Enhanced Steatosis and Fibrosis in Liver of Adult Offspring Exposed to Maternal High-Fat Diet.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Thompson MD
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5611859 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundMaternal high fat diet (HFD) promotes chronic kidney disease (CKD) in offspring. This is in accordance with the theory of fetal programming, which suggests adverse conditions occurring in utero predispose offspring to chronic conditions later in life. DNA methylation has been proposed as a key mechanism by which fetal programming occurs and is implicated in CKD progression. DNA demethylating drugs may interrupt the fetal programming of CKD by maternal obesity. Hydralazine, an antihypertensive agent, demethylates DNA at low doses which do not reduce blood pressure. We used a mouse model of maternal obesity to determine whether gestational administration of low-dose hydralazine to mothers can prevent CKD in offspring.MethodsC57BL/6 dams received HFD or chow from 6 weeks prior to mating and were administered subcutaneous hydralazine (5mg/kg) or saline thrice weekly during gestation. Male offspring were weaned to chow and were sacrificed at either postnatal week 9 or week 32. Biometric and metabolic parameters, renal global DNA methylation, renal structural and functional changes and markers of fibrosis, oxidative stress and inflammation were measured in offspring at weeks 9 and 32.ResultsIn week 9 offspring, maternal HFD consumption did not significantly alter anthropometric or metabolic parameters, or renal global DNA methylation. Week 32 offspring had increased renal global DNA methylation, together with albuminuria, glomerulosclerosis, renal fibrosis and oxidative stress. Administration of low-dose hydralazine to obese mothers during gestation reduced renal global DNA methylation and renal fibrotic markers in week 32 offspring.ConclusionGestational hydralazine reduced renal global DNA methylation in offspring of obese mothers and attenuated maternal obesity-induced renal fibrosis. These data support the use of low-dose hydralazine as a demethylating agent to prevent CKD arising in offspring due to maternal HFD consumption.
| S-EPMC7971884 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Maternal high-fat (HF) diet exposure in utero may affect fetal development and cause metabolic problems throughout life due to lipid dysmetabolism and oxidative damage. Metformin has been suggested as a potential treatment for body weight reduction and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but its reprogramming effect on offspring is undetermined. This study assesses the effects of maternal metformin treatment on hepatic steatosis in offspring caused by maternal HF diet. Female rats were fed either a control or an HF diet before conception, with or without metformin treatment during gestation, and placenta and fetal liver tissues were collected. In another experiment, the offspring were fed a control diet until 120 d (adult stage). Metformin treatment during pregnancy ameliorates placental oxidative stress and enhances placental glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), GLUT3, and GLUT4 expression levels through 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Maternal metformin treatment was shown to reprogram maternal HF diet-induced changes in offspring fatty liver with the effects observed in adulthood as well. Further validation is required to develop maternal metformin therapy for clinical applications.
| S-EPMC9694630 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The contributions of maternal diet and obesity in shaping offspring microbiome remain unclear. Here we employed a mouse model of maternal diet-induced obesity via high-fat diet feeding (HFD, 45% fat calories) for 12 wk prior to conception on offspring gut microbial ecology. Male and female offspring were provided access to control or HFD from weaning until 17 wk of age. Maternal HFD-associated programming was sexually dimorphic, with male offspring from HFD dams showing hyper-responsive weight gain to postnatal HFD. Likewise, microbiome analysis of offspring cecal contents showed differences in α-diversity, β-diversity and higher Firmicutes in male compared to female mice. Weight gain in offspring was significantly associated with abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Clostridiaceae families and Adlercreutzia, Coprococcus and Lactococcus genera. Sex differences in metagenomic pathways relating to lipid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis and immune response were also observed. HFD-fed male offspring from HFD dams also showed worse hepatic pathology, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, altered expression of bile acid regulators (Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1 and Cyp39a1) and serum bile acid concentrations. These findings suggest that maternal HFD alters gut microbiota composition and weight gain of offspring in a sexually dimorphic manner, coincident with fatty liver and a pro-inflammatory state in male offspring.
| S-EPMC6220325 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Maternal environmental exposures, such as high-fat diets, diabetes and obesity, can induce long-term effects in offspring. These effects include increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression and anxiety. The mechanisms underlying these late-life neurologic effects are unknown. In this article, we measured changes in the offspring brain and determined which brain regions are sensitive to maternal metabolic milieu and therefore may mediate NDD risk. We showed that mice exposed to a maternal high-fat diet display extensive brain changes in adulthood despite being switched to a low-fat diet at weaning. Brain regions impacted by early-life diet include the extended amygdalar system, which plays an important role in reward-seeking behaviour. Genes preferentially expressed in these regions have functions related to feeding behaviour, while also being implicated in human NDDs, such as autism. Our data demonstrated that exposure to maternal high-fat diet in early-life leads to brain alterations that persist into adulthood, even after dietary modifications.
| S-EPMC7925669 | biostudies-literature
Project description:A maternal high-fat (HF) diet during pregnancy can lead to metabolic compromise, such as insulin resistance in adult offspring. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction is one mechanism contributing to metabolic impairments in insulin resistant states. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether mitochondrial dysfunction is evident in metabolically compromised offspring born to HF-fed dams. Sprague-Dawley dams were randomly assigned to receive a purified control diet (CD; 10% kcal from fat) or a high fat diet (HFD; 45% kcal from fat) for 10 days prior to mating, throughout pregnancy and during lactation. From weaning, all male offspring received a standard chow diet and soleus muscle was collected at day 150. Expression of the mitochondrial transcription factors nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) were downregulated in HF offspring. Furthermore, genes encoding the mitochondrial electron transport system (ETS) respiratory complex subunits were suppressed in HF offspring. Moreover, protein expression of the complex I subunit, NDUFB8, was downregulated in HF offspring (36%), which was paralleled by decreased maximal catalytic linked activity of complex I and III (40%). Together, these results indicate that exposure to a maternal HF diet during development may elicit lifelong mitochondrial alterations in offspring skeletal muscle.
| S-EPMC5114294 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCombined maternal and postnatal high-fat (HF) diet intake predisposes offspring to metabolic dysregulation during adulthood. As the inhibitory effects of leucine consumption on obesity and metabolic disorders have been reported, the effects of maternal leucine supplementation on metabolic dysregulation in adult offspring were investigated.MethodsFemale mice were exposed to a control (C) or HF diet, with or without leucine (L) supplementation (1.5%, w/v), 3 weeks before mating, during pregnancy, and during lactation (C, CL, HF, and HFL). Male offspring were exposed to an HF diet for 12 weeks after weaning (C/HF, CL/HF, HF/HF, and HFL/HF). Serum biochemical parameters were determined for both the dams and offspring. Oral glucose tolerance test and qRT-PCR analysis were used to investigate metabolic dysregulation in the offspring.ResultsHFL dams exhibited higher relative adipose tissue weights than HF dams. Body weight, relative adipose tissue weight, and serum glucose levels were lower in the HFL/HF offspring than in the HF/HF offspring. Maternal leucine supplementation tended to alleviate glucose intolerance in the offspring of HF diet-fed dams. Additionally, mRNA levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a hepatokine associated with glucose homeostasis, were higher in HFL/HF offspring than in HF/HF offspring and were negatively correlated with adiposity and serum glucose levels. The mRNA levels of genes encoding a FGF21 receptor complex, Fgf receptor 1 and klotho β, and its downstream targets, proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator 1α and sirtuin 1, were higher in adipose tissues of the HFL/HF offspring than in those of the HF/HF offspring. Serum lipid peroxide levels were lower in HFL dams than in HF dams and positively correlated with body and adipose tissue weights of offspring.ConclusionsLeucine supplementation in HF diet-fed dams, but not in control diet-fed dams, resulted in an anti-obesity phenotype accompanied by glucose homeostasis in male offspring challenged with postnatal HF feeding. Activation of FGF21 signaling in the adipose tissue of offspring may be responsible for these beneficial effects of leucine.
| S-EPMC10105473 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Adipose tissue dysfunction is closely associated with the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent studies have implied an important role of prohibitin-1 (PHB1) in adipose tissue function. In the current study, we aimed to explore the function of adipocyte PHB1 in the development and progression of NAFLD. The PHB1 protein levels in adipose tissues were markedly decreased in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) compared to those fed a chow diet. To explore the function of adipocyte PHB1 in the progression of NAFLD, mice with adipocyte-specific (adipo) deletion of Phb1 (Phb1adipo-/- mice) were generated. Notably, Phb1adipo-/- mice did not develop obesity but displayed severe liver steatosis under HFD feeding. Compared to HFD-fed wild-type (WT) mice, HFD-fed Phb1adipo-/- mice displayed dramatically lower fat mass with significantly decreased levels of total adipose tissue inflammation, including macrophage and neutrophil number as well as the expression of inflammatory mediators. To our surprise, although liver steatosis in Phb1adipo-/- mice was much more severe, liver inflammation and fibrosis were similar to WT mice after HFD feeding. RNA sequencing analyses revealed that the interferon pathway was markedly suppressed while the bone morphogenetic protein 2 pathway was significantly up-regulated in the liver of HFD-fed Phb1adipo-/- mice compared with HFD-fed WT mice. Conclusion: HFD-fed Phb1adipo-/- mice display a subtype of the lean NAFLD phenotype with severe hepatic steatosis despite low adipose mass. This subtype of the lean NAFLD phenotype has similar inflammation and fibrosis as obese NAFLD in HFD-fed WT mice; this is partially due to reduced total adipose tissue inflammation and the hepatic interferon pathway.
| S-EPMC9701483 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important co-morbidity associated with obesity and a precursor to steatohepatitis. However, the contributions of gestational and early life influences on development of NAFLD and NASH remain poorly appreciated.MethodsTwo independent studies were performed to examine whether maternal over-nutrition via exposure to high fat diet (HFD) leads to exacerbated hepatic responses to post-natal HFD and methionine choline deficient (MCD) diets in the offspring. Offspring of both control diet- and HFD-fed dams were weaned onto control and HFD, creating four groups.ResultsWhen compared to their control diet-fed littermates, offspring of HF-dams weaned onto HFD gained greater body weight; had increased relative liver weight and showed hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Similarly, this group revealed significantly greater immune response and pro-fibrogenic gene expression via RNA-seq. In parallel, 7-8 week old offspring were challenged with either control or MCD diets for 3 weeks. Responses to MCD diets were also exacerbated due to maternal HFD as seen by gene expression of classical pro-fibrogenic genes. Quantitative genome-scale DNA methylation analysis of over 1 million CpGs showed persistent epigenetic changes in key genes in tissue development and metabolism (Fgf21, Ppargc1?) with maternal HFD and in cell adhesion and communication (VWF, Ephb2) in the combination of maternal HFD and offspring MCD diets. Maternal HFD also influenced gut microbiome profiles in offspring leading to a decrease in ?-diversity. Linear regression analysis revealed association between serum ALT levels and Coprococcus, Coriobacteriacae, Helicobacterioceae and Allobaculum.ConclusionOur findings indicate that maternal HFD detrimentally alters epigenetic and gut microbiome pathways to favor development of fatty liver disease and its progressive sequelae.
| S-EPMC5393586 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Maternal nutrition is critical for proper fetal development. While increased nutrient intake is essential during pregnancy, an excessive consumption of certain nutrients, like fat, can lead to long-lasting detrimental consequences on the offspring. Animal work investigating the consequences of maternal high-fat diet (mHFD) revealed in the offspring a maternal immune activation (MIA) phenotype associated with increased inflammatory signals. This inflammation was proposed as one of the mechanisms causing neuronal circuit dysfunction, notably in the hippocampus, by altering the brain-resident macrophages-microglia. However, the understanding of mechanisms linking inflammation and microglial activities to pathological brain development remains limited. We hypothesized that mHFD-induced inflammation could prime microglia by altering their specific gene expression signature, population density, and/or functions. METHODS:We used an integrative approach combining molecular (i.e., multiplex-ELISA, rt-qPCR) and cellular (i.e., histochemistry, electron microscopy) techniques to investigate the effects of mHFD (saturated and unsaturated fats) vs control diet on inflammatory priming, as well as microglial transcriptomic signature, density, distribution, morphology, and ultrastructure in mice. These analyses were performed on the mothers and/or their adolescent offspring at postnatal day 30. RESULTS:Our study revealed that mHFD results in MIA defined by increased circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in the mothers. This phenotype was associated with an exacerbated inflammatory response to peripheral lipopolysaccharide in mHFD-exposed offspring of both sexes. Microglial morphology was also altered, and there were increased microglial interactions with astrocytes in the hippocampus CA1 of mHFD-exposed male offspring, as well as decreased microglia-associated extracellular space pockets in the same region of mHFD-exposed offspring of the two sexes. A decreased mRNA expression of the inflammatory-regulating cytokine Tgfb1 and microglial receptors Tmem119, Trem2, and Cx3cr1 was additionally measured in the hippocampus of mHFD-exposed offspring, especially in males. CONCLUSIONS:Here, we described how dietary habits during pregnancy and nurturing, particularly the consumption of an enriched fat diet, can influence peripheral immune priming in the offspring. We also found that microglia are affected in terms of gene expression signature, morphology, and interactions with the hippocampal parenchyma, in a partially sexually dimorphic manner, which may contribute to the adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes on the offspring.
| S-EPMC7487673 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Maternal over-nutrition increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular events in offspring. While prominent effects on cardiovascular health are observed, the impact on platelet physiology has not been studied. Here, we examined whether maternal high-fat diet (HF) ingestion affects the platelet function in lean and obese offspring. C57BL6/N mice dams were given a HF or control (C) diet for 8 weeks before and during pregnancy. Male and female offspring received C or HF diets for 26 weeks. Experimental groups were: C/C, dam and offspring fed standard laboratory diet; C/HF dam fed standard laboratory diet and offspring fed HF diet; HF/C and HF/HF. Phenotypic and metabolic tests were performed and blood collected for platelet studies. Compared to C/C, offspring HF groups were obese, with fat accumulation, hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance. Female offspring did not present platelet hyperactivity, hence we focused on male offspring. Platelets from HF/HF mice were larger, hyperactive and presented oxidative stress when compared to C/C. Maternal and offspring HF diet results in platelet hyperactivation in male mouse offspring, suggesting a novel 'double-hit' effect.
| S-EPMC7809045 | biostudies-literature