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Environmental monitoring and the developmental origins of health and disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2019

Douglas Lopes Almeida*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
Audrei Pavanello
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
Lucas Paulo Saavedra
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
Tais Susane Pereira
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Mutagenesis, Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
Marialba Avezum Alves de Castro-Prado
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Mutagenesis, Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
Paulo Cezar de Freitas Mathias
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
*
Address for correspondence: Douglas Lopes Almeida, Department of Biotechnology, Cell Biology and Genetics, State University of Maringá, 5790 Av. Colombo, Sala 19, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil. Email: dougalmeida84@gmail.com

Abstract

Early-life chronic exposure to environmental contaminants, such as bisphenol-A, particulate matter air pollution, organophosphorus pesticides, and pharmaceutical drugs, among others, may affect central tissues, such as the hypothalamus, and peripheral tissues, such as the endocrine pancreas, causing inflammation and apoptosis with severe implications to the metabolism. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept articulates events in developmental phases of life, such as intrauterine, lactation, and adolescence, to later-life metabolism and health. These developmental phases are more susceptible to environmental changes, such as those caused by environmental contaminants, which may predispose individuals to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and chronic noncommunicable diseases later in life. Alterations in the epigenome are explored as an underlying mechanism to the programming effects on metabolism, as the expression of key genes related with central and peripheral metabolic functions may be altered in response to environmental disturbances. Studies show that environmental contaminants may affect gene expressions in mammals, especially when exposed to during the developmental phases of life, leading to metabolic disorders in adulthood. In this review, we discuss the current obesity epidemics, the DOHaD concept, pollutants’ toxicology, environmental control, and the role of environmental contaminants in the central and peripheral programming of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Improving environmental monitoring may directly affect the quality of life of the population and help protect the future generations from metabolic diseases.

Type
Review
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2019 

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