Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yu Qi Lee, Eugenie R. Lumbers, Tracy L. Schumacher, Clare E. Collins, Kym M. Rae, Kirsty G. Pringle
Summary: Suboptimal nutrition during pregnancy is recognized as a significant modifiable factor in the development of chronic diseases in offspring. The study found that dietary intake of pregnant Indigenous Australian women did not meet national guidelines and that maternal nutrition during pregnancy can impact fetal growth but not fetal kidney growth. Urgent strategies are needed to support and optimize nutrient intake in Indigenous pregnant women.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Long T. Nguyen, Carol A. Pollock, Sonia Saad
Summary: The developmental programming hypothesis suggests that adverse environmental insults during critical developmental periods increase the risk of diseases in later life. Kidneys are susceptible to such insults, particularly due to peri-gestational nutrition, which affects kidney development and metabolism. Recent studies have identified oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic modifications, and metabolic changes as potential novel pathways for therapeutic intervention.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephanie M. Kereliuk, Vernon W. Dolinsky
Summary: Globally, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, and the increasing cardiovascular risk factors among youth, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, contribute to the development of earlier and more severe cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence suggests that maternal obesity and diabetes during pregnancy have lifelong effects on cardiovascular risk factors and heart disease development in the offspring, although the mechanisms for these observations are unclear.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takao Takiyama, Toshihiro Sera, Masanori Nakamura, Masato Hoshino, Kentaro Uesugi, Shin-ichi Horike, Makiko Meguro-Horike, Ryoichi Bessho, Yuri Takiyama, Hiroya Kitsunai, Yasutaka Takeda, Kazuki Sawamoto, Naoto Yagi, Yuji Nishikawa, Yumi Takiyama
Summary: Maternal overnutrition affects offspring susceptibility to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), potentially through inducing fetal liver hypoxia, leading to the development of NASH/hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in offspring. HORMAD1 may be a potential therapeutic target for NASH/HCC.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Daniel J. Hoffman, Theresa L. Powell, Emily S. Barrett, Daniel B. Hardy
Summary: Nearly 2 billion adults worldwide are overweight, with over half classified as obese, and nearly one-third of global children experience poor growth and development. The global epidemic of obesity and double burden of malnutrition, where overweight coexists with underweight and micronutrient deficiencies, poses a significant challenge to human health. Understanding the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is crucial in addressing the global issues of obesity and chronic diseases.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Melanie Breton-Larrivee, Elizabeth Elder, Lisa-Marie Legault, Alexandra Langford-Avelar, Amanda J. MacFarlane, Serge McGraw
Summary: Fetal alcohol exposure during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which is characterized by congenital malformations and cognitive, behavioral, and emotional impairments. Alcohol abstinence is the only way to prevent FASD, but many pregnant women still consume alcohol. Maternal nutritional interventions using methyl donors have been investigated as potential preventative measures to mitigate the adverse effects of fetal alcohol exposure.
Article
Neurosciences
Megan G. McGill, Irina Pokhvisneva, Andrew S. Clappison, Lisa M. McEwen, Roseriet Beijers, Marieke S. Tollenaar, Hung Pham, Michelle Z. L. Kee, Elika Garg, Euclides J. de Mendonca Filho, Neerja Karnani, Patricia P. Silveira, Michael S. Kobor, Carolina de Weerth, Michael J. Meaney, Kieran J. O'Donnell
Summary: Prenatal maternal anxiety predicts child PedBE epigenetic age acceleration, predominantly in males. PedBE age acceleration predicts increased externalizing symptoms in males in the BIBO cohort.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Malgorzata Lewandowska
Summary: The study found that maternal pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and macrosomia in newborns. Additionally, the risk of macrosomia was three times higher for obese mothers, while the risk of low birth weight was 17 times higher, particularly in the subgroup of normal gestational weight gain. The risk profile showed that higher BMI values were associated with a higher risk of these outcomes, with specific threshold BMI values identified.
Article
Biology
Suhas Sureshchandra, Brianna M. Doratt, Norma Mendza, Oleg Varlamov, Monica Rincon, Nicole E. Marshall, Ilhem Messaoudi
Summary: Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity is linked to unfavorable outcomes in both mother and offspring, including increased susceptibility and severity of neonatal infections. This study reveals that pregravid obesity disrupts umbilical cord blood monocyte responses to bacterial and viral pathogens. It demonstrates that interferon-stimulated gene expression and inflammatory responses to respiratory syncytial virus and E. coli are significantly dampened. Additionally, it suggests that maternal obesity alters metabolic, signaling, and epigenetic profiles of fetal monocytes, leading to immune paralysis during late gestation and at birth.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Sanjay Basak, Ranjit K. Das, Antara Banerjee, Sujay Paul, Surajit Pathak, Asim K. Duttaroy
Summary: Obesity in pregnancy has various effects on fetal neurodevelopment, such as disturbing the transport of essential long-chain PUFAs for brain development and altering the maternal gut microbiota, which further affects fetal brain development.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alice Bosco, Deborah Dessi, Caterina Zanza, Roberta Pintus, Vassilios Fanos
Summary: Pregnancy is associated with mild inflammatory activity, which can increase with obesity, leading to persistent inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids may play a crucial role in producing resolvins to mitigate the inflammatory state during pregnancy and improve maternal and neonatal health.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Michael D. Thompson, Brian J. DeBosch
Summary: With the increasing consumption of fructose in the diet, the impact of fructose exposure during pregnancy and lactation has gained significance. While human studies have established the effect of fructose consumption on maternal health, little is known about its impact on offspring. Animal models have shown an association between maternal fructose exposure and chronic diseases in offspring.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Sarah Louise Killeen, Catherine M. Phillips, Anna Delahunt, Cara A. Yelverton, Nitin Shivappa, James R. Hebert, Maria A. Kennelly, Martina Cronin, John Mehegan, Fionnuala M. McAuliffe
Summary: The study found that an antenatal low-glycaemic index diet and physical activity intervention can reduce the inflammatory potential of diets. However, there was no association between early pregnancy E-DIITM and maternal and child outcomes, highlighting the importance of further exploring sex differences in future research.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Linbo Guan, Ping Fan, Xinghui Liu, Mi Zhou, Yujie Wu, Rui Liu, Yu Liu, Huai Bai
Summary: The two polymorphisms in the GALNT2 gene are associated with variations in blood pressure, atherogenic index, and fetal growth in GDM, depending on BMI, but not with GDM. Our findings highlight a link between related phenotypes in GDM mothers and their fetuses and the genetic components.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Chien-Chu Huang, Ya-Wen Hsueh, Chia-Wei Chang, Hsi-Chen Hsu, Tung-Chuan Yang, Wu-Chou Lin, Hsun-Ming Chang
Summary: Early pregnancy is a complex process involving cellular elements of the fetal-maternal interface, and abnormalities in trophoblast-decidual interactions can lead to miscarriage and later pregnancy disorders. Although research has been performed in various species, there is significant species variation in trophoblast differentiation and gene regulation. Recent advancements in technology have allowed a comprehensive understanding of human implantation and placentation, and the clinical utility of fetal-maternal cellular trafficking has been explored for prenatal diagnosis and prediction of pregnancy complications. Therapeutic strategies targeting placenta-enriched molecules have also been proposed for placental dysfunction and diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Julian K. Christians, David Grynspan, Susan L. Greenwood, Mark R. Dilworth
Article
Developmental Biology
Julian K. Christians, David Grynspan
Article
Cell Biology
Julian K. Christians, Neilab Amiri, John D. Schipilow, Steven W. Zhang, Kristyna I. May-Rashke
GROWTH HORMONE & IGF RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Jennet Baltayeva, Chaini Konwar, Barbara Castellana, Danielle L. Mara, Julian K. Christians, Alexander G. Beristain
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julian K. Christians, Maria F. Huicochea Munoz
Article
Biology
Natasha Virginkar, Julian K. Christians
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julian K. Christians, Haroop K. Shergill, Arianne Y. K. Albert
Summary: Research suggests that the impact of food and protein restriction during gestation on offspring health in rats does not necessarily vary by sex, although some studies indicate that food restriction may have a greater effect on blood pressure in male rats. However, birth weight reduction seems consistent regardless of sex.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leticia Rubio, Antonio Vargas, Patricia Rivera, Antonio J. Lopez-Gambero, Ruben Tovar, Julian K. Christians, Stella Martin-de-las-Heras, Fernando Rodriguez de Fonseca, Julie A. Chowen, Jesus Argente, Juan Suarez
Summary: Deficiency of PAPP-A2 gene affects bone composition and remodeling in mice, with acute IGF-1 treatment leading to short-term changes in bone composition and local IGF-1 response. The effects of rmIGF-1 treatment depend on sex, providing insights for potential IGF-1 therapy in growth failure and bone loss.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monika D. Rogowska, Uriel N. Pena, Nimrat Binning, Julian K. Christians
Summary: Lactation leads to significant maternal bone loss that is recovered after weaning. The recovery of maternal skeleton after lactation is impaired in moderately-aged mice compared with younger mice. The role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) in this recovery process is not clear.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Julian K. Christians
Summary: Fetal sex impacts pregnancy complications and long-term health effects of prenatal environment, with placenta playing a crucial role. Sexual dimorphism may affect gene expression, responses to nutrient supply, and histopathology, but there is no clear pattern supporting the hypothesis that one sex is more responsive. More robust statistical approaches are needed to test for sex-dependent effects in order to reduce spurious results.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julian K. Christians, Natalie A. Chow
Summary: The hypothesis that males prioritize growth over placental development in the prenatal stage, making them more susceptible to early-life adversity, was not strongly supported in this study. Despite differences in birthweight, there was no significant variation in the effects of early-life adversity between males and females. Analyzing the sexes separately rather than testing the interaction between sex and adversity may lead to misleading sex-specific effects.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julian K. Christians, Saboura Ahmadzadeh-Seddeighi, Alishba Bilal, Anastasia Bogdanovic, Rebecca Ho, Estee V. Leung, Megan A. MacGregor, Nolan M. Nadasdy, Gabriella M. Principe
Summary: Early life environmental conditions and adversities, such as premature birth and low birthweight, have long-lasting effects on cognitive abilities and behavioral problems in children. However, there is no consistent difference between boys and girls in the effects of prematurity and low birthweight on these outcomes. This study shows that prematurity and low birthweight have similar long-term effects on intelligence and behavior in both boys and girls.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Natasha Virginkar, Alexander G. Beristain, Julian K. Christians
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Monika D. Rogowska, Uriel N. V. Pena, Julian K. Christians
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2020)