonatal growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of new publications have identified mechanisms through which maternal nutrition, environmental exposures such as stress and toxic substances altering expression of imprinted genes during pregnancy can influence fetal and neonatal phenotype and susceptibility to disease development later in life. The possible causes of metabolic syndrome by in-utero epigenetic alterations of genes involved in energy metabolism (PPARγ and PPARα), microRNAs, arginine methyltransferases, lysine demethylases, and histone deacetylaces have been elucidated. Moreover associations between methylation of key genes (NRC31, HSD11β1/2, GFI1) involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been identified. Alcohol exposure during pregnancy was found to alter methylation patterns of several imprinted genes (H19, SLC22A18, SLC6A3, DRD4). Finally alterations in vulnerable epigenetic marks of imprinted genes such as H19/IGF2, during early stages of embryonic development result in intrauterine growth restriction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All these investigations continue to provide new insights for improved clinical management of in-utero development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitsiou-Tzeli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzetis
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D004777:Environment; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D006657:Histones