Paternel obesity related to increased breast cancer risk in daughter, a mice study says

In mammals, epigenetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next one. Epigenetic information meaning DNA methylation, histone modification and also non-coding RNA. This information is also considered the memory of the previous generation and can be transmitted to the next one through the germ-line.

In this study, the authors tried to determine the contribution of paternal consumption of an obesity-diet and overweight around the time of conception on their daughters mammary development and breast cancer risk.

The male mice were fed from 3rd week to 10th week either with control diet or obesity-inducing diet (OID). An increased weight in the OID fathers and a mis-regulation of several miRNAs was observed.

After mating the OID father with female mice in a control diet, the female offsprings have been analysed. The authors observed that at birth the daughters show overweight. This weight increase persisted until puberty and disappeared compared to control in adult animals.

The mammary glad development has been analysed. The authors looked at mammary tissue susceptible to carcinogen induced initiation in breast cancer in rodents (TEBs). The number of TEBs was higher in daughters from OID fathers compared to controls. The authors measured an other parameter, the elongation of the mammary ductal adjusted to body weight and observed a higher one from OID female. It could correlate with and increased cell proliferation.

The link between the miRNA mis-regulation in the OID father and OID females and the risk of cancer has been strongly established. 

This study will need to be confirmed and performed in human in order to really be sure that there is a link between fathers obesity and daughters risk of breast cancer. 

I also think that this study increase our awareness.
We can always learn!

Source:

• Image: Common creative
•  Fontelles, C. C. et al. Paternal overweight is associated with increased breast cancer risk in daughters in a mouse model. Sci. Rep. 6, 28602; doi: 10.1038/srep28602 (2016).