Animal Models and Their Contribution to Our Understanding of the Relationship Between Environments, Epigenetic Modifications, and Behavior

Phillips, Natalia Ledo Husby; Roth, Tania L.

doi:10.3390/genes10010047

Cited by 54 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 114 publications

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“…In fact, the epigenetic structure can be studied in animal models throughout the life cycle of an organism, from conception to adulthood and old age [ 213 ]. An ideal model needs to be accessible at all stages of prenatal and postnatal life, and to have a reasonable time span to enable assessment of all possible outcomes of an experiment [ 214 ]. Thus, animal models allow the investigation of the probable interplay between epigenetic changes and effects caused by the intake of synthetic cannabinoids and cathinone, focusing on gender related differences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epigenetic Studies for Evaluation of NPS Toxicity: Focus on Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones

et al. 2022

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In the recent decade, numerous new psychoactive substances (NPSs) have been added to the illicit drug market. These are synthetized to mimic the effects of classic drugs of abuse (i.e., cannabis, cocaine, etc.), with the purpose of bypassing substance legislations and increasing the pharmacotoxicological effects. To date, research into the acute pharmacological effects of new NPSs is ongoing and necessary in order to provide an appropriate contribution to public health. In fact, multiple examples of NPS-related acute intoxication and mortality have been recorded in the literature. Accordingly, several in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the pharmacotoxicological profiles of these compounds, revealing that they can cause adverse effects involving various organ systems (i.e., cardiovascular, respiratory effects) and highlighting their potential increased consumption risks. In this sense, NPSs should be regarded as a complex issue that requires continuous monitoring. Moreover, knowledge of long-term NPS effects is lacking. Because genetic and environmental variables may impact NPS responses, epigenetics may aid in understanding the processes behind the harmful events induced by long-term NPS usage. Taken together, “pharmacoepigenomics” may provide a new field of combined study on genetic differences and epigenetic changes in drug reactions that might be predictive in forensic implications.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epigenetic Studies for Evaluation of NPS Toxicity: Focus on Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones

et al. 2022

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“…The relationship between the environment, epigenetic modification, and behavior contributes novel findings of physical interaction of the environment with genes, leading to changes in behavior and health. Early-life adverse experiences, such as maltreatment, stress, and environmental toxicants, have been identified to affect gene expression by epigenetic modification [ 61 ]. The methylation of the OXTR gene has attracted considerable attention in the research of inter-individual differences in maternal behavior and social cognition [ 17 , 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Childhood Exercise on Maternal Behaviors in Female Rats at Postpartum: A Role of Oxtr Methylation in the Hypothalamus

Lee

Lin

Chaudhary

et al. 2021

IJMS

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Both the detrimental effect of prenatal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) and the beneficial effects of physical exercise on brain functions have been reported. The oxytocin pathway has been implicated in the onset of maternal behaviors. Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) through DNA methylation has been associated with the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal DEHP exposure on oxytocin-regulated maternal behaviors and to examine the protective effect of exercise. Pregnant rats (F0) were fed with vehicle or DEHP during gestation and the offspring females (F1) were assessed for their maternal behaviors by pup retrieval test at postpartum. The results showed that reduced pup retrieval activities without significant alteration of stress responses were observed in the prenatally DEHP-exposed females. Prenatal DEHP exposure decreased the expressions of oxytocin, Oxtr mRNA, and oxytocin receptor, and increased Oxtr methylation in the hypothalamus of postpartum female rats. There were no significant effects of exercise on behavioral, biochemical, and epigenetic measurements. These results suggest that prenatal DEHP exposure has a long-term adverse effect on maternal behaviors; Oxtr hyper-methylation may be a potential epigenetic mechanism for this alteration, which cannot be prevented by physical exercise during childhood.

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“… 30 The epigenetic changes lead to gain and loss of function, as observed in animal models. 31 - 35 In this article, we aimed to review Epigenetic factors, including DNA methylation, histone alteration, and noncoding RNA control, as a risk factor of CAD by altering the relationship between genes and the environment.…”

Section: Pathophysiology Of Cadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elucidation of Epigenetic Landscape in Coronary Artery Disease: A Review on Basic Concept to Personalized Medicine

et al. 2021

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Despite extensive clinical research and management protocols applied in the field of coronary artery diseases (CAD), it still holds the number 1 position in mortality worldwide. This indicates that we need to work on precision medicine to discover the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic targets to improve the outcome of CAD. In precision medicine, epigenetic changes play a vital role in disease onset and progression. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes that do not affect the alterations of DNA sequence in the genome. It comprises various covalent modifications that occur in DNA or histone proteins affecting the spatial arrangement of the DNA and histones. These multiple modifications include DNA/histone methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and SUMOylation. Besides these covalent modifications, non-coding RNAs—viz. miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA are also involved in epigenetics. Smoking, alcohol, diet, environmental pollutants, obesity, and lifestyle are some of the prime factors affecting epigenetic alterations. Novel molecular techniques such as next-generation sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry have been developed to identify important cross points in the epigenetic web in relation to various diseases. The studies regarding exploration of epigenetics, have led researchers to identify multiple diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets that are being used in different disease diagnosis and management. Here in this review, we will discuss various ground-breaking contributions of past and recent studies in the epigenetic field in concert with coronary artery diseases. Future prospects of epigenetics and its implication in CAD personalized medicine will also be discussed in brief.

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Animal Models and Their Contribution to Our Understanding of the Relationship Between Environments, Epigenetic Modifications, and Behavior

Cited by 54 publications

References 114 publications

Epigenetic Studies for Evaluation of NPS Toxicity: Focus on Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones

Epigenetic Studies for Evaluation of NPS Toxicity: Focus on Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones

Effects of Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Childhood Exercise on Maternal Behaviors in Female Rats at Postpartum: A Role of Oxtr Methylation in the Hypothalamus

Elucidation of Epigenetic Landscape in Coronary Artery Disease: A Review on Basic Concept to Personalized Medicine

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