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Ashrap P, Watkins DJ, Mukherjee B, Boss J, Richards MJ, Rosario Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Predictors of urinary and blood Metal(loid) concentrations among pregnant women in Northern Puerto Rico. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109178. [PMID: 32007748 PMCID: PMC7167342 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Given the potential adverse health effects related to toxic trace metal exposure and insufficient or excessive levels of essential trace metals in pregnant women and their fetuses, the present study characterizes biomarkers of metal and metalloid exposure at repeated time points during pregnancy among women in Puerto Rico. We recruited 1040 pregnant women from prenatal clinics and collected urine, blood, and questionnaire data on demographics, product use, food consumption, and water usage at up to three visits. All samples were analyzed for 16 metal(loid)s: arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), uranium (U), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn). Urine samples were additionally analyzed for molybdenum (Mo), platinum (Pt), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), and tungsten (W). Mean concentrations of most metal(loid)s were higher among participants compared to the general US female population. We found weak to moderate correlations for inter-matrix comparisons, and moderate to strong correlations between several metal(loid)s measured within each biological matrix. Blood concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, Hg, and Pb were shown to reflect reliable biomarkers of exposure. For other metals, repeated samples are recommended for exposure assessment in epidemiology studies. Predictors of metal(loid) biomarkers included fish and rice consumption (urinary As), fish and canned food (blood Hg), drinking public water (blood Pb), smoking (blood Cd), and iron/folic acid supplement use (urinary Cs, Mo, and Sb). Characterization of metal(loid) biomarker variation over time and between matrices, and identification of important exposure sources, may inform future epidemiology studies and exposure reduction strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pahriya Ashrap
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jonathan Boss
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Zaira Rosario
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - John D Meeker
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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Park B, Khanam R, Vinayachandran V, Baqui AH, London SJ, Biswal S. Epigenetic biomarkers and preterm birth. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2020; 6:dvaa005. [PMID: 32551139 PMCID: PMC7293830 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is a major public health challenge, and novel, sensitive approaches to predict PTB are still evolving. Epigenomic markers are being explored as biomarkers of PTB because of their molecular stability compared to gene expression. This approach is also relatively new compared to gene-based diagnostics, which relies on mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms. The fundamental principle of epigenome diagnostics is that epigenetic reprogramming in the target tissue (e.g. placental tissue) might be captured by more accessible surrogate tissue (e.g. blood) using biochemical epigenome assays on circulating DNA that incorporate methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning, and/or chromatin accessibility. Epigenomic-based biomarkers may hold great potential for early identification of the majority of PTBs that are not associated with genetic variants or mutations. In this review, we discuss recent advances made in the development of epigenome assays focusing on its potential exploration for association and prediction of PTB. We also summarize population-level cohort studies conducted in the USA and globally that provide opportunities for genetic and epigenetic marker development for PTB. In addition, we summarize publicly available epigenome resources and published PTB studies. We particularly focus on ongoing genome-wide DNA methylation and epigenome-wide association studies. Finally, we review the limitations of current research, the importance of establishing a comprehensive biobank, and possible directions for future studies in identifying effective epigenome biomarkers to enhance health outcomes for pregnant women at risk of PTB and their infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bongsoo Park
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Rasheda Khanam
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, International Center for Maternal and Newborn Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Vinesh Vinayachandran
- School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Abdullah H Baqui
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, International Center for Maternal and Newborn Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Stephanie J London
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Shyam Biswal
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Heiss JA, Téllez-Rojo MM, Estrada-Gutiérrez G, Schnaas L, Amarasiriwardena C, Baccarelli AA, Wright RO, Just AC. Prenatal lead exposure and cord blood DNA methylation in PROGRESS: an epigenome-wide association study. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2020; 6:dvaa014. [PMID: 33324494 PMCID: PMC7722799 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The effects of prenatal lead exposure on child development include impaired growth and cognitive function. DNA methylation might be involved in the underlying mechanisms and previous epigenome-wide association studies reported associations between lead exposure during pregnancy and cord blood methylation levels. However, it is unclear during which developmental stage lead exposure is most harmful. Cord blood methylation levels were assayed in 420 children from a Mexican pre-birth cohort using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC microarray. Lead concentrations were measured in umbilical cord blood as well as in blood samples from the mothers collected at 2nd and 3rd trimester and delivery using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In addition, maternal bone lead levels were measured in tibia and patella using X-ray fluorescence. Comprehensive quality control and preprocessing of microarray data was followed by an unbiased restriction to methylation sites with substantial variance. Methylation levels at 202 111 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites were regressed on each exposure adjusting for child sex, leukocyte composition, batch variables, gestational age, birthweight-for-gestational-age, maternal age, maternal education and mode of delivery. We find no association between prenatal lead exposure and cord blood methylation. This null result is strengthened by a sensitivity analysis showing that in the same dataset known biomarkers for birthweight-for-gestational-age can be recovered and the fact that phenotypic associations with lead exposure have been described in the same cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Heiss
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Martha M Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, University No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Closed Los Pinos and Caminera. Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | | | - Lourdes Schnaas
- National Institute of Perinatology, Calle Montes Urales 800, Lomas de Virreyes, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Allan C Just
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Correspondence address. 17 East 102 Street Floor 3 Room 131 New York, NY 10029.
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Perera BP, Faulk C, Svoboda LK, Goodrich JM, Dolinoy DC. The role of environmental exposures and the epigenome in health and disease. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2020; 61:176-192. [PMID: 31177562 PMCID: PMC7252203 DOI: 10.1002/em.22311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The genetic material of every organism exists within the context of regulatory networks that govern gene expression, collectively called the epigenome. Epigenetics has taken center stage in the study of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, but its integration into the field of environmental health is still emerging. As the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, we have come together to review and summarize the seminal advances in the field of environmental epigenomics. Specifically, we focus on the role epigenetics may play in multigenerational and transgenerational transmission of environmentally induced health effects. We also summarize state of the art techniques for evaluating the epigenome, environmental epigenetic analysis, and the emerging field of epigenome editing. Finally, we evaluate transposon epigenetics as they relate to environmental exposures and explore the role of noncoding RNA as biomarkers of environmental exposures. Although the field has advanced over the past several decades, including being recognized by EMGS with its own Special Interest Group, recently renamed Epigenomics, we are excited about the opportunities for environmental epigenetic science in the next 50 years. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:176-192, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bambarendage P.U. Perera
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Christopher Faulk
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota
| | - Laurie K. Svoboda
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Dana C. Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Correspondence to: Dana C. Dolinoy, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Fruh V, Rifas-Shiman SL, Amarasiriwardena C, Cardenas A, Bellinger DC, Wise LA, White RF, Wright RO, Oken E, Claus Henn B. Prenatal lead exposure and childhood executive function and behavioral difficulties in project viva. Neurotoxicology 2019; 75:105-115. [PMID: 31513824 PMCID: PMC6842061 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead is an established neurotoxicant and early life exposure to lead is associated with detrimental impacts on IQ and several neurobehavioral domains. Less is known, however, about effects of prenatal lead exposure below 5 μg/dL on executive function and on social, emotional and self-regulatory behaviors in childhood. OBJECTIVES To examine the association between prenatal lead exposure and childhood executive function and social, emotional and self-regulatory behaviors. METHODS We included 1006 mother-child pairs from the Project Viva prospective pre-birth cohort. We measured prenatal maternal lead in second-trimester erythrocytes. In mid-childhood (median 7.7 years), parents and teachers rated executive function related behaviors using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and behavioral difficulties using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for maternal, paternal, and child characteristics and metal co-exposures. RESULTS Mean maternal erythrocyte lead concentration was 1.2 μg/dL (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8-1.5 μg /dL), equivalent to approximately 0.4 μg/dL in whole blood. In adjusted models, associations with parent and teacher-rated scales were largely null, although effect estimates were consistently positive, suggesting worse scores with increasing lead levels. For an IQR increase in lead, BRIEF Global Executive Composite (GEC) was 0.73 (95% CI: -0.06, 1.52) points higher for parent-rated scores and 0.42 (95% CI: -0.39, 1.23) points higher for teacher-rated scores. Associations were strongest for parent-rated BRIEF plan/organize (β = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.12, 1.59) and shift (β = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.01, 1.75) subscales, as well as the SDQ emotional problems subscale (β = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.33). DISCUSSION In this cohort with lead levels commonly experienced by U.S. women, there were few statistically significant associations with childhood executive function and behavior. However, there was a trend of worse neurobehavioral scores with increasing prenatal lead concentrations, in particular for childhood emotional problems and capacity to plan/organize and shift. Our results highlight the importance of continuing efforts to eliminate lead exposure in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Fruh
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - David C Bellinger
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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Mani MS, Kabekkodu SP, Joshi MB, Dsouza HS. Ecogenetics of lead toxicity and its influence on risk assessment. Hum Exp Toxicol 2019; 38:1031-1059. [PMID: 31117811 DOI: 10.1177/0960327119851253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) toxicity is a public health problem affecting millions worldwide. Advances in 'omic' technology have paved the way to toxico-genomics which is currently revolutionizing the understanding of interindividual variations in susceptibility to Pb toxicity and its functional consequences to exposure. Our objective was to identify, comprehensively analyze, and curate all the potential genetic and epigenetic biomarkers studied to date in relation to Pb toxicity and its association with diseases. We screened a volume of research articles that focused on Pb toxicity and its association with genetic and epigenetic signatures in the perspective of occupational and environmental Pb exposure. Due to wide variations in population size, ethnicity, age-groups, and source of exposure in different studies, researchers continue to be skeptical on the topic of the influence of genetic variations in Pb toxicity. However, surface knowledge of the underlying genetic factors will aid in elucidating the mechanism of action of Pb. Moreover, in recent years, the application of epigenetics in Pb toxicity has become a promising area in toxicology to understand the influence of epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and small RNAs for the regulation of genes in response to Pb exposure during early life. Growing evidences of ecogenetic understanding (both genetic and epigenetic processes) in a dose-dependent manner may help uncover the mechanism of action of Pb and in the identification of susceptible groups. Such studies will further help in refining uncertainty factors and in addressing risk assessment of Pb poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Mani
- 1 Department of Radiation Biology and Toxicology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - S P Kabekkodu
- 2 Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - M B Joshi
- 3 Department of Ageing, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - H S Dsouza
- 1 Department of Radiation Biology and Toxicology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Song L, Liu B, Zhang L, Wu M, Wang L, Cao Z, Zhang B, Li Y, Wang Y, Xu S. Association of prenatal exposure to arsenic with newborn telomere length: Results from a birth cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 175:442-448. [PMID: 31158562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The telomere length at birth has important implications for telomere dynamics over the lifespan; however, few studies have explored the relationship between prenatal arsenic exposure and newborn telomere length (TL). We investigated whether newborn TL is related to prenatal arsenic exposure. METHODS We used data from a birth cohort study of 762 mother-newborn pairs conducted between November 2013 and March 2015 in Wuhan, China. We measured relative cord blood TL using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Arsenic concentrations were measured in spot urine samples collected during three trimesters using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We applied multiple informant models to explore the relationships between prenatal urinary arsenic concentrations and cord blood TL. RESULTS The geometric means of urinary arsenic concentrations were 21.7 μg/g creatinine, 27.3 μg/g creatinine, and 27.1 μg/g creatinine in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, a doubling of maternal urinary arsenic concentration during the third trimester was related to a 5.75% (95% CI: 1.70%, 9.95%) increase in cord blood TL, particularly in female infants. Similarly, mothers in the highest quartile of urinary arsenic during the third trimester had an 11.45% (95% CI: 1.91%, 21.88%) longer cord blood TL than those in the lowest quartile. However, no significant association was found between maternal urinary arsenic concentration and cord blood TL during the first and second trimesters. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that maternal arsenic exposure during the third trimester was positively associated with newborn TL. The elongation of newborn telomeres due to prenatal arsenic exposure may offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying arsenic-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bingqing Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mingyang Wu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lulin Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhongqiang Cao
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Everson TM, Marsit CJ. Integrating -Omics Approaches into Human Population-Based Studies of Prenatal and Early-Life Exposures. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 5:328-337. [PMID: 30054820 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-018-0204-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We present the study design and methodological suggestions for population-based studies that integrate molecular -omics data and highlight recent studies that have used such data to examine the potential impacts of prenatal environmental exposures on fetal health. RECENT FINDINGS Epidemiologic studies have observed numerous relationships between prenatal exposures (smoking, toxic metals, endocrine disruptors) and fetal and early-life molecular profiles, though such investigations have so far been dominated by epigenomic association studies. However, recent transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies have demonstrated their promise for the identification of exposure and response biomarkers. Molecular -omics have opened new avenues of research in environmental health that can improve our understanding of disease etiology and contribute to the development of exposure and response biomarkers. Studies that incorporate multiple -omics data from different molecular domains in longitudinally collected samples hold particular promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd M Everson
- Departments of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Claudia Nance Rollins Room 2021, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Departments of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Claudia Nance Rollins Room 2021, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. .,Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Claudia Nance Rollins Room 2021, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Zhang XX, He Z, Feng B, Shao H. An epigenome-wide DNA methylation study of workers with an occupational exposure to lead. J Appl Toxicol 2019; 39:1311-1319. [PMID: 31119761 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip (850 K), we report genome-wide differences in DNA methylation between occupational workers with high blood Pb levels (BLL) and low BLL. We observed 356 significant CpG sites. In particular, GSTM1 methylation was negatively associated with high BLL. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed to determine the complex biological systems of Pb exposure. Enriched gene sets were involved in the oxidation-reduction process, glutathione derivative biosynthetic process and nervous system development. To our knowledge, this is the first study to employ an 850 K array to examine whether workers with occupational exposure to high levels of Pb can have an epigenetic effect on the DNA methylation pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Xu Zhang
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Zhen He
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Bin Feng
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Hua Shao
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Jinan, China
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Shukla A, Bunkar N, Kumar R, Bhargava A, Tiwari R, Chaudhury K, Goryacheva IY, Mishra PK. Air pollution associated epigenetic modifications: Transgenerational inheritance and underlying molecular mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 656:760-777. [PMID: 30530146 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is one of the leading causes of deaths in Southeast Asian countries including India. Exposure to air pollutants affects vital cellular mechanisms and is intimately linked with the etiology of a number of chronic diseases. Earlier work from our laboratory has shown that airborne particulate matter disturbs the mitochondrial machinery and causes significant damage to the epigenome. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species possess the ability to trigger redox-sensitive signaling mechanisms and induce irreversible epigenomic changes. The electrophilic nature of reactive metabolites can directly result in deprotonation of cytosine at C-5 position or interfere with the DNA methyltransferases activity to cause alterations in DNA methylation. In addition, it also perturbs level of cellular metabolites critically involved in different epigenetic processes like acetylation and methylation of histone code and DNA hypo or hypermethylation. Interestingly, these modifications may persist through downstream generations and result in the transgenerational epigenomic inheritance. This phenomenon of subsequent transfer of epigenetic modifications is mainly associated with the germ cells and relies on the germline stability of the epigenetic states. Overall, the recent literature supports, and arguably strengthens, the contention that air pollution might contribute to transmission of epimutations from gametes to zygotes by involving mitochondrial DNA, parental allele imprinting, histone withholding and non-coding RNAs. However, larger prospective studies using innovative, integrated epigenome-wide metabolomic strategy are highly warranted to assess the air pollution induced transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and associated human health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushi Shukla
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Neha Bunkar
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Rajat Kumar
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Arpit Bhargava
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Rajnarayan Tiwari
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Koel Chaudhury
- School of Medical Science & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
| | - Irina Y Goryacheva
- Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Saratov State University, Saratov, Russia
| | - Pradyumna K Mishra
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India.
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Farzan SF, Howe CG, Chen Y, Gilbert-Diamond D, Cottingham KL, Jackson BP, Weinstein AR, Karagas MR. Prenatal lead exposure and elevated blood pressure in children. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:1289-1296. [PMID: 30389381 PMCID: PMC6279470 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that environmental exposures can influence blood pressure over the course of a lifetime. Exposure to toxic metals, such as lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), has been associated with increased blood pressure in adults, but few studies have examined the impacts of in utero and early life toxic metals exposure on blood pressure in childhood. As subclinical vascular changes are thought to begin early in life, it is possible that in utero toxic metals exposure may play a role in blood pressure homeostasis. In the ongoing New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study, we investigated whether in utero exposure to Pb and As was associated with measures of blood pressure in a total of 323 young children (mean age 5.5 years, SD 0.4). Pb and As were measured in maternal toenail samples collected at ~28 weeks gestation (n = 257) and/or 6 weeks postpartum (n = 285), which represent exposures ~6 to 12 months prior to collection and therefore reflect the early prenatal and late prenatal exposures, respectively. Five measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were averaged for each child using a standardized technique. In linear regression analyses, where log2-transformed prenatal toenail Pb and As were modeled jointly and adjusted for child age, sex, height, weight and maternal smoking during pregnancy, we observed that a doubling of maternal prenatal toenail Pb was associated with statistically significant increases in child SBP (β: 0.58 mm Hg, 95% CI: 0.05, 1.11). We did not observe any association of prenatal or postpartum As, or postpartum Pb, with SBP or DBP. Exploratory sex-stratified analyses suggest that associations of prenatal Pb with BP may be stronger among boys (SBP β: 0.72 mm Hg: 95% CI: -0.01, 1.44; DBP β: 0.37; 95% CI: -0.09, 0.84), compared to girls (SBP β: 0.48 mm Hg: 95% CI: -0.31, 1.26; DBP β: -0.05; 95% CI: -0.52, 0.41), though tests for interaction did not reach statistical significance (p-interaction SBP = 0.059; DBP = 0.057). Our preliminary results suggest that in utero toxic metals exposures may be associated with early life increases in blood pressure in children, which could have consequences for long-term health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Diane Gilbert-Diamond
- Children's Environmental Health & Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Kathryn L Cottingham
- Children's Environmental Health & Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Adam R Weinstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Children's Environmental Health & Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
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62
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Rooney JPK, Woods NF, Martin MD, Woods JS. Genetic polymorphisms of GRIN2A and GRIN2B modify the neurobehavioral effects of low-level lead exposure in children. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 165:1-10. [PMID: 29655037 PMCID: PMC5999567 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is neurotoxic and children are highly susceptible to this effect, particularly within the context of continuous low-level Pb exposure. A current major challenge is identification of children who may be uniquely susceptible to Pb toxicity because of genetic predisposition. Learning and memory are among the neurobehavioral processes that are most notably affected by Pb exposure, and modification of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) that regulate these processes during development are postulated to underlie these adverse effects of Pb. We examined the hypothesis that polymorphic variants of genes encoding glutamate receptor, ionotropic, NMDAR subunits 2A and 2B, GRIN2A and GRIN2B, exacerbate the adverse effects of Pb exposure on these processes in children. Participants were subjects who participated as children in the Casa Pia Dental Amalgam Clinical Trial and for whom baseline blood Pb concentrations and annual neurobehavioral test results over the 7 year course of the clinical trial were available. Genotyping assays were performed for variants of GRIN2A (rs727605 and rs1070503) and GRIN2B (rs7301328 and rs1806201) on biological samples acquired from 330 of the original 507 trial participants. Regression modeling strategies were employed to evaluate the association between genotype status, Pb exposure, and neurobehavioral test outcomes. Numerous significant adverse interaction effects between variants of both GRIN2A and GRIN2B, individually and in combination, and Pb exposure were observed particularly among boys, preferentially within the domains of Learning & Memory and Executive Function. In contrast, very few interaction effects were observed among similarly genotyped girls with comparable Pb exposure. These findings support observations of an essential role of GRIN2A and GRIN2B on developmental processes underlying learning and memory as well as other neurological functions in children and demonstrate, further, modification of Pb effects on these processes by specific variants of both GRIN2A and GRIN2B genes. These observations highlight the importance of genetic factors in defining susceptibility to Pb neurotoxicity and may have important public health implications for future strategies aimed at protecting children and adolescents from potential health risks associated with low-level Pb exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P K Rooney
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Nancy F Woods
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael D Martin
- Departments of Oral Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James S Woods
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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63
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Leung YK, Ouyang B, Niu L, Xie C, Ying J, Medvedovic M, Chen A, Weihe P, Valvi D, Grandjean P, Ho SM. Identification of sex-specific DNA methylation changes driven by specific chemicals in cord blood in a Faroese birth cohort. Epigenetics 2018; 13:290-300. [PMID: 29560787 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2018.1445901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Faroe islanders consume marine foods contaminated with methylmercury (MeHg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other toxicants associated with chronic disease risks. Differential DNA methylation at specific CpG sites in cord blood may serve as a surrogate biomarker of health impacts from chemical exposures. We aimed to identify key environmental chemicals in cord blood associated with DNA methylation changes in a population with elevated exposure to chemical mixtures. We studied 72 participants of a Faroese birth cohort recruited between 1986 and 1987 and followed until adulthood. The cord blood DNA methylome was profiled using Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips. We determined the associations of CpG site changes with concentrations of MeHg, major PCBs, other organochlorine compounds [hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane], and perfluoroalkyl substances. In a combined sex analysis, among the 16 chemicals studied, PCB congener 105 (CB-105) exposure was associated with the majority of differentially methylated CpG sites (214 out of a total of 250). In female-only analysis, only 73 CB-105 associated CpG sites were detected, 44 of which were mapped to genes in the ELAV1-associated cancer network. In males-only, methylation changes were seen for perfluorooctane sulfonate, HCB, and p,p'-DDE in 10,598, 1,238, and 1,473 CpG sites, respectively, 15% of which were enriched in cytobands of the X-chromosome associated with neurological disorders. In this multiple-pollutant and genome-wide study, we identified key epigenetic toxicants. The significant enrichment of specific X-chromosome sites in males implies potential sex-specific epigenome responses to prenatal chemical exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuet-Kin Leung
- a Division of Environmental Genetics and Molecular Toxicology.,e Center of Environmental Genetics.,f Cincinnati Cancer Center , University of Cincinnati Medical Center , Cincinnati , USA
| | - Bin Ouyang
- a Division of Environmental Genetics and Molecular Toxicology.,e Center of Environmental Genetics
| | - Liang Niu
- b Biostatistics & Bioinformatics.,e Center of Environmental Genetics
| | - Changchun Xie
- b Biostatistics & Bioinformatics.,e Center of Environmental Genetics
| | - Jun Ying
- b Biostatistics & Bioinformatics.,c Public Health Science and
| | - Mario Medvedovic
- b Biostatistics & Bioinformatics.,e Center of Environmental Genetics.,f Cincinnati Cancer Center , University of Cincinnati Medical Center , Cincinnati , USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- d Epidemiology Department of Environmental Health.,e Center of Environmental Genetics
| | - Pal Weihe
- h Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health , Faroese Hospital System , Torshavn , Faroe Islands
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- i Department of Environmental Health , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , USA
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- i Department of Environmental Health , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , USA.,j Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Shuk-Mei Ho
- a Division of Environmental Genetics and Molecular Toxicology.,e Center of Environmental Genetics.,f Cincinnati Cancer Center , University of Cincinnati Medical Center , Cincinnati , USA.,g Cincinnati Veteran Affairs Medical Center , Cincinnati , USA
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