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Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance

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Genetic Damage in Human Spermatozoa

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1166))

Abstract

Epigenetic information refers to heritable changes in gene expression that occur without modifications at the DNA sequence level. These changes are orchestrated by different epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, posttranslational modifications of histones, and the presence of noncoding RNAs. Epigenetic information regulates chromatin structure to confer cell-specific gene expression.

The sperm epigenome is the result of three periods of global resetting during men’s life. Germ cell epigenome reprogramming is designed to allow cell totipotency and to prevent the transmission of epimutations via spermatozoa. At the end of these reprogramming events, the sperm epigenome has a very specific epigenetic pattern that is a footprint of past reprogramming events and has an influence on embryo development.

Several data demonstrate that not all regions of the epigenome are erased during the reprogramming periods, suggesting the transmission of epigenetic information from fathers to offspring via spermatozoa. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly clear that the sperm epigenome is sensitive to environmental factors during the process of gamete differentiation, suggesting the plasticity of the sperm epigenetic signature according to the circumstances of the individual’s life.

In this chapter, we provided strong evidences about the association between variations of the sperm epigenome and the exposure to environmental factors. Moreover, we will present data about how epigenetic mechanisms are candidates for transferring paternal environmental information to offspring.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetics of Male Fertility Group, Unitat de Biologia Cel·lular (Facultat de Biociències), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain

    Joan Blanco Rodríguez

  2. GenIntegral, Barcelona, Spain

    Cristina Camprubí Sánchez

  3. Reference Laboratory Genetics, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

    Cristina Camprubí Sánchez

  4. Unitat de Biologia Cel·lular i Genètica Mèdica (Facultat de Medicina), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain

    Cristina Camprubí Sánchez

Authors
  1. Joan Blanco Rodríguez
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  2. Cristina Camprubí Sánchez
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Correspondence to Joan Blanco Rodríguez .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Elisabetta Baldi

  2. Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Monica Muratori

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Blanco Rodríguez, J., Camprubí Sánchez, C. (2019). Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance. In: Baldi, E., Muratori, M. (eds) Genetic Damage in Human Spermatozoa. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1166. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21664-1_4

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