Link Between Pre-Pregnancy Obesity and Autism Risk Established
Maternal obesity before pregnancy has been found to contribute to autism-related behaviors in offspring, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Hawaii. The study, which has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Cells, reveals that metabolic changes in the mother before conception can epigenetically alter egg cells, affecting gene expression crucial for brain development.
The research, which used a mouse model, focused on the gene Homer1, a key player in synaptic signaling, learning, and memory. The study found that obesity before conception triggers lasting epigenetic modifications in the eggs, leading to increased expression of a specific Homer1 isoform known to disrupt neural connectivity and promote behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as social interaction difficulties and repetitive grooming.
Interestingly, the study found that these effects occur independently of the maternal environment during gestation, emphasizing the importance of maternal health status before conception. The study's findings underscore the importance of maternal health before pregnancy as a critical and modifiable factor in ASD risk.
The study was conducted using a mouse model combining in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of hippocampal tissue showed hypomethylation of an alternative Homer1 promoter, correlating with increased expression of the short isoform Homer1a. The increased expression of Homer1a is known to disrupt synaptic scaffolding.
Remarkably, these ASD-like behaviors were not observed in female offspring or those exposed only during gestation. The study found dysregulation and isoform shifts in genes implicated in ASD, such as Homer1 and Zswim6. Pre-conceptional maternal obesity alone was found to induce ASD-like behaviors in male offspring, including altered vocalizations, reduced sociability, and increased repetitive grooming. This pattern of transcriptomic and epigenetic changes was specific to mice with ASD-like behaviors.
In summary, the study provides compelling evidence that maternal obesity before pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the developing embryo, contributing to autism-related behaviors in male offspring. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining a healthy weight before conception to reduce the risk of ASD in offspring. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in humans.
- The new study in the journal Cells reveals that neuroscience, specifically the study of genetics, suggests that metabolic changes in the mother before conception can epigenetically alter egg cells, affecting gene expression crucial for brain development.
- The study found that obesity before conception triggers lasting epigenetic modifications in the eggs, leading to increased expression of a specific Homer1 isoform in neuroscience news, known to disrupt neural connectivity and promote behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- The importance of maintaining a healthy weight before conception as a critical and modifiable factor in ASD risk has been underscored by the study, emphasizing the connection between health-and-wellness, mental-health, and neuroscience.
- Pre-conceptional maternal obesity alone was found to induce ASD-like behaviors in male offspring, including altered vocalizations, reduced sociability, and increased repetitive grooming, highlighting the impact of maternal health on neurological-disorders like autism.
- This pattern of transcriptomic and epigenetic changes was specific to mice with ASD-like behaviors, indicating a correlation between the health of the mother and the development of medical-conditions such as autism.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings in humans, highlighting the significance of health-and-wellness, mental-health, and neuroscience in understanding the complexities of autism and other neurological-disorders.
