Exploration into the epigenetic mechanisms related to prenatal famine & later-life health

Abstract

Epigenetics is a fascinating field and one that researchers are continuously studying to learn more about and its effects over time. One group of individuals, in particular, has caught the eye of many, and it is those affected by what is commonly called today the Dutch hunger winter. This was a time when people in the Netherlands experienced extreme famine around the end of World War II. Those conceived during that time have grown up to have an increased rate of metabolic diseases, making this an interesting area of research for the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis. Many researchers have found associations between in-utero exposures and variations in this cohort's epigenetic profile and mice studies. These include known epigenetically regulated loci such as IGF2 in humans and Aᵛʸ in mice. However, the molecular mechanisms are not completely understood yet for there to be distinct causality. Here I examine the history of the Dutch hunger winter, known epigenetic mechanisms, an in-depth look at what research has discovered, the logic behind the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis, and ideas for future research.