Role of imprinted gene Insulin-like growth factor 2 in fetal growth / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Genomic imprinting plays a fundamental role in mammal fetal growth and behavior. Abnormal expression of imprinted genes is associated with some genetic diseases and cancers. Imprinted insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) controls fetal growth by regulating nutrient transportation in placenta. Paternal uniparental disomy, duplication of paternal allele and loss of imprinting are 3 molecular mechanisms of IGF-2 overexpression that can cause Beckwith-Weidemann’s syndrome (BWS). Some assisted reproductive techniques may cause some epigenetic changes that affect embryonic and postnatal development.