Human transgenerational responses to early-life experience: potential impact on development, health and biomedical research. Issue 9 (25th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pembrey, Marcus; Saffery, Richard; Bygren, Lars Olov
• Other Names: Carstensen John author non-byline.; Edvinsson Sören author non-byline.; Faresjö Tomas author non-byline.; Franks Paul author non-byline.; Gustafsson Jan-Åke author non-byline.; Kaati Gunnar author non-byline.; Lindahl B.I.B. author non-byline.; Ludvigsson Johnny author non-byline.; Lumey L. H. author non-byline.; Modin Bitte author non-byline.; Nilsson Hans author non-byline.; Sjöström Michael author non-byline.; Tinghög Petter author non-byline.; Vågerö Denny author non-byline.
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical genetics. Volume 51:Issue 9(2014)
• Page Start: 563
• Page End: 572
• Publication Date: 2014-07-25
• Subjects: transgenerational -- Epigenetics -- miRNAs -- epigenetic epidemiology -- overkalix; Medical genetics -- Periodicals; 616.042
• DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2014-102577
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-6244

Abstract

Abstract : Mammalian experiments provide clear evidence of male line transgenerational effects on health and development from paternal or ancestral early-life exposures such as diet or stress. The few human observational studies to date suggest (male line) transgenerational effects exist that cannot easily be attributed to cultural and/or genetic inheritance. Here we summarise relevant studies, drawing attention to exposure sensitive periods in early life and sex differences in transmission and offspring outcomes. Thus, variation, or changes, in the parental/ancestral environment may influence phenotypic variation for better or worse in the next generation(s), and so contribute to common, non-communicable disease risk including sex differences. We argue that life-course epidemiology should be reframed to include exposures from previous generations, keeping an open mind as to the mechanisms that transmit this information to offspring. Finally, we discuss animal experiments, including the role of epigenetic inheritance and non-coding RNAs, in terms of what lessons can be learnt for designing and interpreting human studies. This review was developed initially as a position paper by the multidisciplinary Network in Epigenetic Epidemiology to encourage transgenerational research in human cohorts.