Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Maternal and Child Health Journal 4/2024

26.02.2024 | Review Paper

Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Network Medicine Perspective

verfasst von: Giuditta Benincasa, Claudio Napoli, Dawn L. DeMeo

Erschienen in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Ausgabe 4/2024

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Introduction

The ability to identify early epigenetic signatures underlying the inheritance of cardiovascular risk, including trans- and intergenerational effects, may help to stratify people before cardiac symptoms occur.

Methods

Prospective and retrospective cohorts and case–control studies focusing on DNA methylation and maternal/paternal effects were searched in Pubmed from 1997 to 2023 by using the following keywords: DNA methylation, genomic imprinting, and network analysis in combination with transgenerational/intergenerational effects.

Results

Maternal and paternal exposures to traditional cardiovascular risk factors during critical temporal windows, including the preconceptional period or early pregnancy, may perturb the plasticity of the epigenome (mainly DNA methylation) of the developing fetus especially at imprinted loci, such as the insulin-like growth factor type 2 (IGF2) gene. Thus, the epigenome is akin to a “molecular archive” able to memorize parental environmental insults and predispose an individual to cardiovascular diseases onset in later life. Direct evidence for human transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (at least three generations) of cardiovascular risk is lacking but it is supported by epidemiological studies. Several blood-based association studies showed potential intergenerational epigenetic effects (single-generation studies) which may mediate the transmittance of cardiovascular risk from parents to offspring.

Discussion

In this narrative review, we discuss some relevant examples of trans- and intergenerational epigenetic associations with cardiovascular risk. In our perspective, we propose three network-oriented approaches which may help to clarify the unsolved issues regarding transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of cardiovascular risk and provide potential early biomarkers for primary prevention.
Anhänge
Nur mit Berechtigung zugänglich
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Benincasa, G., Maron, B. A., Affinito, O., D’Alto, M., Franzese, M., Argiento, P., et al. (2023). Association between circulating CD4+ T cell methylation signatures of network-oriented SOCS3 gene and hemodynamics in patients suffering pulmonary arterial hypertension. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 16, 17–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-022-10294-1CrossRefPubMed Benincasa, G., Maron, B. A., Affinito, O., D’Alto, M., Franzese, M., Argiento, P., et al. (2023). Association between circulating CD4+ T cell methylation signatures of network-oriented SOCS3 gene and hemodynamics in patients suffering pulmonary arterial hypertension. Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, 16, 17–30. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s12265-022-10294-1CrossRefPubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Chatterton, Z., Hartley, B. J., Seok, M. H., Mendelev, N., Chen, S., Milekic, M., et al. (2017). In utero exposure to maternal smoking is associated with DNA methylation alterations and reduced neuronal content in the developing fetal brain. Epigenetics & Chromatin, 10, 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13072-017-0111-yCrossRef Chatterton, Z., Hartley, B. J., Seok, M. H., Mendelev, N., Chen, S., Milekic, M., et al. (2017). In utero exposure to maternal smoking is associated with DNA methylation alterations and reduced neuronal content in the developing fetal brain. Epigenetics & Chromatin, 10, 4. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​s13072-017-0111-yCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Gonzalez-Rodriguez, P., Cantu, J., O’Neil, D., Seferovic, M. D., Goodspeed, D. M., Suter, M. A., et al. (2016). Alterations in expression of imprinted genes from the H19/IGF2 loci in a multigenerational model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 214, 625.e1-625.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2016.01.194CrossRefPubMed Gonzalez-Rodriguez, P., Cantu, J., O’Neil, D., Seferovic, M. D., Goodspeed, D. M., Suter, M. A., et al. (2016). Alterations in expression of imprinted genes from the H19/IGF2 loci in a multigenerational model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 214, 625.e1-625.e11. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​ajog.​2016.​01.​194CrossRefPubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Guay, S. P., Houde, A. A., Breton, E., Baillargeon, J. P., Perron, P., Gaudet, D., et al. (2020). DNA methylation at LRP1 gene locus mediates the association between maternal total cholesterol changes in pregnancy and cord blood leptin levels. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 11, 369–378. https://doi.org/10.1017/S204017441900076XCrossRefPubMed Guay, S. P., Houde, A. A., Breton, E., Baillargeon, J. P., Perron, P., Gaudet, D., et al. (2020). DNA methylation at LRP1 gene locus mediates the association between maternal total cholesterol changes in pregnancy and cord blood leptin levels. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 11, 369–378. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1017/​S204017441900076​XCrossRefPubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Napoli, C., D’Armiento, F. P., Mancini, F. P., Postiglione, A., Witztum, J. L., Palumbo, G., et al. (1997). Fatty streak formation occurs in human fetal aortas and is greatly enhanced by maternal hypercholesterolemia. Intimal accumulation of low density lipoprotein and its oxidation precede monocyte recruitment into early atherosclerotic lesions. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 100, 2680–2690. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI119813CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Napoli, C., D’Armiento, F. P., Mancini, F. P., Postiglione, A., Witztum, J. L., Palumbo, G., et al. (1997). Fatty streak formation occurs in human fetal aortas and is greatly enhanced by maternal hypercholesterolemia. Intimal accumulation of low density lipoprotein and its oxidation precede monocyte recruitment into early atherosclerotic lesions. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 100, 2680–2690. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1172/​JCI119813CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Zurück zum Zitat Ouidir, M., Zeng, X., Workalemahu, T., Shrestha, D., Grantz, K. L., Mendola, P., et al. (2020). Early pregnancy dyslipidemia is associated with placental DNA methylation at loci relevant for cardiometabolic diseases. Epigenomics, 2020, 921–934. https://doi.org/10.2217/epi-2019-0293CrossRef Ouidir, M., Zeng, X., Workalemahu, T., Shrestha, D., Grantz, K. L., Mendola, P., et al. (2020). Early pregnancy dyslipidemia is associated with placental DNA methylation at loci relevant for cardiometabolic diseases. Epigenomics, 2020, 921–934. https://​doi.​org/​10.​2217/​epi-2019-0293CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Richmond, R. C., Simpkin, A. J., Woodward, G., Gaunt, T. R., Lyttleton, O., McArdle, W. L., et al. (2015). Prenatal exposure to maternal smoking and offspring DNA methylation across the life course: Findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Human Molecular Genetics, 24, 2201–2217. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddu739CrossRefPubMed Richmond, R. C., Simpkin, A. J., Woodward, G., Gaunt, T. R., Lyttleton, O., McArdle, W. L., et al. (2015). Prenatal exposure to maternal smoking and offspring DNA methylation across the life course: Findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Human Molecular Genetics, 24, 2201–2217. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1093/​hmg/​ddu739CrossRefPubMed
Metadaten
Titel
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Network Medicine Perspective
verfasst von
Giuditta Benincasa
Claudio Napoli
Dawn L. DeMeo
Publikationsdatum
26.02.2024
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Maternal and Child Health Journal / Ausgabe 4/2024
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-023-03886-z

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 4/2024

Maternal and Child Health Journal 4/2024 Zur Ausgabe