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Environmental Influences on Genomic Imprinting
Maya Kappil1, Luca Lambertini2, Jia Chen3
1Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1057, 1 Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Current Environmental Health Reports
|June 2, 2015
Summary
Genomic imprinting, an epigenetic process, shows sensitivity to environmental factors during early development. These imprinted genes may serve as biomarkers for in utero exposures and later health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Developmental Biology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon causing parent-of-origin specific gene expression.
- Imprinted genes are crucial for fetal development and placental function.
- Epigenetic marks regulating imprinting are established early in development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review environmental influences on imprinted genes.
- To explore the potential of imprinted genes as biomarkers for environmental insults.
- To discuss genomic imprinting as an early development environmental sensor.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on environmental influences on imprinted genes.
- Synthesis of findings on teratogenic agents and imprinted loci.
- Discussion of assisted reproductive technology's impact on imprinting.
Main Results:
- Imprinted genes are sensitive to environmental factors like alcohol and tobacco.
- Assisted reproductive technologies may also influence imprinted gene expression.
- Imprinted loci show potential as indicators of in utero environmental exposures.
Conclusions:
- Genomic imprinting is a sensitive indicator of early life environmental exposures.
- Imprinted genes can serve as biomarkers for developmental toxicity.
- Further research can elucidate the role of imprinting in environmental health.
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