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Maternal influences on epigenetic programming of the developing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Curtis E Grace1, Sung-Jae Kim, John M Rogers

  • 1Toxicity Assessment Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.

Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology
|June 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Early life parental and environmental factors permanently alter offspring physiology, impacting long-term health. This programming, particularly affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, involves epigenetic changes influencing gene expression.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Parental and environmental factors during prenatal and postnatal periods significantly impact offspring physiology and metabolism.
  • These early-life exposures can permanently alter health trajectories, increasing the risk of diseases later in life.
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a key system implicated in mediating these long-term effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effects of prenatal and early postnatal development on the HPA axis.
  • To explore the HPA axis as a common pathway for developmental programming.
  • To examine the role of epigenetic remodeling in programming the HPA axis and its target tissues.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on developmental programming of the HPA axis.
  • Analysis of studies investigating epigenetic modifications during critical developmental windows.
  • Examination of effects on gene expression in the hippocampus and peripheral tissues.

Main Results:

  • Developmental programming of the HPA axis can have lifelong consequences for health.
  • Epigenetic remodeling of chromatin is a key mechanism underlying this programming.
  • Alterations in gene expression within the HPA axis and target organs, such as the hippocampus, are observed.

Conclusions:

  • The developing HPA axis is sensitive to early-life environmental and parental influences.
  • Epigenetic modifications are crucial mediators of developmental programming, affecting lifelong HPA axis function and health.
  • Understanding these mechanisms provides insights into disease prevention strategies.

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