Bisphenol a exposure disrupts genomic imprinting in the mouse.

Abstract

Exposure to endocrine disruptors is associated with developmental defects. One compound of concern, to which humans are widely exposed, is bisphenol A (BPA). In model organisms, BPA exposure is linked to metabolic disorders, infertility, cancer, and behavior anomalies. Recently, BPA exposure has been linked to DNA methylation changes, indicating that epigenetic mechanisms may be relevant. We investigated effects of exposure on genomic imprinting in the mouse as imprinted genes are regulated by differential DNA methylation and aberrant imprinting disrupts fetal, placental, and postnatal development. Through allele-specific and quantitative real-time PCR analysis, we demonstrated that maternal BPA exposure during late stages of oocyte development and early stages of embryonic development significantly disrupted imprinted gene expression in embryonic day (E) 9.5 and 12.5 embryos and placentas. The affected genes included Snrpn, Ube3a, Igf2, Kcnq1ot1, Cdkn1c, and Ascl2; mutations and aberrant regulation of these genes are associated with imprinting disorders in humans. Furthermore, the majority of affected genes were expressed abnormally in the placenta. DNA methylation studies showed that BPA exposure significantly altered the methylation levels of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) including the Snrpn imprinting control region (ICR) and Igf2 DMR1. Moreover, exposure significantly reduced genome-wide methylation levels in the placenta, but not the embryo. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that these epigenetic defects were associated with abnormal placental development. In contrast to this early exposure paradigm, exposure outside of the epigenetic reprogramming window did not cause significant imprinting perturbations. Our data suggest that early exposure to common environmental compounds has the potential to disrupt fetal and postnatal health through epigenetic changes in the embryo and abnormal development of the placenta.

• Authors: Martha Susiarjo, Isaac Sasson, Clementina Mesaros, Marisa S Bartolomei
• Journal: PLoS genetics (PLoS Genet) Vol. 9 Issue 4 Pg. e1003401 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1553-7404 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23593014 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzhydryl Compounds
• CDKN1C protein, human
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57
• Phenols
• Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear
• Snrpd1 protein, mouse
• snRNP Core Proteins
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor II
• bisphenol A

Topics

• Alleles
• Animals
• Benzhydryl Compounds (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 (genetics)
• DNA Methylation (drug effects)
• Embryonic Development (drug effects)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental (drug effects)
• Genomic Imprinting (drug effects, genetics)
• Humans
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor II (genetics, metabolism)
• Mice
• Mutation
• Phenols (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Placenta (metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear (genetics)
• snRNP Core Proteins