Poor growth of the fetus in utero, or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), increases visceral obesity and associated co-morbidities in humans. Visceral obesity is associated with increased expression of the PPAR? gene. Expression of genes is controlled by epigenetics and one epigenetic modifying enzyme is Setd8. We showed in other tissue types that Setd8 affects PPAR? epigenetics in association with changes in PPAR? expression. However, it is unknown if 1) this occurs in visceral adipose tissue, 2) if it is affected by IUGR, or 3) if the PPAR? -setd8 and PPAR? expression are causatively related. This proposal uses a rat model of IUGR to understand the relationship between IUGR and PPAR? -Setd8-epigentics in the adipose tissue. We will test two hypotheses in this proposal. First, that increased Setd8 levels in male IUGR rat visceral adipose tissue are associated with increased levels of an epigenetic modification made by Setd8, H4K20Me, of the PPAR? gene. For this we will use a rat model of IUGR. Second, we will test the hypothesis that IUGR increases lipid uptake by primary visceral adipose culture while knockdown of Setd8 or PPAR? reduces lipid uptake, PPAR?2 expression and H4K20Me of the PPAR? gene. To test this, we will use primary adipose cell culture. This work is significant to public health because understanding one molecular mechanism by which IUGR induces epigenetic modifications to PPAR? in IUGR visceral adipose tissue will provide insight into the root causes of visceral obesity in IUGR. Understanding these mechanisms will lead to the ability to develop interventions that can target specific epigenetic changes, with the potential to improve the metabolic health of formally growth restricted individuals.

Public Health Relevance

The development of visceral obesity and associated co-morbidities in infants that fail to grow properly in utero, involves epigenetic modifications to PPAR? . Understanding how these epigenetic modifications are made, and influenced by fetal growth restriction, will lead to the ability to develop interventions that can specifically target these epigenetic changes, with the potential to improve the metabolic health of formally growth restricted individuals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03DK095970-01
Application #
8352783
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Hyde, James F
Project Start
2012-07-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$74,750
Indirect Cost
$24,750
Name
University of Utah
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
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Ke, Xingrao; Xing, Bohan; Yu, Baifeng et al. (2014) IUGR disrupts the PPAR?-Setd8-H4K20me(1) and Wnt signaling pathways in the juvenile rat hippocampus. Int J Dev Neurosci 38:59-67
Riddle, Emily S; Campbell, Michael S; Lang, Brook Y et al. (2014) Intrauterine growth restriction increases TNF ? and activates the unfolded protein response in male rat pups. J Obes 2014:829862
Joss-Moore, Lisa; Carroll, Travis; Yang, Yan et al. (2013) Intrauterine growth restriction transiently delays alveolar formation and disrupts retinoic acid receptor expression in the lung of female rat pups. Pediatr Res 73:612-620
Bagley, Heidi N; Wang, Yan; Campbell, Michael S et al. (2013) Maternal docosahexaenoic acid increases adiponectin and normalizes IUGR-induced changes in rat adipose deposition. J Obes 2013:312153