EARLY NUTRITION IMPACTS POST-NATAL PROGRAMMING OF ADULT DISEASES via EPIGENETICS

Isaac Omeh
PhD Student 
Department of Biochemistry

Date: October 28, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Room: CSF 1302

Abstract:

Epigenetics is a complex process that influences gene activity without changing the underlying DNA sequence. Risk for many adult chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, has been linked to epigenetic perturbations due to poor early nutrition. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) feeding is often used in premature infants as a life-saving measure. Yet, it can limit methyl nutrient supply and lead to oxidative damage to methyl nutrients. We hypothesized that neonatal TPN feeding will lead to epigenetic changes that will increase the risk for obesity, dyslipidemia, type-2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis in adulthood. Twenty-four female piglets (7 days old) were randomized to Sow-fed (milk), TPN diet (TPN-control), TPN supplemented with betaine and creatine (TPN-B+C), and n=8 intrauterine growth restricted (TPN-IUGR) piglets were fed TPN to form the fourth group (TPN-IUGR). TPN was given for two weeks, after which all piglets were given a grower diet for ten months. TPN-IUGR pigs developed early markers of metabolic syndrome, including dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, glucose sensitivity perturbations and obesity. An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS), Dot blot assay, DNMTs assay, and methylome analysis will be conducted. These methods will enable me to provide an explanation of the epigenetic patterns from a metabolic perspective.