About this Research Topic
Embryogenesis involves complex processes that are tightly regulated by different signalling pathways, the activity of which can be altered by genetic and environmental factors. Lessons learned from nature show us that the environment, condition and/or genotype of the mother, can modulate the phenotype of her offspring, in some cases reversing the developmental instruction conferred by the offspring's genotype. This is what is known as the maternal effect, which gives plasticity to the phenotype of her offspring to adapt to different environmental situations. Although maternal effect could have a beneficial connotation aimed to increase the fitness of the offspring, it has to be considered that it may be detrimental to the well-being of the embryo. In humans, among the environmental factors that affect the intrauterine environment during embryogenesis, we must consider maternal health, medications, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and genotype. Some of these environmental factors could have their potentially adverse effects by altering the expression of genes involved in the signalling and metabolic pathways implicated in embryogenesis. For instance, maternal hyperglycaemia, one of the most studied chronic maternal diseases in relation to embryopathies, affects the expression of the components of a wide range of signalling pathways, suggesting that this interference could be the basis of diabetic embryopathies. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting an association between prenatal exposure to respiratory infections, such as CoVs and influenza, with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism.
The current pandemic situation of Covid-19 seems to be a unique situation for further research in this field. Another relevant environmental factor is the use of pharmacological treatment in women of childbearing age which represents a unique therapeutic problem where while the mother may benefit from a given treatment, this may have an adverse effect on the foetus. It is important to note that since almost all drugs in the maternal circulation cross the placenta, and xenobiotic metabolism varies greatly from embryo to foetus, and throughout the animal's life, a variation in the activity of metabolizing enzymes in the embryo could produce teratogenic metabolites. In this area, the great repercussion caused by the teratogenic effects of thalidomide comes to mind. Other medicines with a proven teratogenic effect are antiepileptic drugs with a 2 to 4 times higher risk of inducing congenital malformation, as well as adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in adult offspring with no other apparent malformations during pregnancy.
However, it is precisely through the mother that effective strategies can be designed for the prevention of developmental diseases by altering the foetal environment and, in turn, modulating the phenotype of the foetus. The maternal diet supplemented with folic acid and inositol has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of neural tube defects, and with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals it is neuroprotective against neonatal ischemic brain injury. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is therefore an increasingly interesting research topic, as it can have an impact on both mothers and their children's development.
We welcome contributions falling under the following topics:
• Effect of embryonic development by exposure to maternal (viral infection, diet, pollutants, illness, drug/alcohol/medicines exposure).
• Role of the maternal microbiota as a modulator of embryonic development.
• Yolk sac, placental, embryonic and foetal versus adult metabolism.
• Evaluation of the maternal effect on the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Alteration of signalling pathways involved in embryonic development due to maternal effect.
• Beneficial effects of the maternal diet: new approaches to exploring strategies for preventing developmental diseases.
• Animal models to study the beneficial or harmful maternal effect.
The current pandemic situation of Covid-19 seems to be a unique situation for further research in this field. Another relevant environmental factor is the use of pharmacological treatment in women of childbearing age which represents a unique therapeutic problem where while the mother may benefit from a given treatment, this may have an adverse effect on the foetus. It is important to note that since almost all drugs in the maternal circulation cross the placenta, and xenobiotic metabolism varies greatly from embryo to foetus, and throughout the animal's life, a variation in the activity of metabolizing enzymes in the embryo could produce teratogenic metabolites. In this area, the great repercussion caused by the teratogenic effects of thalidomide comes to mind. Other medicines with a proven teratogenic effect are antiepileptic drugs with a 2 to 4 times higher risk of inducing congenital malformation, as well as adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in adult offspring with no other apparent malformations during pregnancy.
However, it is precisely through the mother that effective strategies can be designed for the prevention of developmental diseases by altering the foetal environment and, in turn, modulating the phenotype of the foetus. The maternal diet supplemented with folic acid and inositol has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of neural tube defects, and with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals it is neuroprotective against neonatal ischemic brain injury. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is therefore an increasingly interesting research topic, as it can have an impact on both mothers and their children's development.
We welcome contributions falling under the following topics:
• Effect of embryonic development by exposure to maternal (viral infection, diet, pollutants, illness, drug/alcohol/medicines exposure).
• Role of the maternal microbiota as a modulator of embryonic development.
• Yolk sac, placental, embryonic and foetal versus adult metabolism.
• Evaluation of the maternal effect on the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Alteration of signalling pathways involved in embryonic development due to maternal effect.
• Beneficial effects of the maternal diet: new approaches to exploring strategies for preventing developmental diseases.
• Animal models to study the beneficial or harmful maternal effect.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
