Research Progress of Maternal Metabolism on Cardiac Development and Function in Offspring
Zhuoran Ren1,2, Sisi Luo2,3, Jiajun Cui1,2
1Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200001, China.
Insights
Maternal metabolic disorders during pregnancy impact offspring heart development, increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Understanding these effects is crucial for public health and disease prevention.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cardiovascular Science
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- The developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis links early life environments to later health outcomes.
- Intrauterine metabolic disruptions can impair fetal organogenesis, especially cardiac development.
- Maternal conditions like obesity and diabetes pose risks to offspring cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of maternal metabolic disorders on offspring cardiac development and function.
- To explore the mechanisms by which maternal metabolic disturbances affect fetal heart development.
- To highlight the need for further research into these developmental influences.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on DOHaD and cardiovascular development.
- Analysis of studies investigating maternal metabolic perturbations and their effects on offspring cardiac outcomes.
- Discussion of epigenetic and molecular mechanisms involved in altered cardiac development.
Main Results:
- Maternal metabolic disorders can lead to structural and functional cardiac abnormalities in offspring.
- Nutritional changes affect mitochondrial function and gene expression in developing hearts.
- Epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone changes, microRNAs) are implicated in altered cardiac gene regulation.
Conclusions:
- Maternal metabolic health significantly influences offspring cardiovascular development and long-term health.
- Mechanistic understanding of these impacts is incomplete, necessitating further investigation.
- Research in this area is vital for improving public health and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract:
The developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis refers to the adverse effects of suboptimal developmental environments during embryonic and early fetal stages on the long-term health of offspring. Intrauterine metabolic perturbations can profoundly impact organogenesis in offspring, particularly affecting cardiac development and giving rise to potential structural and functional abnormalities. In this discussion, we contemplate the existing understanding regarding the impact of maternal metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, or undernutrition, on the developmental and functional aspects of the offspring's heart. This influence has the potential to contribute to the susceptibility of offspring to cardiovascular health issues. Alteration in the nutritional milieu can influence mitochondrial function in the developing hearts of offspring, while also serving as signaling molecules that directly modulate gene expression. Moreover, metabolic disorders can exert influence on cardiac development-related genes epigenetically through DNA methylation, levels of histone modifications, microRNA expression, and other factors. However, the comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of these phenomena remains incomplete. Further investigations in this domain hold profound clinical significance, as they can contribute to the enhancement of public health and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
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