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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Mouse Fetal Whole Intestine Culture System for Ex Vivo Manipulation of Signaling Pathways and Three-dimensional Live Imaging of Villus Development

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Published on: September 4, 2014

Epigenetic mechanisms and gastrointestinal development.

Robert A Waterland¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. waterland@bcm.edu

The Journal of Pediatrics

|January 11, 2007

Summary

Infant nutrition may impact gut epigenetics, influencing gastrointestinal (GI) development and function through metabolic imprinting. This review explores DNA methylation and its role in GI development and disease.

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Epigenetics
Gastroenterology

Background:

Nutrition during infancy is hypothesized to influence gut developmental epigenetics.
This process may lead to metabolic imprinting of gastrointestinal (GI) structure and function.
Epigenetic gene regulation is crucial in mammalian GI development, though mechanisms are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the hypothesis linking infant nutrition to gut epigenetics and metabolic imprinting.
To examine the fundamentals of epigenetic gene regulation, focusing on DNA methylation.
To discuss the role of epigenetic gene regulation in GI development and pathology.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on epigenetics, DNA methylation, and GI development.

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Analysis of data on the impact of early-life stimuli on gene expression.

Synthesis of information regarding the role of epigenetics in GI health and disease.

Main Results:

Transient nutritional stimuli during critical developmental periods can alter DNA methylation patterns.
These alterations can lead to permanent changes in gene expression, affecting GI development.
Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in postnatal GI development and pathology.

Conclusions:

Infant nutrition is a potential factor in establishing gut epigenetic patterns.
Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms of epigenetic gene regulation in the GI tract.
Understanding these mechanisms could offer insights into GI development and disease prevention.