Environmental regulation of the neural epigenome

• Published in: FEBS letters 2011-07, Vol.585 (13), p.2049-2058
• Main Authors: Caldji, Christian, Hellstrom, Ian C., Zhang, Tie-Yuan, Diorio, Josie, Meaney, Michael J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-HT; Animals; arginine vasopressin; AVP; CBP; ChIP; chromatin immunoprecipitation; corticotropin-releasing factor; CREB binding protein; CRF; DNA methylation; DNA Methylation - genetics; DNA Methylation - physiology; Environment; Environmental epigenetics; Epigenesis, Genetic - genetics; Epigenesis, Genetic - physiology; Epigenomics; ERa; estrogen receptor alpha; GABA; gamma aminobutryic acid; Glucocorticoid receptor; HAT; HDAC; histone; histone acetyltransferase; histone deacetylase; HPA; Humans; Hypothalamic Neoplasms - metabolism; hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis; Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal response; licking/grooming; MeCP2; methyl CpG-binding protein 2; Nerve growth factor-inducible factor; nerve-growth factor-inducible factor-A; NGFI-A; paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus; peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor alpha; Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism; POMC; PPAR-α; proopiomelanocortin; PVNh; s-adenosyl methionine; SAM; serotonin; trichostatin A; triidodithyronine; TSA
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.03.032

Parental effects are a major source of phenotypic plasticity. Moreover, there is evidence from studies with a wide range of species that the relevant parental signals are influenced by the quality of the parental environment. The link between the quality of the environment and the nature of the parental signal is consistent with the idea that parental effects, whether direct or indirect, might serve to influence the phenotype of the offspring in a manner that is consistent with the prevailing environmental demands. In this review we explore recent studies from the field of ‘environmental epigenetics’ that suggest that (1) DNA methylation states are far more variable than once thought and that, at least within specific regions of the genome, there is evidence for both demethylation and remethylation in post-mitotic cells and (2) that such remodeling of DNA methylation can occur in response to environmentally-driven, intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, studies of variation in mother–offspring interactions in rodents suggest that parental signals operate during pre- and/or post-natal life to influence the DNA methylation state at specific regions of the genome leading to sustained changes in gene expression and function. We suggest that DNA methylation is a candidate mechanism for parental effects on phenotypic variation.