Maternal obesity: sex‐specific in utero changes in fetal brain autophagy and mTOR
Authors' conclusion
We present novel evidence suggesting that in utero exposure to maternal obesity in humans may significantly affect neurodevelopment, especially in male fetuses, through alterations in normal autophagy molecular mechanisms and with adiponectin as a potential mediator.
Study context
- Population
- Women with singleton fetuses undergoing elective pregnancy termination at gestational ages 15 to 21 weeks; fetal brain tissue
- Comparison
- Fetal brain tissue exposed to maternal obesity vs not exposed
- Outcome
- Fetal brain mRNA expression of autophagy and mTOR genes (ΔΔCt method, GAPDH housekeeping gene)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Male fetal brain exposed to maternal obesity: transcription patterns associated with inhibition of autophagy (↑MTOR, ↓ATG5, ↓ATG7, ↓MAP1LC3B)
- Female fetuses: either no change in transcription or nonsignificant changes associated with increased autophagy
- Significant downregulation of BECN1 in both male and female fetuses exposed to obesity in utero
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Maternal obesity: sex‐specific in utero changes in fetal brain autophagy and mTOR. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 21 April 2024. doi:10.
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