Epigenetic Epidemiology of the Developmental Origins Hypothesis

Extensive human epidemiologic and animal model data indicate that during critical periods of prenatal and postnatal mammalian development, nutrition and other environmental stimuli influence developmental pathways and thereby induce permanent changes in metabolism and chronic disease susceptibility. The biologic mechanisms underlying this "developmental origins hypothesis" are poorly understood. This review focuses on the likely involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). We describe permanent effects of transient environmental influences on the developmental establishment of epigenetic gene regulation and evidence linking epigenetic dysregulation with human…

• MO
  March of Dimes Foundation
• BU
  Brown University
• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• NC
  National Cancer Institute