NOTCH1 and UPR signaling in embryonic heart development under maternal high-fat diet influence
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: During the submission and review period, I obtained my Master's degree from Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, and subsequently joined the Obstetrics Department of the same hospital. Due to this change in status from student to hospital staff, I am now required to use my staff email for correspondence, which has been updated in the manuscript. In addition, our hospital has revised the official format of the institution's name for submissions, and accordingly, the affiliation in the manuscript has been updated from "Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University" to "Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University. Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital." We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may have caused to the editorial team. Objective: This study aimed to investigate how maternal high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy affects embryonic heart development. Methods: C57BL/6J female mice were fed a HFD before and during pregnancy. Maternal blood was collected at P5.5, P10.5, and P14.5 to assess lipid levels. Embryonic hearts at E14.5 were examined by H&E staining, and ventricular protein expression of NOTCH1 and UPR-related molecules was measured via Western blot. E14.5 cardiomyocytes were cultured to evaluate NOTCH1 expression after IRE1α pathway inhibition. Results: Compared with the control group (Group A), serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were increased, and HDL-C was decreased in maternal mice fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy (Group B) and a high-fat diet both before and during pregnancy (Group C). Group B embryos exhibited abnormal ventricular wall compaction, thinning, and valve defects, which were more severe in Group C. NOTCH1 expression was reduced in B and C ventricular tissues, while XBP1s and apoptosis-related proteins caspase-3/7 were elevated. Inhibition of the IRE1α pathway abolished differences in NOTCH1 expression among groups in cultured cardiomyocytes. Conclusion: Maternal HFD before and during pregnancy induces abnormal embryonic heart development, likely via IRE1α pathway activation in the UPR, which suppresses NOTCH1 expression and promotes apoptosis. These findings underscore the importance of a balanced maternal diet for proper embryonic heart development.
Source: Frontiers in Medicine
Authors: Yupeng Shi, Bingyu Li, Qingyun Shi
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4416977126