The imprinted gene Zac1 regulates steatosis in developmental cadmium-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

ABSTRACT: Cadmium (Cd) exposure in adulthood is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. The prevalence of NAFLD in children is increasing, suggesting a role for the developmental environment in programming susceptibility. However, the role of developmental Cd exposure in programming NAFLD and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We have proposed that imprinted genes are strong candidates for connecting the early life environment and later life disease. In support of this, we previously identified roles for the Imprinted Gene Network (IGN) and its regulator Zac1 in programming NAFLD in response to maternal metabolic dysfunction. Here, we test the hypothesis that developmental Cd exposure is sufficient to program NAFLD, and

SUBMITTER: Riegl SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9887675 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature