The importance of altered gene promoter methylation and transcription factor binding in developmental programming of central appetitive drive

摘要

Emerging data from human epidemio-logical and well-controlled animal studies have stimulated interest in the central role of nutrition during plastic periods of development of an individual's phenotype and their long-term health. Developmental programming of postnatal function demonstrates several key features including persistence after the stimulus has been removed, and stage of development and sex specificity. Epigenetic changes resulting from both under- and over-nutrition in fetal and early neonatal life can change the trajectory of development of key systems that predispose to adult obesity. Postnatal appetite control is central to the development of adiposity and animal studies have shown maternal diet-induced alterations in offspring expression of hypo-thalamic peptides such as the orexigenic neuropeptide AgRP that have the potential to increase food intake and result in obesity (Kirk et al, 2009).