Molecular mechanism for predisposition to develop obesity and osteoporosis based on epigenome modification in utero

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23114
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yano Ena (清川恵奈) 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 学術研究員 (40805678)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: DOHaD / 肥満

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been demonstrated that the nutritional status of maternal gestational period defines the future risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases in the offspring. This applicant recently found that maternal folic acid deficiency causes abnormal methylation in genes related to deubiquitinating enzyme and bone regeneration in the offspring, and resulting in increasing susceptibility to inflammation even after maturity in the offspring. In this study, the applicant focused on the effect of maternal one carbon metabolism-related nutrients (essential nutrients for gene methylation) during gestation on the predisposition to develop obesity and osteoporosis after maturation by animal experiments.

Free Research Field

生化学、薬学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

栄養環境はエピゲノムを変化させ長期の細胞記憶に影響を与えていること、また、疾患発症には、そのような遺伝子発現の先天的制御異常が関わっていることが、近年の研究で明らかとなってきた。そこで、本研究では、疾患素因の起源を胎児期に遡ることで、先天的環境要因が、疾患因果の根本的要因になっている可能性を実証し、エネルギー代謝異常の新たな診断・治療の標的としての可能性を提示した。