Open AccessObesity and the reproductive system disorders: epigenetics as a potential bridge
Author(s) -
Ana B. Crujeiras,
Felipe F. Casanueva
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
human reproduction update
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.977
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1362-4946
pISSN - 1355-4786
DOI - 10.1093/humupd/dmu060
Subject(s) - obesity , epigenetics , infertility , reproductive system , mechanism (biology) , overweight , bioinformatics , biology , adipose tissue , medicine , physiology , endocrinology , pregnancy , genetics , philosophy , epistemology , gene
Obesity and overweight are significantly involved in several reproductive pathologies contributing to infertility in men and women. In addition, several cancers of the reproductive system, such as endometrial, ovarian, breast, testicular and prostate cancers, are strongly influenced by obesity. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the association between obesity and reproductive disorders remain unclear. Our proposal is to review the current scientific evidence regarding the effect of obesity-related factors as the core of the collective mechanisms directly and indirectly involved in the relationship between obesity and reproductive disorders, with a special and original focus on the effect of the obesity state microenvironment on the epigenetic profile as a reversible mechanistic link between obesity and the reproductive disorders.