Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0447, USA.
Alcohol. 2011 Feb;45(1):65-71. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2010.07.006. Epub 2010 Aug 12.
C57BL/6J (B6) mice are susceptible to in utero growth retardation and a number of morphological malformations following prenatal alcohol exposure, while DBA/2J (D2) mice are relatively resistant. We have previously shown that genomic imprinting may play a role in differential sensitivity between B6 and D2. The best-characterized mechanism mediating genomic imprinting is differential DNA methylation. In the present study we examined DNA methylation and gene expression, in both embryonic and placental tissue, at the mouse Igf2 locus following in utero ethanol exposure. We also examined the effects of a methyl-supplemented diet on methylation and ethanol teratogenesis. In embryos from susceptible B6 mice, we found small decreases in DNA methylation at four CpG sites in one of the differentially methylated regions of the Igf2 locus; only one of the four sites showed a statistically significant decrease. We observed no significant decreases in methylation in placentae. All Igf2 transcripts showed approximately 1.5-fold decreases following intrauterine alcohol exposure. Placing dams on a methyl-supplemented diet before pregnancy and throughout gestation brought methylation back up to control levels. Methyl supplementation also resulted in lower prenatal mortality, greater prenatal growth, and decreased digit malformations; it dramatically reduced vertebral malformations. Thus, although prenatal alcohol had only small effects on DNA methylation at the Igf2 locus, placing dams on a methyl-supplemented diet partially ameliorated ethanol teratogenesis.
C57BL/6J(B6)小鼠在产前酒精暴露后易发生宫内生长迟缓和多种形态畸形,而 DBA/2J(D2)小鼠则相对具有抗性。我们之前已经表明,基因组印记可能在 B6 和 D2 之间的敏感性差异中发挥作用。介导基因组印记的最佳特征机制是差异 DNA 甲基化。在本研究中,我们在胚胎和胎盘组织中检查了 Igf2 基因座的 DNA 甲基化和基因表达,这些组织在宫内乙醇暴露后发生了变化。我们还研究了补充甲基的饮食对甲基化和乙醇致畸作用的影响。在易感性 B6 小鼠的胚胎中,我们在 Igf2 基因座的一个差异甲基化区域的四个 CpG 位点发现了 DNA 甲基化的小幅度降低;只有一个位点显示出统计学上的显著降低。我们在胎盘组织中没有观察到甲基化的显著降低。所有 Igf2 转录物在宫内酒精暴露后都减少了约 1.5 倍。在怀孕前和整个孕期让母鼠摄入补充甲基的饮食可使甲基化恢复到对照水平。甲基补充还导致产前死亡率降低,产前生长增加,并且减少了指畸形;它大大减少了椎体畸形。因此,尽管产前酒精对 Igf2 基因座的 DNA 甲基化只有很小的影响,但让母鼠摄入补充甲基的饮食可以部分改善乙醇致畸作用。