Ganga Karunamuni1, Megan M Sheehan2, Yong Qiu Doughman1, Shi Gu2, Jiayang Sun3, Youjun Li3, James P Strainic1, Andrew M Rollins2, Michael W Jenkins1, Michiko Watanabe1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Collaborative, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. 2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. 3. Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Center for Statistical Research, Computing and Collaboration, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite decades of public education about dire consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), drinking alcohol during pregnancy remains prevalent. As high as 40% of live-born infants exposed to alcohol during gestation and diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome have congenital heart defects that can be life-threatening. In animal models, the methyl donor betaine, found in foods such as wheat bran, quinoa, beets, and spinach, ameliorated neurobehavioral deficits associated with PAE, but effects on heart development are unknown. METHODS: Previously, we modeled a binge drinking episode during the first trimester in avian embryos. Here, we investigated whether betaine could prevent adverse effects of alcohol on heart development. Embryos exposed to ethanol (EtOH) with and without an optimal dose of betaine (5 μM) were analyzed at late developmental stages. Cardiac morphology parameters were rapidly analyzed and quantified using optical coherence tomography. DNA methylation at early stages was detected by immunofluorescent staining for 5-methylcytosine in sections of embryos treated with EtOH or cotreated with betaine. RESULTS: Compared to EtOH-exposed embryos, betaine-supplemented embryos had higher late-stage survival rates and fewer gross head and body defects than seen after alcohol exposure alone. Betaine also reduced the incidence of late-stage cardiac defects such as absent vessels, abnormal atrioventricular (AV) valves, and hypertrophic ventricles. Furthermore, betaine cotreatment brought measurements of great vessel diameters, interventricular septum thickness, and AV leaflet volumes in betaine-supplemented embryos close to control values. Early-stage 5-methycytosine staining revealed that DNA methylation levels were reduced by EtOH exposure and normalized by co-administration with betaine. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study demonstrating efficacy of the methyl donor betaine in alleviating cardiac defects associated with PAE. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of low-concentration betaine doses in mitigating PAE-induced birth defects and have implications for prenatal nutrition policies, especially for women who may not be responsive to folate supplementation.
BACKGROUND: Despite decades of public education about dire consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), drinking alcohol during pregnancy remains prevalent. As high as 40% of live-born infants exposed to alcohol during gestation and diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome have congenital heart defects that can be life-threatening. In animal models, the methyldonorbetaine, found in foods such as wheat bran, quinoa, beets, and spinach, ameliorated neurobehavioral deficits associated with PAE, but effects on heart development are unknown. METHODS: Previously, we modeled a binge drinking episode during the first trimester in avian embryos. Here, we investigated whether betaine could prevent adverse effects of alcohol on heart development. Embryos exposed to ethanol (EtOH) with and without an optimal dose of betaine (5 μM) were analyzed at late developmental stages. Cardiac morphology parameters were rapidly analyzed and quantified using optical coherence tomography. DNA methylation at early stages was detected by immunofluorescent staining for 5-methylcytosine in sections of embryos treated with EtOH or cotreated with betaine. RESULTS: Compared to EtOH-exposed embryos, betaine-supplemented embryos had higher late-stage survival rates and fewer gross head and body defects than seen after alcohol exposure alone. Betaine also reduced the incidence of late-stage cardiac defects such as absent vessels, abnormal atrioventricular (AV) valves, and hypertrophic ventricles. Furthermore, betaine cotreatment brought measurements of great vessel diameters, interventricular septum thickness, and AV leaflet volumes in betaine-supplemented embryos close to control values. Early-stage 5-methycytosine staining revealed that DNA methylation levels were reduced by EtOH exposure and normalized by co-administration with betaine. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study demonstrating efficacy of the methyldonorbetaine in alleviating cardiac defects associated with PAE. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of low-concentration betaine doses in mitigating PAE-induced birth defects and have implications for prenatal nutrition policies, especially for women who may not be responsive to folate supplementation.
Authors: Philip A May; Amy Baete; Jaymi Russo; Amy J Elliott; Jason Blankenship; Wendy O Kalberg; David Buckley; Marita Brooks; Julie Hasken; Omar Abdul-Rahman; Margaret P Adam; Luther K Robinson; Melanie Manning; H Eugene Hoyme Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Larry Burd; Eric Deal; Rodrigo Rios; Edward Adickes; Joshua Wynne; Marilyn G Klug Journal: Congenit Heart Dis Date: 2007 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.007
Authors: Ganga Karunamuni; Shi Gu; Yong Qiu Doughman; Lindsy M Peterson; Katherine Mai; Quinn McHale; Michael W Jenkins; Kersti K Linask; Andrew M Rollins; Michiko Watanabe Journal: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Date: 2013-11-22 Impact factor: 4.733
Authors: Safdar Jawaid; James P Strainic; Jun Kim; Matthew R Ford; Lars Thrane; Ganga H Karunamuni; Megan M Sheehan; Amrin Chowdhury; Caitlyn A Gillespie; Andrew M Rollins; Michael W Jenkins; Michiko Watanabe; Stephanie M Ford Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2021-01-02 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Shan Ling; Michael W Jenkins; Michiko Watanabe; Stephanie M Ford; Andrew M Rollins Journal: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Date: 2021-06-18 Impact factor: 5.125