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Aberrant DNA methylation of hypothalamic angiotensin receptor in prenatal-programmed hypertension

ABSTRACT: Malnutrition during pregnancy, which causes prenatal exposure to excessive glucocorticoid, induces adverse metabolic programming leading to hypertension in offspring. Pregnant rats receiving a low-protein diet exhibited moderate downregulation of 11-beta-dehydrogenase isozyme 2, which inactivates corticosterone, in the placenta, resulting in prenatal exposure to excessive corticosterone. In offspring of pregnant rats receiving a low-protein diet or dexamethasone, mRNA expression of angiotensin receptor type 1a (Agtr1a) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus was upregulated, concurrent with reduced expression of DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a), reduced binding of DNMT3a to the Agtr1a promoter, and DNA demethylation, suggesting hypothalamic Agtr1a expression is epigenetically modulated by excess glucocorticoid. Dexamethasone treatment of PVN cells downregulated DNMT3a while upregulating Agtr1a, and decreased DNMT3a binding and DNA demethylation at the Agtr1a promoter. Consistent with Agtr1a upregulation in the hypothalamus, salt loading increased BP in both types of offspring. Even without dexamethasone treatment, hypothalamic neuron-specific DNMT3a-deficient mice, in which Agtr1a was upregulated, exhibited salt-induced BP elevation. By contrast, dexamethasone-treated Agtr1a-deficient mice failed to show salt-induced BP elevation, despite reduced expression of DNMT3a. Thus, epigenetic modulation of hypothalamic angiotensin signaling contributes to salt-sensitive hypertension induced by prenatal glucocorticoid excess in offspring of mothers that are malnourished during pregnancy.

ORGANISM(S): Rattus norvegicus

PROVIDER: GSE119235 | GEO | 2018/11/30

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Summary The purpose of this study is to perform the first long-term follow up study both of adolescents and young adults with a history of prenatal treatment with dexamethasone and of their mothers and to test for adverse medical or behavioral side effects. The emphasis will be on the outcome of this prenatal treatment in those fetuses who are not affected with steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and are either heterozygotes or homozygote-unaffected. Prenatal treatment of 46,XX fetuses with 21OHD (via administration of dexamethasone to the pregnant mother) has been shown to reduce the masculinization of the genitalia and, thereby, the later need for 'corrective' feminizing genital surgery and potential impairment of sexual functioning. Along with the suppression of excess prenatal androgen production and reduction of prenatal masculinization of the genitalia in 46,XX fetuses with 21OHD, prenatal dexamethasone treatment may reduce the behavioral masculinization that is well documented in untreated 46, XX patients with 21OHD. Those fetuses who are partially treated until diagnosis of an unaffected status (heterozygous or homozygous-unaffected) will be studied as well. This latter group is of importance because these fetuses are being unnecessarily treated, but we have no way of diagnosing the unaffected status before the 8th week of gestation when treatment must begin for the female fetus who is affected. As treatment is necessary only until term in the female fetus affected with classical CAH, male fetuses and unaffected or heterozygous female fetuses do not require treatment. Thus, only one out of eight fetuses will require prenatal treatment until term. Findings of adverse effects of glucocorticoid treatment in non-human mammals [1, 2] have raised concerns among other clinicians and investigators about potential adverse side effects of such treatment on the developing human. Thus, this study will address this concern and investigate the potential adverse side effects of prenatal treatment. Detailed Description Females with classical CAH owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency are born with ambiguous genitalia due to the production of excess androgens in utero. Prenatal treatment with dexamethasone was inaugurated in 1978 by Maguelone Forest and has been the standard of practice in the United States since 1986. Dexamethasone, which crosses the placental barrier, suppresses the fetal adrenal gland production of androgens, thus preventing ambiguous genitalia in the affected female. Children of both sexes are prenatally treated as soon as pregnancies at risk are confirmed. Treatment in females with 21OHD continues to term, but is discontinued in males and unaffected females. To date, 685 pregnancies have been diagnosed, of which 366 fetuses were treated. These investigators will study prenatally treated adolescents and adults 12 years and older with respect to medical and behavioral outcomes (see Table 5). In addition, mothers of children prenatally treated for varying periods of time for suspected 21OHD will be studied for long-term side effects of dexamethasone treatment administered during pregnancy. The long-term outcome in these children and their mothers has never before been studied.

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Aberrant DNA methylation of hypothalamic angiotensin receptor in prenatal-programmed hypertension

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