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Review
. 2020 Nov 10;4(11):nzaa166.
doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa166. eCollection 2020 Nov.

Exploring the Role of Maternal Nutritional Epigenetics in Congenital Heart Disease

Radha O Joshi  1 , Subramanian Chellappan  2 , Prachi Kukshal  1
Affiliations
Review

Exploring the Role of Maternal Nutritional Epigenetics in Congenital Heart Disease

Radha O Joshi et al. Curr Dev Nutr. .

Abstract

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the major debilitating birth defects resulting in significant impact on neonatal and child mortality globally. The etiology of CHD is complex and multifactorial. Many causative genes responsible for CHDs have been identified from the familial forms previously. Still, the non-Mendelian inheritance and predominant sporadic cases have stimulated research to understand the epigenetic basis and environmental impact on the incidence of CHD. The fetal epigenetic programming affecting cardiac development is susceptible to the availability of key dietary factors during the crucial periconceptional period. This article highlights the need and importance of in-depth research in the new emerging area of maternal nutritional epigenetics and CHD. It summarizes the current research and underlines the limitations in these types of studies. This review will benefit the future research on nutrition as a modifiable environmental factor to decrease the incidence of CHD.

Keywords: DNA methylation; congenital heart disease; embryonic development; epigenetic programming; maternal nutrition.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Embryonic programming.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
miRNA biogenesis and significance in heart development. DGCR8, microprocessor complex subunit DGCR8 [DiGeorge syndrome chromosomal (or critical) region 8], dsRNA, double-stranded RNA; GTP, Guanosine-5′-triphosphate; miRNA, micro-RNA; Pre-miRNA, precursor-microRNA; polyA, polyadenylic acid; Pri-miRNA, primary microRNA; RanGTP, Ras-related nuclear protein (GTP binding protein); RISC, RNA-induced silencing complex; RNA Pol, RNA polymerase; TRBP, trans-activation response RNA-binding protein.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Periconceptional nutrition and impact on cardiogenesis. ncRNA, noncoding RNA.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Role of maternal nutritional epigenetics in CHD. CHD, congenital heart disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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