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| Stress in the uterus can lead to chronic disease from gene disruption |
New research
shows stress in the womb could lead to chronic disease that comes from disruption of gene expression.
The type of stress that comes from mother's inadequate diet, smoking or
exposure to chemicals that disrupt hormones such as BPA are all suggested to
lead to human disease based on a new study finding published in the August.
2013 issue of the FASEB journal.
Researchers
from Harvard explored epigenetic changes that can lead to cancer and other
childhood diseases to find out what kind of stressors in the womb can harm
health prior to birth.
For
their study Karin Michels, Sc.D., Ph.D and colleagues looked at patterns
of genes that are needed for growth and development by analyzing cord blood of
more than 100 infants.
They then
looked at gene methylation – the process that turns our genes off. Methylated
genes that protect us from disease are those that are turned off.
The results
showed our genes can be disrupted in the uterus.
The
researcher discovered a high level of disruption occurring with a gene called IGF2, found in
cord blood and in 22 of the infants. Disruption of the IGF2 gene is linked to
breast, colorectal cancer, Wilm’s tumor and a childhood disorder known as Beckwith-Wiedemann
Syndrome.
"For a long time, doctors have considered fetal stress
as a symptom of serious familial disease," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D.,
Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.
"Now, we see that fetal stress is in and of itself a long-term risk factor
for chronic disease: it changes the way we inherit genes from our parents."
What the
finding means for women
The study highlights the importance of eating a healthful
diet during pregnancy, limiting exposure to toxins in the home and avoiding
tobacco even in the form of second-hand smoke.
There has been recent emphasis on the harm to an infant’s brain
development that can come from maternal exposure
to BPA during pregnancy that is widely used to manufacture plastics and
found in food packaging and canned goods. Exposure
to pollution during fetal development has also been associated with higher
risk of asthma during childhood.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence that what we
experience in the womb can have an impact on lifelong health and well-being.
The finding suggests stress in the uterus can mean higher risk of cancer and
other diseases later in life.
Citation:
Rebecca C. Rancourt, Holly R. Harris, Ludovic Barault, and
Karin B. Michels.
“The prevalence of loss of imprinting of H19 and IGF2 at
birth.”
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