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Epigenetic Mechanisms

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Neonatology

Abstract

Epidemiological and experimental studies have provided considerable evidence that early environmental cues may influence an individual’s susceptibility to disease in later life. Organisms have evolved with the capacity for developmental plasticity in order to match their developmental trajectory to the environment, and this adaptive response is driven in part by epigenetic mechanisms. However, a mismatch between the induced phenotype and mature environment contributes to an increased propensity toward developing chronic noncommunicable disease. In this chapter we describe several epigenetic mechanisms and some diseases that arise from non-environmentally induced epigenetic errors. We also provide an overview of the evidence that early-life environmental variations alter predisposition to chronic metabolic and cardiovascular disease at maturity and that this is mediated by epigenetic processes. The potential for reversibility of developmentally induced epigenetic changes is discussed.

The authors would like to thank Emilia Tng for assistance with research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Felicia M. Low & Peter D. Gluckman

Authors
  1. Felicia M. Low
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  2. Peter D. Gluckman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter D. Gluckman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Giuseppe Buonocore

  2. Department of Pediatrics Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Rodolfo Bracci

  3. Liverpool Women’s Hospital Neonatal Unit, Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling

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Low, F.M., Gluckman, P.D. (2018). Epigenetic Mechanisms. In: Buonocore, G., Bracci, R., Weindling, M. (eds) Neonatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29489-6_152

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29489-6_152

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-29487-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29489-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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