Role of miRNA in the Transmission of Metabolic Diseases Associated With Paternal Diet-Induced Obesity

Conclusion The periconceptional environment and lifestyle factors modify sperm epigenome. This alteration might be maintained in the zygote and throughout development, thereby leading to the inheritance of newly acquired pathologies. The role of sperm miRNA, not only as innovative markers of fertility issues but also as vectors involved in the inheritance of paternal diseases, appears to be crucial. Overweight and obesity seem to alter sperm miRNA profile, thereby leading to transmission of different miRNA profiles in zygote, with consequences on embryo development. In long term, metabolic disorders have been described in offspring F1 and F2, and other pathologies may originate from paternal environment. In practice, this concept is important to know because it can help to predict and improve the periconceptional period, with a personalized management, and could be a powerful tool for infertility care. Indeed, paternal environment is too often neglected compared to the maternal environment. Identifying sperm miRNA profiles to predict risk of fertility alteration or noncommunicable disease inheritance is now required and needs further investigation, especially in randomized control trials in human. The impact of selected miRNA on IVF outcome, and the possibility to reverse or modify these miRNA profiles, requires our interest. Health professionals should pay more attention to the health of men of childbearing age. Author Contributions CD, LK, SS, VG, and RL participated...
Source: Frontiers in Genetics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research