Faculty Collaboration Database

Predicting later-life outcomes of early-life exposures. Environ Health Perspect 2012 Oct;120(10):1353-61

Date

06/08/2012

Pubmed ID

22672778

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3491941

DOI

10.1289/ehp.1204934

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84867267887 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   167 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In utero exposure of the fetus to a stressor can lead to disease in later life. Epigenetic mechanisms are likely mediators of later-life expression of early-life events.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the current state of understanding of later-life diseases resulting from early-life exposures in order to identify in utero and postnatal indicators of later-life diseases, develop an agenda for future research, and consider the risk assessment implications of this emerging knowledge.

METHODS: This review was developed based on our participation in a National Research Council workshop titled "Use of in Utero and Postnatal Indicators to Predict Health Outcomes Later in Life: State of the Science and Research Recommendations." We used a case study approach to highlight the later-life consequences of early-life malnutrition and arsenic exposure.

DISCUSSION: The environmental sensitivity of the epigenome is viewed as an adaptive mechanism by which the developing organism adjusts its metabolic and homeostatic systems to suit the anticipated extrauterine environment. Inappropriate adaptation may produce a mismatch resulting in subsequent increased susceptibility to disease. A nutritional mismatch between the prenatal and postnatal environments, or early-life obesogen exposure, may explain at least some of the recent rapid increases in the rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Early-life arsenic exposure is also associated with later-life diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: With mounting evidence connecting early-life exposures and later-life disease, new strategies are needed to incorporate this emerging knowledge into health protective practices.

Author List

Boekelheide K, Blumberg B, Chapin RE, Cote I, Graziano JH, Janesick A, Lane R, Lillycrop K, Myatt L, States JC, Thayer KA, Waalkes MP, Rogers JM

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Arsenic
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Disease Susceptibility
Environmental Monitoring
Epigenesis, Genetic
Female
Humans
Malnutrition
Maternal Exposure
Mice
Obesity
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Rats
Risk Assessment