Gene imprinting in developmental toxicology: a possible interface between physiology and pathology

Gene imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism for accomplishing persistent cha nge in gene expression. In this brief paper, we explore the mechanisms for imprinting genes and present data showing that the synthetic estrogen, diet hylstilbestrol (DES) can developmentally imprint genes by changing the patt ern of DNA methylation. We further discuss the implications of this and oth er findings for non-mutagenic aspects of developmental toxicology, and sugg est ways to use this concept in modifying in vitro screening for developmen tal toxicants. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.