Gestational Protein Restriction in Mice Has Pronounced Effects on Gene Expression in Newborn Offspring's Liver and Skeletal Muscle; Protective Effect of Taurine

Abstract

ABSTRACT:We examined gene expression changes in liver and skeletal muscle of newborn mice subjected to a maternal low protein (LP) or normal protein (NP) diet during pregnancy, with or without taurine supplementation in the drinking water. LP offspring had a 40% lower birthweight than NP offspring, whereas it was reduced by only 20% with taurine supplementation. Microarray gene expression analysis revealed significant changes in 2012 genes in liver and 967 genes in skeletal muscle of LP offspring. By unknown mechanisms, taurine partially or fully prevented 30 and 46% of these expression changes, respectively. Mitochondrial genes, in particular genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation, were more abundantly changed in LP offspring, with primarily up-regulation in liver but down-regulation in skeletal muscle. In both tissues, citrate synthase activity remained unchanged. Taurine preferentially rescued changes in genes concerned with fatty acid metabolism in liver and with oxidative phoshorylation and tri carboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in skeletal muscle. Conclusion: Gestational protein restriction resulted in lower birthweight associated with significant gene expression changes, which was different in liver and muscle of offspring. However, a major part of the birthweight decrease and the expression changes were prevented by maternal taurine supplementation, implying taurine is a key component in metabolic fetal programming. (Pediatr Res 67: 47-53, 2010)

Maternal Obesity, Inflammation, and Developmental Programming

“…In models of gestational protein restriction in rodents, supplementation of taurine had protective effects on the programmed impairments to the pancreas, liver, and skeletal muscle associated with protein restriction [177–179]. Additionally, taurine was shown to normalize the changes in gene expression associated with protein restriction [177–179].…”

Nutritional programming of insulin resistance: causes and consequences

“…Such interventions have targeted the offspring; however, a few studies have focused on maternal interventions. In rodents, an improvement in glucose homeostasis in offspring is observed if maternal LP-fed dams are given water supplemented with the amino acid taurine [122]. Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids or vitamin D during pregnancy has been another strategy explored in animal and human studies; however, results have been mixed and conclusions drawn remain controversial [123,124].…”

Maternal dietary protein restriction and excess affects offspring gene expression and methylation of non-SMC subunits of condensin I in liver and skeletal muscle

“…in liver and skeletal muscle simone altmann, 1 Eduard Murani, 2 Manfred schwerin, 1 cornelia c. Metges, 3 Klaus Wimmers 2 and siriluck ponsuksili 1, repeats that mediate proteinprotein interactions. 15 NCAPH, a member of the kleisin protein family, acts as a structural link between the SMC heterodimer and the HEAT repeat proteins.…”

“…1 Typically, nutrient-gene interactions in intrauterine-malnourished offspring are investigated using gestational protein restriction in animal models; 2,3 few studies have reported the effects of maternal high-protein diet on gene expression. 4,5 Importantly, epigenetic changes manifesting during crucial pre-and perinatal developmental stages underlie effects of fetal programming.…”