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Maternal Protein and Folate Intake Affects Gene Expression and DNA Methylation in Rat Placenta
Author(s) -
Strakovsky Rita,
Pan YuanXiang
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.2_supplement.727
Subject(s) - dna methylation , offspring , genomic imprinting , placenta , methylation , biology , epigenetics , andrology , gene expression , gene , differentially methylated regions , pregnancy , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , genetics , fetus , medicine
Studies have shown that nutrient restriction during pregnancy leads to poor intrauterine development of offspring and an increased risk of developing adult diseases. Our study examined the effects of protein and folate intake on the rat placenta gene expression and DNA methylation status. Timed‐pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed 1 of 4 diets varying in protein and folate concentration until delivery. Placenta was collected after spontaneous delivery, followed by qRT‐PCR analysis of IGF2, PEG3, MEST, GRB10, SLC38a4, CDKN1C, ATF3, ATF4, and Methylation Sensitive PCR (MSP) analysis of one of the Differential Methylation Regions (DMR) of IGF2 as well as the Imprinting Control Region (ICR) of H19. IGF2 mRNA decreased significantly from the control to low protein diet, but increased significantly when supplemented with folate. Our analysis of other genes of interest showed a trend of change among diets. MSP analysis of one of IGF2's DMRs showed significant methylation change with folate supplementation. Additionally, MSP analysis on H19 ICR showed a similar pattern but without statistical significance. The results of this study suggest that mRNA expression and DNA methylation of genes responsible for placental development are affected by maternal nutrition, which lays the foundation for future studies of developmental programming and late‐onset diseases.