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Epigenome-Wide Association Study (EWAS) Identifies Transgenerational Disease Biomarkers in Sperm Following Ancestral Exposure to the Pesticide Methoxychlor

ABSTRACT: Environmental exposures such as chemical toxicants can alter gene expression and disease susceptibility through epigenetic processes. Epigenetic changes can be passed to future generations through germ cells through epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of increased disease susceptibility. The current study used an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to investigate whether specific transgenerational epigenetic signatures of differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) exist that are associated with particular disease states in the F3 generation great-grand offspring of F0 generation rats exposed during gestation to the agricultural pesticide methoxychlor. The transgenerational epigenetic profile of sperm from F3 generation methoxychlor lineage rats that have only one disease state was compared to those that have no disease. Observations identify disease specific patterns of DMRs for these transgenerational rats that can potentially serve as epigenetic biomarkers for prostate disease, kidney disease, obesity, and the presence of multiple diseases. The chromosomal locations, genomic features, and gene associations of the DMRs are characterized. Disease specific DMR sets contained DMR associated genes that have previously been shown to be associated with that specific disease. Future epigenetic biomarkers could potentially be developed and validated for humans as a disease susceptibility diagnostic tool to facilitate preventative medicine and management of disease.

ORGANISM(S): Rattus norvegicus

PROVIDER: GSE158086 | GEO | 2020/12/16

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Environmental compounds including fungicides, plastics, pesticides, dioxin and hydrocarbons can promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset disease in future generation progeny following ancestral exposure during the critical period of fetal gonadal sex determination. This study examined the actions of the pesticide methoxychlor to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset disease and associated differential DNA methylation regions (i.e. epimutations) in sperm. Gestating F0 generation female rats were transiently exposed to methoxychlor during fetal gonadal development (gestation days 8 to 14) and then adult-onset disease was evaluated in adult F1 and F3 (great-grand offspring) generation progeny for control (vehicle exposed) and methoxychlor lineage offspring. There were increases in the incidence of kidney disease, ovary disease, and obesity in the methoxychlor lineage animals. In females and males the incidence of disease increased in both the F1 and the F3 generations and the incidence of multiple disease increased in the F3 generation. There was increased disease incidence in F4 generation reverse outcross (female) offspring indicating disease transmission was primarily transmitted through the female germline. Analysis of the F3 generation sperm epigenome of the methoxychlor lineage males identified differentially DNA methylated regions (DMR) termed epimutations in a genome-wide gene promoters analysis. These epimutations were found to be methoxychlor exposure specific in comparison with other exposure specific sperm epimutation signatures. Observations indicate that the pesticide methoxychlor has the potential to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease and the sperm epimutations appear to provide exposure specific epigenetic biomarkers for transgenerational disease and ancestral environmental exposures. Methylated sperm DNA was isolated from rats ancestrally exposed to methoxychlor. Three independent samples from each treatment group were obtained. Differential DNA methylation between treatment groups was determined using Nimblegen microarrays. Treated samples were paired with control samples and hybridized together on arrays, resulting in three arrays for the treatment.

Project description:Environmental compounds are known to promote epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease in subsequent generations (F1M-bM-^@M-^SF3) following ancestral exposure during fetal gonadal sex determination. The current study was designed to determine if a mixture of plastic derived endocrine disruptor compounds bisphenol-A (BPA), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) at two different doses promoted epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease and associated DNA methylation epimutations in sperm. Gestating F0 generation females were exposed to either the M-bM-^@M-^\plasticsM-bM-^@M-^] or M-bM-^@M-^\lower dose plasticsM-bM-^@M-^] mixture during embryonic days 8 to 14 of gonadal sex determination and the incidence of adult onset disease was evaluated in F1 and F3 generation rats. There were significant increases in the incidence of total disease/abnormalities in F1 and F3 generation male and female animals from plastics lineages. Pubertal abnormalities, testis disease, obesity, and ovarian disease (primary ovarian insufficiency and polycystic ovaries) were increased in the F3 generation animals. Kidney and prostate disease were only observed in the direct fetally exposed F1 generation plastic lineage animals. Analysis of the plastics lineage F3 generation sperm epigenome previously identified 197 differential DNA methylation regions (DMR) in gene promoters, termed epimutations. A number of these transgenerational DMR form a unique direct connection gene network and have previously been shown to correlate with the pathologies identified. Observations demonstrate that a mixture of plastic derived compounds, BPA and phthalates, can promote epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult onset disease. The sperm DMR provide potential epigenetic biomarkers for transgenerational disease and/or ancestral environmental exposures. Methylated sperm DNA was isolated from rats ancestrally exposed to plastics (Bip). Three independent samples from the treatment group were obtained. Differential DNA methylation between treatment groups was determined using Nimblegen microarrays. Treated samples were paired with control samples and hybridized together on arrays (Bip1/Cip1, Bip2/Cip2, and Bip3/Cip3), resulting in three arrays for the treatment.

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Epigenome-Wide Association Study (EWAS) Identifies Transgenerational Disease Biomarkers in Sperm Following Ancestral Exposure to the Pesticide Methoxychlor

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