Adverse Maternal Environment and Postweaning Western Diet Alter Hepatic CD36 Expression and Methylation Concurrently with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mouse Offspring. J Nutr 2021 Oct 01;151(10):3102-3112
Date
09/07/2021Pubmed ID
34486661Pubmed Central ID
PMC8485909DOI
10.1093/jn/nxab249Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85117314320 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 4 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: The role of an adverse maternal environment (AME) in conjunction with a postweaning Western diet (WD) in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adult offspring has not been explored. Likewise, the molecular mechanisms associated with AME-induced NAFLD have not been studied. The fatty acid translocase or cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) has been implicated to play a causal role in the pathogenesis of WD-induced steatosis. However, it is unknown if CD36 plays a role in AME-induced NAFLD.
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the isolated and additive impact of AME and postweaning WD on the expression and DNA methylation of hepatic Cd36 in association with the development of NAFLD in a novel mouse model.
METHODS: AME constituted maternal WD and maternal stress, whereas the control (Con) group had neither. Female C57BL/6J mice were fed a WD [40% fat energy, 29.1% sucrose energy, and 0.15% cholesterol (wt/wt)] 5 wk prior to pregnancy and throughout lactation. Non invasive variable stressors (random frequent cage changing, limited bedding, novel object, etc.) were applied to WD dams during the last third of pregnancy to produce an AME. Con dams consumed the control diet (CD) (10% fat energy, no sucrose or cholesterol) and were not exposed to stress. Male offspring were weaned onto either CD or WD, creating 4 experimental groups: Con-CD, Con-WD, AME-CD, and AME-WD, and evaluated for metabolic and molecular parameters at 120 d of age.
RESULTS: AME and postweaning WD independently and additively increased the development of hepatic steatosis in adult male offspring. AME and WD independently and additively upregulated hepatic CD36 protein and mRNA expression and hypomethylated promoters 2 and 3 of the Cd36 gene.
CONCLUSIONS: Using a mouse AME model together with postweaning WD, this study demonstrates a role for CD36 in AME-induced NAFLD in offspring and reveals 2 regions of environmentally induced epigenetic heterogeneity within Cd36.
Author List
Fu Q, North PE, Ke X, Huang YW, Fritz KA, Majnik AV, Lane RHAuthor
Paula E. North MD, PhD Professor in the Pathology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsDNA Methylation
Diet, High-Fat
Diet, Western
Female
Liver
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Pregnancy
