{"title":"Prenatal chemical exposures and the methylome: current evidence and opportunities for environmental epigenetics.","authors":"Anne K Bozack, Leonardo Trasande","doi":"10.1080/17501911.2024.2426441","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to pollutants and chemicals during critical developmental periods in early life can impact health and disease risk across the life course. Research in environmental epigenetics has provided increasing evidence that prenatal exposures affect epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation. In this article, we discuss the role of DNA methylation in early life programming and review evidence linking the intrauterine environment to epigenetic modifications, with a focus on exposure to tobacco smoke, metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We also discuss challenges and novel approaches in environmental epigenetic research and explore the potential of epigenetic biomarkers in studies of pediatric populations as indicators of exposure and disease risk. Overall, we aim to highlight how advancements in environmental epigenetics may transform our understanding of early-life exposures and inform new approaches for supporting long-term health.</p>","PeriodicalId":11959,"journal":{"name":"Epigenomics","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Epigenomics","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17501911.2024.2426441","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Exposure to pollutants and chemicals during critical developmental periods in early life can impact health and disease risk across the life course. Research in environmental epigenetics has provided increasing evidence that prenatal exposures affect epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation. In this article, we discuss the role of DNA methylation in early life programming and review evidence linking the intrauterine environment to epigenetic modifications, with a focus on exposure to tobacco smoke, metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We also discuss challenges and novel approaches in environmental epigenetic research and explore the potential of epigenetic biomarkers in studies of pediatric populations as indicators of exposure and disease risk. Overall, we aim to highlight how advancements in environmental epigenetics may transform our understanding of early-life exposures and inform new approaches for supporting long-term health.
在生命早期的关键发育时期接触污染物和化学品会影响整个生命过程中的健康和疾病风险。环境表观遗传学的研究提供了越来越多的证据,证明产前暴露会影响表观遗传标记,尤其是 DNA 甲基化。在本文中,我们将讨论 DNA 甲基化在生命早期编程中的作用,并回顾将宫内环境与表观遗传修饰联系起来的证据,重点是烟草烟雾、金属和干扰内分泌的化学物质的暴露。我们还讨论了环境表观遗传研究中的挑战和新方法,并探讨了表观遗传生物标志物在儿科人群研究中作为暴露和疾病风险指标的潜力。总之,我们旨在强调环境表观遗传学的进步如何改变我们对生命早期暴露的理解,并为支持长期健康提供新方法。
期刊介绍:
Epigenomics provides the forum to address the rapidly progressing research developments in this ever-expanding field; to report on the major challenges ahead and critical advances that are propelling the science forward. The journal delivers this information in concise, at-a-glance article formats – invaluable to a time constrained community.
Substantial developments in our current knowledge and understanding of genomics and epigenetics are constantly being made, yet this field is still in its infancy. Epigenomics provides a critical overview of the latest and most significant advances as they unfold and explores their potential application in the clinical setting.