1
|
Daniels D, Berger Eberhardt A. Climate change, microplastics, and male infertility. Curr Opin Urol 2024:00042307-990000000-00170. [PMID: 38932480 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0000000000001201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Semen quality is on the decline. While the etiology is unknown, recent literature suggests there may be a relationship between climate change, environmental toxins and male fertility. This review relays new information regarding associations between our environment and male infertility. RECENT FINDINGS Several recent studies have documented a negative association between heat stress and spermatogenesis, which suggests that climate change may be a factor in declining in sperm counts. The influence of particle pollution on spermatogenesis has also been recently investigated, with studies demonstrating a negative association. Another possible factor are microplastics, which have been posited to reduce sperm production. Recent animal studies have shown that microplastic exposure alters both adult sperm production and prenatal male genital development. The relationship between endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility remains an area of active study, with recent animal and human studies suggesting an association between these chemicals and male fertility. SUMMARY The etiology of the decline in male fertility over the past decades is yet unknown. However, changes in our environment as seen with climate change and exposure to pollutants and endocrine disrupting chemicals are proposed mechanisms for this decline. Further studies are needed to investigate this association further.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandra Berger Eberhardt
- Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School, Associate Surgeon, Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Urology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zheng S, Jiang L, Qiu L. The effects of fine particulate matter on the blood-testis barrier and its potential mechanisms. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2024; 39:233-249. [PMID: 36863426 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
With the rapid expansion of industrial scale, an increasing number of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has bringing health concerns. Although exposure to PM2.5 has been clearly associated with male reproductive toxicity, the exact mechanisms are still unclear. Recent studies demonstrated that exposure to PM2.5 can disturb spermatogenesis through destroying the blood-testis barrier (BTB), consisting of different junction types, containing tight junctions (TJs), gap junctions (GJs), ectoplasmic specialization (ES) and desmosomes. The BTB is one of the tightest blood-tissue barriers among mammals, which isolating germ cells from hazardous substances and immune cell infiltration during spermatogenesis. Therefore, once the BTB is destroyed, hazardous substances and immune cells will enter seminiferous tubule and cause adversely reproductive effects. In addition, PM2.5 also has shown to cause cells and tissues injury via inducing autophagy, inflammation, sex hormones disorder, and oxidative stress. However, the exact mechanisms of the disruption of the BTB, induced by PM2.5, are still unclear. It is suggested that more research is required to identify the potential mechanisms. In this review, we aim to understand the adverse effects on the BTB after exposure to PM2.5 and explore its potential mechanisms, which provides novel insight into accounting for PM2.5-induced BTB injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaokai Zheng
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, P. R. China
| | - Lianlian Jiang
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, P. R. China
| | - Lianglin Qiu
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kornfield M, Rubin E, Parker P, Garg B, O'Leary T, Phillips S, Madding R, Baldwin M, Amato P, Lee D, Wu D, Krieg S. Unhealthy air quality secondary to wildfires is associated with lower blastocyst yield. Fertil Steril 2024; 121:842-852. [PMID: 38244020 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the impact of unhealthy air quality from the 2020 Oregon wildfires on outcomes for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. SETTING A university-based fertility clinic. PATIENTS Subjects were undergoing IVF treatment from the 6 weeks preceding the wildfires through a 10-day exposure period. Cohorts were classified on the basis of whether subjects experienced patient and/or laboratory exposure to unhealthy air quality. Patient exposure was defined as at least 4 days of ovarian stimulation overlapping with the exposure, and laboratory exposure was defined as at least 2 days of IVF treatment and embryogenesis overlapping with the exposure. The unexposed cohort consisted of remaining subjects without defined exposure, with cycles in the 6 weeks preceding the wildfires. As some subjects had dual exposure and appeared in both patient and laboratory exposure cohorts, each cohort was separately compared with the unexposed control cohort. INTERVENTION A 10-day period of unhealthy air quality caused by smoke plumes from a wildfire event. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the blastulation rate. Secondary outcomes included fertilization rate, number of blastocysts obtained, and cycles with no blastocysts frozen or transferred. RESULTS Sixty-nine subjects underwent ovarian stimulation and IVF treatment during the 6 weeks preceding the wildfires through the 10-day period of unhealthy air quality. Of these, 15 patients were in the laboratory exposure cohort, 16 were in the patient exposure cohort, and 44 were unexposed. Six subjects appeared in both laboratory and patient exposure cohorts. Although neither exposure cohort had significantly decreased blastulation rate compared with the unexposed, the median number of blastocysts obtained was significantly lower in the laboratory exposure cohort than the unexposed group (2 [range 0-14] vs. 4.5 [range 0-21], respectively). The laboratory exposure cohort had significantly more cycles with no blastocysts obtained (3/15 [20%] vs. 1/44 [2%]). There were no significant differences in IVF treatment outcomes between patient exposure and unexposed cohorts. These findings persisted after controlling for age. There were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes observed after embryo transfer between the exposure group and the unexposed group. CONCLUSION For a cohort of patients undergoing IVF treatment, an acute episode of outside wildfire smoke exposure during fertilization and embryogenesis was associated with decreased blastocyst yield.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Molly Kornfield
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
| | - Elizabeth Rubin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Pamela Parker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Bharti Garg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Thomas O'Leary
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sara Phillips
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Rachel Madding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Maureen Baldwin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Paula Amato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - David Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Diana Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sacha Krieg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang Y, Wei J, Zhao S, Zeng Q, Sun S, Cao W. Ambient fine particulate matter constituents and semen quality among adult men in China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133313. [PMID: 38147745 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was associated with decreased semen quality, but the relationship between PM2.5 constituents and semen quality was unclear. We recruited 27,824 adult men attending an infertility clinic in Wuhan, China, between 2014 and 2020. We used a four-dimensional spatiotemporal deep forest model to estimate concentrations of PM2.5 mass and its chemical constituents, including organic matter (OM), black carbon (BC), sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), and chloride (Cl-). We employed linear regression models to estimate the association between PM2.5 mass and its constituents with various sperm parameters. Exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a reduction in sperm quality, with a percent change of - 5.69% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.53%, -2.85%) for sperm density, - 15.09% (95% CI: -22.24%, -7.94%) for sperm total count, - 1.63% (95% CI: -2.36%, -0.91%) for sperm progressive motility, and - 2.30% (95% CI: -3.04%, -1.55%) for sperm total motility. Among specific constituents, exposure to OM, BC, Cl-, or NO3- was associated with a reduction in these four semen quality parameters. The association was more pronounced among older men or individuals with lower levels of education. Our findings suggest that PM2.5 mass and each constituent were associated with decreased semen quality in adult men.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yangchang Zhang
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, USA
| | - Shi Zhao
- Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental 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, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Shengzhi Sun
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Laboratory of Allergic Diseases and Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing 100005, China; School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Wangnan Cao
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pakmanesh H, Nazarirobati N, Dabiri S, Mirshekari TR, Eslami N, Torabinavid P, Rouientan H, Narouie B. Impact of Season Variation on Semen Quality: A Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis of Data From Patients at an Eastern Iranian Tertiary Care Fertility Center Over a Decade. Am J Mens Health 2024; 18:15579883241237505. [PMID: 38509696 PMCID: PMC10956154 DOI: 10.1177/15579883241237505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Seasonal changes are assumed to affect various sperm characteristics based on photoperiods, temperature, and air pollution. According to the literature, most studies were performed on populations of Western countries, and there are limited studies performed in the Middle East with variable results. This study evaluated the seasonality of sperm characteristics among men of reproductive age in an andrology center in Kerman, Iran, where the seasonal temperature varies significantly, with average temperatures ranging from 50 °F (10 °C) to 75.2 °F (24 °C). We retrospectively evaluated the sperm analysis test record. Sperm samples were obtained from 2,948 men during 10 years, excluding those with azoospermia. Samples were assessed for volume, concentration, motility, and morphology according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. We performed a comprehensive comparative literature review of the studies investigating the association between seasonal variation and sperm quality. The mean semen volume was higher in the summer compared with other seasons (p = .04). The mean percentage of sperm motility was higher in the spring and less in winter (p = .03). Sperm morphology-related parameters, measured by the percent of normal morphology, were significantly better in winter (p = .03). Our findings suggest seasonality of sperm characteristics among men of fertility age. Semen volume, motility, and morphology were affected by the photoperiod of reproductive seasons. Results might support the influential role of seasonal variations in the possibility of fertility, especially among those using assisted reproductive technologies and those with oligospermia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Pakmanesh
- Department of Urology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Shahriar Dabiri
- Department of Pathology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Nazanin Eslami
- Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Parham Torabinavid
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Gene, Cell and Tissue Department of Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Children’s Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Rouientan
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Department of Urology, Shahid Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Narouie
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Department of Urology, Shahid Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Urology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu J, Zhao M, Dong X, Zhang Y, Xue J, Duan J, Sun Z, Zhou X. Melatonin ameliorates PM2.5-induced spermatogenesis disorder by preserving H3K9 methylation and SIRT3. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:1471-1480. [PMID: 37994397 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
There was a link between exposure to PM2.5 and male infertility. Melatonin has beneficial effects on the male reproductive processes. How PM2.5 caused spermatogenesis disturbance and whether melatonin could prevent PM2.5-induced reproductive toxicity have remained unclear. The results showed that PM2.5 could inhibit the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant pathway and distinctly increase the cell apoptosis in testes. Moreover, PM2.5 also perturbed the process of meiosis by modulating meiosis-associated proteins such as γ-H2AX and Stra8. Mechanistically, PM2.5 inhibited G9a-dependent H3K9 methylation and SIRT3-mediated p53 deacetylation, which consistent with decreased sperm count and motility rate in ApoE-/- mice. Further investigation revealed melatonin effectively alleviated PM2.5-induced meiosis inhibition by preserving H3K9 methylation. Melatonin also alleviated PM2.5-induced apoptosis by regulating SIRT3-mediated p53 deacetylation. Overall, our study revealed PM2.5 resulted in spermatogenesis disorder by perturbing meiosis via G9a-dependent H3K9 di-methylation and causing cell apoptosis via SIRT3/p53 deacetylation pathway and provided promising insights into the protective role of melatonin in air pollution associated with male infertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Liu
- Department of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Moxuan Zhao
- Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomin Dong
- Experimental Center for Basic Medical Teaching, Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinglong Xue
- Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Junchao Duan
- Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiwei Sun
- Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianqing Zhou
- Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hong Y, Zhou X, Li Q, Chen J, Wei Y, Long C, Shen L, Zheng X, Li D, Wang X, Yu C, Wu S, Wei G. X-box binding protein 1 caused an imbalance in pyroptosis and mitophagy in immature rats with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced testis toxicity. Genes Dis 2024; 11:935-951. [PMID: 37692514 PMCID: PMC10491871 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As a widely used plasticizer, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is known to induce significant testicular injury. However, the potential mechanism and effects of pubertal exposure to DEHP on testis development remain unclear. In vivo, postnatal day (PND) 21 male rats were gavaged with 0, 250, and 500 mg/kg DEHP for ten days. Damage to the seminiferous epithelium and disturbed spermatogenesis were observed after DEHP exposure. Meanwhile, oxidative stress-induced injury and pyroptosis were activated. Both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitophagy were involved in this process. Monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) was used as the biometabolite of DEHP in vitro. The GC-1 and GC-2 cell lines were exposed to 0, 100 μM, 200 μM, and 400 μM MEHP for 24 h. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, oxidative stress damage, ER stress, mitophagy, and pyroptosis were significantly increased after MEHP exposure. The ultrastructure of the ER and mitochondria was destroyed. X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) was observed to be activated and translocated into the nucleus. ROS generation was inhibited by acetylcysteine. The levels of antioxidative stress, ER stress, mitophagy, and pyroptosis were decreased as well. After the administration of the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenyl-butyric acid, both mitophagy and pyroptosis were inhibited. Toyocamycin-induced XBP1 down-regulation decreased the levels of mitophagy and pyroptosis. The equilibrium between pyroptosis and mitophagy was disturbed by XBP1 accumulation. In summary, our findings confirmed that DEHP induced a ROS-mediated imbalance in pyroptosis and mitophagy in immature rat testes via XBP1. Moreover, XBP1 might be the key target in DEHP-related testis dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Hong
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Xiazhu Zhou
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Yuexin Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Chunlan Long
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Lianju Shen
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Xiangqin Zheng
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Dinggang Li
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Chenjun Yu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Shengde Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Guanghui Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cheng Y, Feng J, Wang J, Zhou Y, Bai S, Tang Q, Li J, Pan F, Xu Q, Lu C, Wu W, Xia Y. Alterations in sperm DNA methylation may as a mediator of paternal air pollution exposure and offspring birth outcomes: Insight from a birth cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 244:117941. [PMID: 38103775 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Paternal exposure to environmental risk factors influences the offspring health. This study aimed to evaluate the association between paternal air pollution exposure mediated by sperm DNA methylation and adverse birth outcomes in offspring. We recruited 1607 fertile men and their partners from 2014 to 2016 and collected semen samples to detect sperm DNA methylation. Multivariate linear regression and weighted quantile sum regression models were used to assess the associations between paternal air pollution exposure and offspring birth outcomes. A critical exposure window was identified. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing was used to detect sperm DNA methylation. The results demonstrated that high paternal exposure to PM2.5 (β = -211.31, 95% CI: (-386.37, -36.24)), PM10 (β = -178.20, 95% CI: (-277.13, -79.27)), and NO2 (β = -84.22, 95% CI: (-165.86, -2.57)) was negatively associated with offspring's birthweight, especially in boys. Additionally, an early exposure window of 15-69 days before fertilization was recognized to be the key exposure window, which increased the risk of low birth weight and small for gestational age. Furthermore, paternal co-exposure to six air pollutants contributed to lower birthweight (β = -51.91, 95% CI: (-92.72, -11.10)) and shorter gestational age (β = -1.72, 95% CI: (-3.26, -0.17)) and PM2.5 was the most weighted pollutant. Paternal air pollution exposure resulted in 10,328 differentially methylated regions and the IGF2R gene was the key gene involved in the epigenetic process. These differentially methylated genes were predominantly associated with protein binding, transcriptional regulation, and DNA templating. These findings indicate that spermatogenesis is a susceptible window during which paternal exposure to air pollution affects sperm DNA methylation and the birth outcomes of offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jialin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yijie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengjun Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiuqin Tang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- Department of Urology, Stanford Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Feng Pan
- Department of Urology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chuncheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yankai Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li W, Wang W. Causal effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on cancer risk: Insights from genetic evidence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168843. [PMID: 38029998 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution has been increasingly linked to cancer risk. However, the genetic causality between air pollution and cancer risk remains poorly understood. To elucidate the potential roles of air pollution (NOx, NO2, PM2.5, PM course, and PM10) in the risk of 18 specific-site cancers, large-scale genome-wide association studies with a novel Mendelian randomization (MR) method were employed. Our MR analyses revealed significant associations between certain air pollutants and specific types of cancer. Specifically, a positive association was observed between NOx exposure and squamous cell lung cancer (OR: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.07-3.59, p = 0.03) as well as esophageal cancer (OR: 1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.003, p = 0.005). Genetically predicted NO2 exposure was found to be a risk factor for endometrial cancer (OR 1.41, 95%CI: 1.03-1.94, p = 0.03) and ovarian cancer (OR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.14-1.95, p = 0.0037). Additionally, genetically predicted PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased risk of ER+ breast cancer (OR: 1.24, 95%CI: 1.03-1.5, p = 0.02) and ER- breast cancer (OR: 2.57, 95%CI: 1.05-6.3, p = 0.04). PM course exposure was identified as a risk factor for glioma (OR: 487.28, 95%CI: 13.08-18,153, p = 0.0008), while PM10 exposure exerted a detrimental effect on mesothelioma (OR: 114.75, 95%CI: 1.14-11,500.11, p = 0.04) and esophageal cancer (OR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.007-1.02, p = 0.03). These findings underscored the importance of mitigating air pollution to reduce the burden of cancer and highlight the need for further investigations to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in these associations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ma Y, Hu C, Cai G, Xia Q, Fan D, Cao Y, Pan F. Associations of exposure to ambient fine particulate matter constituents from different pollution sources with semen quality: Evidence from a prospective cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123200. [PMID: 38135136 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The association between ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and semen quality remains inconclusive, possibly due to variations in pollution sources and PM2.5 compositions. Studies investigating the constituents of PM2.5 have been hindered by small sample sizes, and research exploring the relationships between PM2.5 pollution sources and semen quality is lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study based on the Anhui prospective assisted reproduction cohort to evaluate the associations between semen quality and the constituents and pollution sources of PM2.5. This study included 9013 semen samples from 4417 males in the urban districts of Hefei. The median concentrations of PM2.5 constituents, including eight metals and four water-soluble ions (WSIs), were measured for seven days per month at two monitoring stations during the 0-90-day exposure window. A linear mixed-effects model, weighted quantile sum regression, and positive matrix factorisation were used to evaluate the associations of the constituents and pollution sources of PM2.5 with semen quality. The results showed that exposure to PM2.5-bound metals (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and thallium) and WSIs (sulphate and chloride) were negatively associated with semen quality parameters. Moreover, mixtures of PM2.5-bound metals and WSIs were negatively associated with semen quality. Additionally, PM2.5 derived from traffic emissions was negatively associated with semen quality. In summary, our study revealed that ambient PM2.5 and its constituents, especially metals, were negatively associated with semen quality. Antimony, lead, and thallium emerged as the primary contributors to toxicity, and PM2.5 from traffic emissions was associated with decreased semen quality. These findings have important public health implications for the management of PM2.5 pollution in the context of male reproductive health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chengyang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Guoqi Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dazhi Fan
- Foshan Institute of Fetal Medicine, Southern Medical University Affiliated Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tian R, Yang T, Xiao C, Li F, Fu L, Zhang L, Cai J, Zeng S, Liao J, Song G, Yu C, Zhang B, Liu Z. Outdoor artificial light at night and male sperm quality: A retrospective cohort study in China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:122927. [PMID: 37977357 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Due to the worldwide increased rate of infertility among reproductive-age couples, there is a growing interest in the relationship between environmental stimuli and human sperm quality. While animal studies have demonstrated the detrimental effects of outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) on sperm quality, investigations based on human data are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 1991 sperm donor candidates and employed multivariate linear regression and restricted cubic spline models to quantify the association between outdoor ALAN and sperm quality. The aim was to determine whether there exists an association between exposure to outdoor ALAN and sperm quality. The study included 1991 sperm donor candidates with the following characteristics: mean [SD] age, 24.98 [4.78] years; mean [SD] BMI, 22.13 [2.60] kg/m2; mean [SD] sleep duration, 7.66 [1.07] hours/day. Outdoor ALAN exposure of study participants ranged from 0 to 100 nW/cm2/sr. Multiple regression analysis on chronic exposure (0-90 days before sperm donation) and human sperm quality revealed the following associations: for CASA primary motion parameters, every 100-unit (nW/cm2/sr) increase in chronic outdoor ALAN was associated with a change of -0.043 [95%CI: 0.073, -0.014] in Linearity (LIN), and -5.523 [95%CI: 9.100, -1.946] in Curvilinear velocity (VCL). For CASA secondary motion parameters, every 100-unit (nW/cm2/sr) increase in chronic outdoor ALAN was associated with a change of -3.873 [95%CI: 4.926, -2.748] in non-progressive motility rate (NP). Furthermore, the primary sperm quality parameter exhibited a decline of -4.740 [95%CI: 8.853, -0.628] in sperm motility rate per 100-unit (nW/cm2/sr) increase in chronic outdoor ALAN. Similar associations were also observed for acute exposure (0-9 days before sperm donation). This retrospective study suggests that poorer sperm quality is more prevalent among adult males residing in areas with higher levels of outdoor ALAN, with a particularly pronounced impact observed in males below the age of 25 years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Run Tian
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Tingting Yang
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Chenghan Xiao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Fuping Li
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Leyao Fu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Jiarui Cai
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Sixuan Zeng
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Junhao Liao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Guishuang Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Chuan Yu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Ben Zhang
- Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China
| | - Zhenmi Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China; Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang Y, Shi W, Zhang M, Xu L, Wu L, Li C, Zhang Z, Cao W, Zhang J, Zeng Q, Sun S. Exposure to PM 2.5, seminal plasma metabolome, and semen quality among Chinese adult men: Association and potential mediation analyses. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132602. [PMID: 37748305 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to a decline in semen quality, but the underlying mechanisms for this association remain unclear. We aimed to examine whether specific metabolites act as mediators in the association between PM2.5 exposure and changes in semen quality. We conducted untargeted metabolomics analysis using LC-MS/MS platforms to identified seminal plasma metabolites associated with various semen quality parameters among 200 Chinese adult men. Additionally, we performed mediation analyses to examine the effects of the seminal plasma metabolites on the association between PM2.5 exposure and semen quality. We identified 140 differential metabolites between the normal and abnormal semen groups, involving two metabolic pathways: Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. We additionally identified 7 specific seminal plasma metabolites that were associated with discrepant metabolic networks related to semen quality. The mediation analysis revealed that D-Aspartate might play a mediating role in the adverse effects of ambient PM2.5 exposure on both total and progressive motility during spermatogenesis period (70-90 days before ejaculation), with a proportion of mediation up to 16% and 17%, respectively. Exposure to PM2.5 was associated with alterations in D-Aspartate levels, which might partially mediate the association between PM2.5 and reduced sperm motility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yangchang Zhang
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Wanying Shi
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental 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, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lufei Xu
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Human Resources, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, China
| | - Lizhi Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Chunrong Li
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Global Health, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China; Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wangnan Cao
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental 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, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Shengzhi Sun
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mou Y, Liao W, Liang Y, Li Y, Zhao M, Guo Y, Sun Q, Tang J, Wang Z. Environmental pollutants induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis: Roles and mechanisms in various diseases. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165851. [PMID: 37516172 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution is changing with economic development. Most environmental pollutants are characterized by stable chemical properties, strong migration, potential toxicity, and multiple exposure routes. Harmful substances are discharged excessively, and large quantities of unknown new compounds are emerging, being transmitted and amplifying in the food chain. The increasingly severe problems of environmental pollution have forced people to re-examine the relationship between environmental pollution and health. Pyroptosis and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome are critical in maintaining the immune balance and regulating the inflammatory process. Numerous diseases caused by environmental pollutants are closely related to NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. We intend to systematically explain the steps and important events that are common in life but easily overlooked by which environmental pollutants activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis pathways. This comprehensive review also discusses the interaction network between environmental pollutants, the NLRP3 inflammasome, pyroptosis, and diseases. Thus, research progress on the impact of decreasing oxidative stress levels to inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis, thereby repairing homeostasis and reshaping health, is systematically examined. This review aims to deepen the understanding of the impact of environmental pollutants on life and health and provide a theoretical basis and potential programs for the development of corresponding treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mou
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Wenhao Liao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Yun Liang
- The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu 610014, China
| | - Yuchen Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yaoyao Guo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Qin Sun
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jianyuan Tang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China.
| | - Zhilei Wang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Barrett ES, Sharghi S, Thurston SW, Sobolewski Terry M, Loftus CT, Karr CJ, Nguyen RH, Swan SH, Sathyanarayana S. Associations of Exposure to Air Pollution during the Male Programming Window and Mini-Puberty with Anogenital Distance and Penile Width at Birth and at 1 Year of Age in the Multicenter U.S. TIDES Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:117001. [PMID: 37966231 PMCID: PMC10648757 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambient air pollution may be a developmental endocrine disruptor. In animal models, gestational and perinatal exposure to diesel exhaust and concentrated particulate matter alters anogenital distance (AGD), a marker of prenatal androgen activity, in both sexes. Little is known in humans. OBJECTIVES We examined exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in relation to human AGD at birth and at 1 year of age, focusing on exposures during critical windows of reproductive development: the male programming window (MPW; gestational weeks 8-14) and mini-puberty (postnatal months 1-3). METHODS The Infant Development and Environment Study (TIDES) recruited first trimester pregnant women (n = 687 ) at four U.S. sites (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Rochester, New York; San Francisco, California; and Seattle, Washington) from 2010 to 2012. We measured anus to clitoris (AGD-AC) and anus to fourchette (AGD-AF) in female infants at birth; in males, we measured anus to penis (AGD-AP), anus to scrotum (AGD-AS), and penile width at birth and at 1 year of age. Using advanced spatiotemporal models, we estimated maternal exposure to PM 2.5 and NO 2 in the MPW and mini-puberty. Covariate-adjusted, sex-stratified linear regression models examined associations between PM 2.5 and NO 2 and AGD. RESULTS In males, a 1 - μ g / m 3 increase in PM 2.5 exposure during the MPW was associated with shorter AGD at birth, but a longer AGD at 1 year of age (e.g., birth AGD-AP: β = - 0.35 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.62 , - 0.07 ; AGD-AS: β = 0.37 mm ; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.73). Mini-pubertal PM 2.5 exposure was also associated with shorter male AGD-AP (β = - 0.50 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.89 , - 0.11 ) at 1 year of age. Although not associated with male AGD measures, 1 -ppb increases in NO 2 exposure during the MPW (β = - 0.07 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.02 , - 0.12 ) and mini-puberty (β = - 0.04 mm ; 95% CI: - 0.08 , 0.01) were both associated with smaller penile width at 1 year of age. Results were similar in multipollutant models, where we also observed that in females AGD-AC was inversely associated with PM 2.5 exposure, but positively associated with NO 2 exposure. DISCUSSION PM 2.5 and NO 2 exposures during critical pre- and postnatal windows may disrupt reproductive development. More work is needed to confirm these novel results and clarify mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12627.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily S. Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sima Sharghi
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Sally W. Thurston
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Marissa Sobolewski Terry
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Christine T. Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ruby H.N. Nguyen
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Shanna H. Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Li L, Feng T, Wu R, Zhang Y, Wang N, Wu M, Pang Y, Yang S, Yang A, Zhang D, Hao G, Zhang R. The role of total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde of seminal plasma in the association between air pollution and sperm quality. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122324. [PMID: 37544399 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has suggested that men exposed to air pollution are associated with decreased sperm quality, and seminal plasma plays a pivotal role in maintaining sperm viability. However, the role of seminal plasma in air pollution related sperm quality decline remain unestablished. In current study, we recruited 524 participants from couples who underwent in vitro fertilization treatment due to female factors at a fertility clinic in China from March to August 2020. Conventional sperm parameters, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and testosterone were measured using semen samples. The six main air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, O3) during four key periods of sperm development (meiotic stage, spermiogenesis stage, epididymal stage and total sperm cycle period) were estimated using inverse distance weighting method. Multiple linear regression models were employed to investigate the exposure-outcome relationships. And we found that PM10 exposures were negatively related to sperm total motility and the exposures of PM2.5 and PM10 were inversely associated with sperm progressive motility during epididymal stage. Furthermore, PM2.5 and PM10 exposures were positively associated with seminal plasma MDA and PM10 was negatively related to seminal plasma T-AOC during epididymal stage. PM2.5, PM10 and CO exposures during total sperm cycle period might relate to increased seminal plasma testosterone. Mediation analysis indicated seminal plasma MDA and T-AOC partially mediated PM10 associated reduction of sperm motility during epididymal stage. Our study suggested MDA and T-AOC of seminal plasma played a role in air pollution associated decline of sperm motility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lipeng Li
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, PR China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China.
| | - Tengfei Feng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Ruiting Wu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Yaling Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Mengqi Wu
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Yaxian Pang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Sujuan Yang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Aimin Yang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Dengsuo Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Guimin Hao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Chen W, Luo Y, Quan J, Zhou J, Yi B, Huang Z. PM 2.5 induces renal tubular injury by activating NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 265:115490. [PMID: 37742582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-related health issues have received increasing attention as a worldwide public health problem, and PM2.5-related chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been emerging over the years. Limited research has focused on the mechanism of PM2.5-induced kidney disease. To investigate the impact of PM2.5 on the kidney and its potential mechanism, we generated a PM2.5-exposed C57BL/6 mouse model by using Shanghai Meteorological and Environment Animal Exposure System (Shanghai-METAS) for 12 weeks, urine, blood and kidney tissues were collected. The pathological changes and the function of the kidney were measured after PM2.5 exposure for 12 weeks. Along with glomerular damage, tubular damage was also severe in PM2.5-induced mice. The results of mRNA-seq indicate that pyroptosis is involved. Pyroptosis is defined as caspase-1-dependent programmed cell death in response to insults. The expression of the nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD) and IL-1β was detected. NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent pyroptosis were observed in PM2.5-exposed kidney tissues and PM2.5-exposed Bumpt cells too. At the meantime, the inhibitors of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were applied to the PM2.5 exposed Bumpt cells. It turned out to have a significant rescue effect of the inhibitors. This study revealed new insights into PM2.5-induced kidney injury and specific kidney pathological damage, as well as morphological changes, and defined the important role of pyroptosis in PM2.5-induced kidney dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weilin Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Critical Kidney Disease Research Center of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yanfang Luo
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Critical Kidney Disease Research Center of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Jingjing Quan
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Critical Kidney Disease Research Center of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Ji Zhou
- Typhoon Institute/CMA, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Health, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Bin Yi
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; The Critical Kidney Disease Research Center of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; Furong Laboratory, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Zhijun Huang
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; Furong Laboratory, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lu ZH, Sun B, Wang YX, Wu YR, Chen YJ, Sun SZ, Liang SJ, Xu S, Chang H, Chen HG, Zhang J. Ozone exposure associates with sperm quality indicators: Sperm telomere length as a potential mediating factor. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132292. [PMID: 37591176 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Evidence linking O3 exposure and human semen quality is limited and conflicting and the mechanism underlying the association remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the associations between ambient O3 exposure and sperm quality parameters and explored the mediating role of sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and sperm telomere length (STL) among 1068 potential sperm donors who provided 5002 repeated semen samples over approximately 90 days. We found that every 10 μg/m3 increase in O3 exposure was associated with a decrease in STL, sperm concentration, total count, total motile sperm number, and semen volume. However, O3 exposure was associated with increased total motility and progressive motility. The association for sperm quality parameters was stronger when exposure was measured at spermatogenesis stages I and II. For STL, the strongest association was observed when exposure was measured at spermatogenesis stage II. Additionally, we found that approximately 9% and 8% of the association between O3 exposure and sperm concentration and count was mediated by STL, respectively. In summary, our findings suggest that O3 pollution may affect sperm telomere length, eventually leading to reduced semen quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Hua Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases,Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics,National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Division of Birth Cohort Study, Fujian Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Departments of Nutrition and Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ya-Ru Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases,Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics,National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yu-Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases,Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics,National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Sheng-Zhi Sun
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shi-Jia Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases,Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics,National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Song Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases,Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics,National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Hao Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases,Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics,National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Heng-Gui Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Clinical Research and Translation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases,Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics,National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Xu P, Ren T, Yang Y. PM2.5 mediates mouse testis Sertoli TM4 cell damage by reducing cellular NAD . Toxicol Mech Methods 2023; 33:636-645. [PMID: 37202861 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2215862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the mechanism of PM2.5 damage to the reproductive system of male mice. METHODS Mouse testis Sertoli TM4 cells were divided into four groups: a control group (no additional ingredients except for medium), PM2.5 group (medium containing 100 μg/mL PM2.5), PM2.5 + NAM group (medium containing 100 μg/mL PM2.5 and 5 mM NAM), and NAM group (medium containing 5 mM nicotinamide) and cultured in vitro for 24 or 48 h. The apoptosis rate of TM4 cells was measured using flow cytometry, the intracellular levels of NAD+ and NADH were detected using an NAD+/NADH assay kit, and the protein expression levels of SIRT1 and PARP1 were determined by western blotting. RESULTS Mouse testis Sertoli TM4 cells exposed to PM2.5 demonstrated an increase in the apoptosis rate and PARP1 protein expression, albeit a decrease in NAD+, NADH, and SIRT1 protein levels (p = 0.05). These changes were reversed in the group treated with a combination of PM2.5 and nicotinamide (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION PM2.5 can cause Sertoli TM4 cell damage in mouse testes by decreasing intracellular NAD+ levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Tiantian Ren
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Nosocomial Infection Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Li L, Pei Z, Wu R, Zhang Y, Pang Y, Hu H, Hu W, Geng Z, Feng T, Niu Y, Hao G, Zhang R. FDX1 regulates leydig cell ferroptosis mediates PM 2.5-induced testicular dysfunction of mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115309. [PMID: 37517308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have established an association between chronic exposure to PM2.5 and male infertility. However, the underlying mechanisms were not fully revealed. In this study, we established mice models exposed to PM2.5 for 16 weeks, and a significant decrease in sperm quality accompanied by an increase in testosterone levels were observed after PM2.5 exposure. Moreover, treatment with ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), a specific ferroptosis inhibitor, effectively mitigated PM2.5-induced testicular dysfunction in mice. And lipid peroxidation and ferritin accumulation were found to be significantly increased in Leydig cells of testes with a PM2.5-dose dependent manner. Further investigations revealed that TM-3 cells, a mouse Leydig cell line, were prone to ferroptosis after PM2.5 exposure, and the cell viability was partly rescued after the intervention of Fer-1. Furthermore, our results supported that the ferroptosis of TM-3 cells was attributed to the upregulation of ferredoxin 1 (FDX1), which was the protein transferring electrons to cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 to aid lysing cholesterol to pregnenolone at initial of steroidogenesis. Mechanically, PM2.5-induced FDX1 upregulation resulted in cellular ROS elevation and ferrous iron overload, which together initiated an autoxidation process of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane of Leydig cells until the accumulated lipid peroxides triggered ferroptotic cell death. Simultaneously, upregulation of FDX1 promoted steroidogenesis and let to an increased level of testosterone. In summary, our work suggested that FDX1, a mediator involving steroidogenesis, was a key regulator in PM2.5-induced Leydig cells ferroptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lipeng Li
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Zijie Pei
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ruiting Wu
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Yaling Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Yaxian Pang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Huaifang Hu
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Wentao Hu
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Zihan Geng
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Tengfei Feng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yujie Niu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Guimin Hao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China.
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Wang L, Xu T, Wang Q, Ni H, Yu X, Song C, Li Y, Li F, Meng T, Sheng H, Cai X, Dai T, Xiao L, Zeng Q, Guo P, Wei J, Zhang X. Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Constituents and Human Semen Quality Decline: A Multicenter Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13025-13035. [PMID: 37608438 PMCID: PMC10483896 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM < 2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5]) may accelerate human sperm quality decline, although research on this association is limited. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between exposure to the chemical constituents of PM2.5 air pollution and decreased sperm quality and to further explore the exposure-response relationship. We conducted a multicenter population-based cohort study including 78,952 semen samples from 33,234 donors at 6 provincial human sperm banks (covering central, northern, southern, eastern, and southwestern parts of China) between 2014 and 2020. Daily exposure to PM2.5 chemical composition was estimated using a deep learning model integrating a density ground-based measure network at a 1 km resolution. Linear mixed models with subject- and center-specific intercepts were used to quantify the harmful impacts of PM2.5 constituents on semen quality and explore their exposure-response relationships. Per interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 exposure levels during spermatogenesis was significantly associated with decreased sperm concentration, progressive motility, and total motility. For PM2.5 constituents, per IQR increment in Cl- (β: -0.02, 95% CI: [-0.03, -0.00]) and NO3- (β: -0.05, 95% CI: [-0.08, -0.02]) exposure was negatively associated with sperm count, while NH4+ (β: -0.03, 95% CI: [-0.06, -0.00]) was significantly linked to decreased progressive motility. These results suggest that exposure to PM2.5 chemical constituents may adversely affect human sperm quality, highlighting the urgent need to reduce PM2.5 exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lingxi Wang
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- National
Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou 510600, China
- Department
of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive
Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou 510600, China
| | - Haobo Ni
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xiaolin Yu
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Chunying Song
- Human
Sperm Bank, The Shanxi Bethune Hospital,
Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan 030032, China
| | - Yushan Li
- Human
Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital
of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Fuping Li
- Human
Sperm
Bank, the Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of
Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Tianqing Meng
- Reproductive
Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Human
Sperm Bank, Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Huiqiang Sheng
- Human
Sperm Bank, The Zhejiang Provincial Maternal
and Child and Reproductive Health Care Center, Hangzhou 310008, China
| | - Xiaoyan Cai
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Tingting Dai
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Lina Xiao
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Qinghui Zeng
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Pi Guo
- Department
of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University
Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department
of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary
Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- National
Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou 510600, China
- Department
of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive
Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou 510600, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Liu J, Dai Y, Li R, Yuan J, Wang Q, Wang L. Does air pollution exposure affect semen quality? Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 93,996 Chinese men. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1219340. [PMID: 37601219 PMCID: PMC10435904 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1219340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Air pollution may impair male fertility, but it remains controversial whether air pollution affects semen quality until now. Objectives We undertake a meta-analysis to explore potential impacts of six pollutants exposure during the entire window (0-90 days prior to ejaculation) and critical windows (0-9, 10-14, and 70-90 days prior to ejaculation) on semen quality. Methods Seven databases were retrieved for original studies on the effects of six pollutants exposure for 90 days prior to ejaculation on semen quality. The search process does not limit the language and search date. We only included original studies that reported regression coefficients (β) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The β and 95% CIs were pooled using the DerSimonian-Laird random effect models. Results PM2.5 exposure was related with decreased total sperm number (10-14 lag days) and total motility (10-14, 70-90, and 0-90 lag days). PM10 exposure was related with reduced total sperm number (70-90 and 0-90 lag days) and total motility (0-90 lag days). NO2 exposure was related with reduced total sperm number (70-90 and 0-90 lag days). SO2 exposure was related with declined total motility (0-9, 10-14, 0-90 lag days) and total sperm number (0-90 lag days). Conclusion Air pollution affects semen quality making it necessary to limit exposure to air pollution for Chinese men. When implementing protective measures, it is necessary to consider the key period of sperm development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Liu
- Henan Human Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanpeng Dai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Runqing Li
- The Neonatal Screening Center in Henan Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiayi Yuan
- The Neonatal Screening Center in Henan Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Quanxian Wang
- Henan Human Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Linkai Wang
- Henan Human Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Li Y, Lu T, Wu Z, Wang Z, Yu T, Wang H, Tang C, Zhou Y. Trends in sperm quality by computer-assisted sperm analysis of 49,189 men during 2015-2021 in a fertility center from China. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1194455. [PMID: 37529601 PMCID: PMC10390301 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1194455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sperm quality, including semen volume, sperm count, concentration, and total and progressive motility (collectively, "semen parameters"), has declined in the recent decades. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) provides sperm kinematic parameters, and the temporal trends of which remain unclear. Our objective is to examine the temporal trend of both semen parameters and kinematic parameters in Shanghai, China, in the recent years. Methods This retrospective study analyzed semen parameters and kinematic parameters of 49,819 men attending our reproductive center by using CASA during 2015-2021. The total sample was divided into two groups: samples that surpassed the WHO guideline (2010) low reference limits ("above reference limit" group, ARL; n = 24,575) and samples that did not ("below reference limit" group, BRL; n = 24,614). One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, independent samples t-test, and covariance analysis were used to assess the differences among groups. Year, age, and abstinence time were included in the multiple linear regression model of the ARL group to adjust the confounders and depict the trends in sperm quality. Results Among all the total sample and the ARL and BRL groups, the age of subjects increased in recent years. Semen volume and sperm count showed declined tendency with years in the total sample, the ARL and BRL groups, and the subgroup of age or abstinence time, whereas sperm velocities showed increased tendency with years on the contrary. The multiple linear regression model of the ARL group, adjusting for age and abstinence time, confirmed these trends. Semen volume (β1= -0.162; CI: -0.172, -0.152), sperm count (β1= -9.97; CI: -10.813, -9.128), sperm concentration (β1 = -0.535; CI: -0.772, -0.299), motility (β1 = -1.751; CI: -1.830, -1.672), and progressive motility (β1 = -1.12; CI: -0.201, -0.145) decreased with year, whereas curvilinear line velocity (VCL) (β1 = 3.058; CI: 2.912, 3.203), straight line velocity (VSL) (β1 = 2.075; CI: 1.990, 2.161), and average path velocity (VAP) (β1 = 2.305; CI: 2.224, 2.386) increased over time (all p < 0.001). In addition, VCL, VSL, and VAP significantly declined with age and abstinence time. Conclusion The semen parameters declined, whereas the kinematic parameters increased over the recent years. We propose that, although sperm count and motility declined over time, sperm motion velocity increased, suggesting a possible compensatory mechanism of male fertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanquan Li
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Lu
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengmu Wu
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengquan Wang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Yu
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanshu Wang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhua Tang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuchuan Zhou
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Zhang Y, Wei J, Liu C, Cao W, Zhang Z, Li Y, Zeng Q, Sun S. Association between ambient PM 1 and semen quality: A cross-sectional study of 27,854 men in China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107919. [PMID: 37104984 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to ambient fine and respirable particulate matter is associated with poor sperm quality, but evidence for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 μm (PM1) is scarce. We aimed to estimate the association between PM1 exposure and sperm concentration, sperm count, sperm total motility, and sperm progressive motility in Chinese men. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 33,221 men attending an infertility clinic in Hubei, China, between 2014 and 2020. Daily concentrations of PM1 data were estimated from a validated spatiotemporal artificial intelligence model. We used multivariate linear regression to estimate the association between PM1 exposure and sperm parameters during the spermatogenesis period after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), education, ever having fathered a child, and season of semen collection. In addition, we performed stratified analysis to assess whether the association was varied by age, BMI, and educational attainment. RESULTS A total of 27,854 participants were included in the final analysis. An interquartile range (17.2 μg/m3) increase in PM1 during the entire period of semen development was associated with declined semen concentration [-4.39% (95% CI: -7.67%, -1.12%)] and sperm count [-23.56% (95% CI: -28.95%, -18.18%)], reduced total motility [-0.86% (95% CI: -1.66%, -0.06%)] and progressive motility [-2.22% (95% CI: -3.00%, -1.43%)]. The associations were homogeneous across subgroups defined by age and education, but were more pronounced among men with underweight for sperm concentration and sperm count. We identified a critical exposure window of 0-9 lag days, 10-14 lag days, and 70-90 lag days before semen collection for sperm count and progressive motility. CONCLUSIONS Among men attending an infertility clinic in China, exposure to PM1 was associated with poor semen quality, especially during the 70-90 days before ejaculation. These results suggest that exposure to PM1 might be a novel risk factor for impaired semen quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yangchang Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, USA
| | - Chong Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental 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, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wangnan Cao
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Global Health, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China; Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yufeng Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental 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, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Shengzhi Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Chieffi Baccari G, Iurato G, Santillo A, Dale B. Male Germ Cell Telomeres and Chemical Pollutants. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050745. [PMID: 37238614 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, male infertility has been correlated with the shortening of sperm telomeres. Telomeres regulate the reproductive lifespan by mediating the synapsis and homologous recombination of chromosomes during gametogenesis. They are composed of thousands of hexanucleotide DNA repeats (TTAGGG) that are coupled to specialized shelterin complex proteins and non-coding RNAs. Telomerase activity in male germ cells ensures that the telomere length is maintained at maximum levels during spermatogenesis, despite telomere shortening due to DNA replication or other genotoxic factors such as environmental pollutants. An emerging body of evidence has associated an exposure to pollutants with male infertility. Although telomeric DNA may be one of the important targets of environmental pollutants, only a few authors have considered it as a conventional parameter for sperm function. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive and up-to-date data on the research carried out so far on the structure/function of telomeres in spermatogenesis and the influence of environmental pollutants on their functionality. The link between pollutant-induced oxidative stress and telomere length in germ cells is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Chieffi Baccari
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Santillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Brian Dale
- Centro Fecondazione Assistita (CFA-Italia), 80127 Napoli, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Xu R, Zhong Y, Li R, Li Y, Zhong Z, Liu T, Wang Q, Lv Z, Huang S, Duan YG, Zhang X, Liu Y. Association between exposure to ambient air pollution and semen quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:161892. [PMID: 36731563 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence has linked exposure to ambient air pollution to a reduction in semen quality; however, the exposure-response associations are yet to be synthesized. OBJECTIVE To summarize the exposure-response associations between air pollution and semen quality. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant studies published before April 20, 2022. Studies investigating the exposure-response association of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 with semen quality written in English were included. Semen quality parameters included semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, progressive motility, and normal forms. Random-effects and fixed-effects models were performed to synthesize associations in the meta-analysis. RESULTS The search returned 850 studies, 11 of which were eligible for meta-analysis. Each 10 μg/m3 increase of exposure to PM10 and SO2 was respectively associated with a 2.18 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.10 %-4.21 %) and 8.61 % (1.00 %-15.63 %) reduction in sperm concentration, and a 2.76 % (0.10 %-5.35 %) and 9.52 % (5.82 %-13.93 %) reduction in total sperm number. Each 10 μg/m3 increase of exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was respectively associated with a 1.06 % (95 % CI: 0.31 %-1.82 %) and 0.75 % (0.43 %-1.08 %) reduction in total motility, and a 0.55 % (0.09 %-1.01 %) and 0.31 % (0.06 %-0.56 %) reduction in progressive motility. No association was observed for PM2.5 or PM10 with semen volume; PM2.5, NO2, CO, or O3 with sperm concentration or total sperm number; and gaseous air pollutants with total or progressive motility. The association between air pollution and normal forms was not summarized due to insufficient number of studies. No significant publication bias was detected. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to ambient PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 was inversely associated with sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, and/or progressive motility. Our findings add to the evidence that air pollution may lead to adverse effects on male reproductive system and suggest that reducing exposure to air pollution may help maintain better semen quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruijun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanling Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingxin Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihua Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziquan Lv
- Central laboratory of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Suli Huang
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong-Gang Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Centre of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuewei Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhang F, Li H, Xu W, Song G, Wang Z, Mao X, Wei Y, Dai M, Zhang Y, Shen Q, Fu F, Tan J, Ge L, He X, Yin T, Yang S, Li S, Yang P, Jia P, Zhang Y. Sulfur dioxide may predominate in the adverse effects of ambient air pollutants on semen quality among the general population in Hefei, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161472. [PMID: 36638985 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported potential adverse effects of exposure to ambient air pollutants on semen quality in infertile men, but studies on the general population have been limited and inconsistent, and the pollutants that play a major role remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential association between exposure to six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, O3 and CO) during different sperm development periods and semen quality among the general population, and to explore the interaction between different air pollutant exposures. We included 1515 semen samples collected from the Human Sperm Bank. We improved individuals' exposure level estimation by combining inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation with satellite remote sensing data. Multivariate linear regression models, restricted cubic spline functions and double-pollutant models were used to assess the relationship between exposure to six air pollutants and sperm volume, concentration, total sperm number and sperm motility. A negative association was found between SO2 exposure and progressive motility and total motility during 0-90 lag days and 70-90 lag days, and SO2 exposure during 10-14 lag days adversely affected sperm concentration and total sperm number. Sensitive analyses for qualified sperm donors and the double-pollutant models obtained similar results. Additionally, there were nonlinear relationships between exposure to PM, NO2, O3, CO and a few semen parameters, with NO2 and O3 exposure above the threshold showing negative correlations with total motility and progressive motility, respectively. Our study suggested that SO2 may play a dominant role in the adverse effects of ambient air pollutants on semen quality in the general population by decreasing sperm motility, sperm concentration and total sperm number. Also, even SO2 exposure lower than the recommended standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) could still cause male reproductive toxicity, which deserves attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hang Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenting Xu
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ge Song
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhanpeng Wang
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaohong Mao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yiqiu Wei
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mengyang Dai
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qunshan Shen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Feifei Fu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jing Tan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Ge
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tailang Yin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shujuan Yang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Siwei Li
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Pan Yang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Peng Jia
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Luojia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Zhang X, Fan Z, Wang Q, Deng X, Xu R, Li Y, Liu T, Wang R, Shi C, Huang S, Lv Z, Chen G, Duan YG, Liu Y. Association between ambient temperature and semen quality among sperm donation volunteers in South China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107809. [PMID: 36805156 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Potential adverse effects of non-optimum temperatures on human semen quality have drawn much concern worldwide; however, the exposure-response relationship remains less understood. OBJECTIVES To quantitatively assess the association between exposure to ambient temperature and semen quality in South China, and to identify potential critical exposure windows. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate 11,050 volunteers who lived in Guangdong province, China and intended to donate sperm in the Guangdong provincial human sperm bank during 2016-2021. Exposure to ambient temperature during 0-90 days before semen collection was assessed by extracting daily temperatures from a validated grid dataset at each subject's residential address. Linear mixed models and linear regression models were used to perform exposure-response analyses. RESULTS During the study period, the 11,050 subjects underwent 44,564 semen analyses. Each 5 °C increase of lag 0-90 day exposure to ambient temperature was approximately linearly associated with a 3.11 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.08, 4.14) × 106/ml, 9.31 (4.83, 13.80) × 106, 1.27 % (0.91 %, 1.62 %), 8.20 (5.33, 11.08) × 106, 1.37 % (1.01 %, 1.74 %), 8.29 (5.52, 11.06) × 106, 0.67 % (0.28 %, 1.05 %), and 4.50 (2.20, 6.80) × 106 reduction in sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, total motile sperm number, progressive motility, total progressive sperm number, normal forms, and total normal form sperm number, respectively (all p < 0.001), which was not significantly modified by age (all p for effect modification > 0.05). We identified a critical exposure period of 10-14 days before semen collection for sperm motility, and 70-90 days before semen collection for sperm count and morphology. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides consistent evidence that higher ambient temperature was significantly associated with a reduction in semen quality in South China. The findings highlight the needs to reduce high temperature exposures during 3 months before ejaculation to maintain better semen quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinzong Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510600, China
| | - Zhaoyu Fan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510600, China
| | - Xinyi Deng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Ruijun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yingxin Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Luohu District Chronic Disease Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518020, China
| | - Chunxiang Shi
- Meteorological Data Laboratory, National Meteorological Information Center, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Suli Huang
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Ziquan Lv
- Central Laboratory of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Gongbo Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yong-Gang Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Centre of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518053, China
| | - Yuewei Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Dai X, Chen G, Zhang M, Mei K, Liu Y, Ding C, Chang Y, Wu Z, Huang H. Exposure to ambient particulate matter affects semen quality: A case study in Wenzhou, China. Andrology 2023; 11:444-455. [PMID: 36252264 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Particulate matter (PM), including PM2.5 (PM ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter) and PM10 (PM ≤ 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter), is a component of air pollutants, which is linked to semen quality. However, the available evidence of association needs to be strengthened, and some studies have conflicting results. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the potential impacts of PM on semen quality during the full (0-90 days before semen examination) and three key sperm development windows (0-9, 10-14, and 70-90 days before semen examination). METHODS We included 1494 infertile men in the main urban area in Wenzhou, China, who had undergone semen examinations for fertility between 2014 and 2019. The impacts were assessed by multivariable linear regression models. RESULTS Overall, during the full sperm development window, PM2.5 and PM10 exposures were associated with declined progressive sperm motility (%) (β: -0.6; 95% confidence intervals (CIs): -1.07, -0.13 and -0.46; -0.59, -0.33) and total sperm motility (%) (-1.95; -2.67, -1.23 and -1.32; -1.82, -0.82), and associated with increased sperm concentration (106 /ml) (0.02; 0.006, 0.023 and 0.007; 0.001, 0.013) and total sperm number (106 ) (0.02; 0.01, 0.03 and 0.011; 0.004, 0.017). Furthermore, only PM2.5 exposure during the 10-14 days window was significantly associated with declined progressive motility (%) (-0.207; -0.395, -0.023). CONCLUSIONS During the full sperm development window, PM exposure has an adverse impact on sperm motility and positive impacts on sperm concentration and total sperm number. The adverse impact was more severe in the 10-14 days window.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuchao Dai
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Mengqi Zhang
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Kun Mei
- School of Geography Science and Geomatics Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanlong Liu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Cheng Ding
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yanxiang Chang
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zhigang Wu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Assessment Center of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hong Huang
- Research Center for Healthy China, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Dai XC, Zhang MQ, Chen G, Mei K, Liu YL, Huang H, Wu ZG. Will male semen quality improve with environmental quality? Asian J Androl 2023; 25:252-258. [PMID: 35848705 PMCID: PMC10069693 DOI: 10.4103/aja202239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Wenzhou has improved its environmental quality because of comprehensive environmental remediation; nevertheless, the semen quality of infertile males remains unclear. This study determined whether better environmental quality improved semen quality in this region. We recorded semen quality data from 22 962 infertile males from January 2014 to November 2019 at the Center for Reproductive Health of The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Wenzhou, China). Patients were predominantly 30-35 years old (33.1%) and workers (82.0%), with high school education or lower (77.6%); more than a half of the patients (52.6%) were Wenzhou household registration; and most patients (77.5%) had abnormal semen quality. Patients who were older than 40 years and workers, and those with Wenzhou household registration, had significantly worse semen quality (all P < 0.05). From 2014 to 2019, progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, and semen volume showed increasing linear trends in all patients (P = 0.021, 0.030, and 0.005, respectively), yet normal sperm morphology showed a linearly decreasing trend (P = 0.046). Sensitivity analyses for subgroups yielded similar results. In conclusion, the improvement of environmental quality and better function of the accessory glands are associated with progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, and semen volume. Normal sperm morphology is influenced by occupational exposures and personal lifestyle and does not improve with environmental quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Chao Dai
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Meng-Qi Zhang
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Kun Mei
- School of Geography Science and Geomatics Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Yan-Long Liu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Hong Huang
- Research Center for Healthy China, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Wu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.,Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Assessment Center of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ma Y, Peng X, Pan Z, Hu C, Xia Q, Cai G, Cao Y, Pan F. Linear and non-linear relationships between sulfur dioxide and semen quality: A longitudinal study in Anhui, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114731. [PMID: 36368370 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Existing evidence indicates that ambient air pollutants pose a threat to human semen quality; however, these findings are sparse and controversial. Besides, their non-linear dose-response relationship has not yet been well investigated. This study aimed to explore the linear and non-linear associations of gaseous air pollutants exposure with semen quality based on a large longitudinal cohort. A total of 15,112 males (with 28,267 semen tests) from the Anhui prospective assisted reproduction cohort were analyzed. Individual air pollutants exposure before semen tests in four exposure windows (i.e., 0-9, 10-14, 70-90, and 0-90 days) were estimated by inverse distance weighting interpolation. Linear mixed-effects models, cubic spline analysis and piecewise regression were used to test the potential linear and non-linear dose-response relationships. Ambient SO2 exposure was negatively associated with all semen quality parameters (all p values < 0.05), except for the progressive motility in the 0-90 and 70-90 days exposure windows. There were 'J' or 'U' shaped dose-response relationships of ambient SO2 exposure with total sperm count, progressive motility, total motility, progressively motile sperm count, and total motile sperm count (p values for non-linearity < 0.05), but not sperm concentration. Piecewise regression analysis also indicated a negative association of SO2 exposure with semen quality only when SO2 exposure was below the cut-off points identified by cubic spline analyses, which were all smaller than 40 μg/m3, the 2021 updated WHO air quality guideline level for SO2 exposure. Overall, we found that SO2 exposure was negatively associated with semen quality. Ambient SO2 exposure could reach the maximum hazardous dose even below the WHO air quality guideline level for SO2 exposure, suggesting a refinement to the current guideline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoqing Peng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; School of Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhipeng Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chengyang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Guoqi Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Zhu Q, Cai J, Guo H, Zhao Y, Lin J. Air pollution exposure and pregnancy outcomes among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1066899. [PMID: 36579067 PMCID: PMC9791261 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1066899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recently, the relationship between air pollution and reproductive outcomes has become a research focus. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship between air pollution and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods This is a retrospective cohort study included a total of 1,652 women with PCOS and 12,543 women without PCOS conducted from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. The average daily concentration data of six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO) during different exposure windows were obtained. Generalized estimating equation models were used to evaluate the association of air pollution with pregnancy outcomes. Results Air pollutants were not found to have a significant association with pregnancy rates among patients with PCOS. However, each IQR increase in PM10 exposure during period 3 (embryo transfer to serum HCG test) was associated with the reduced clinical pregnancy rate (adjusted OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-0.99) for patients without PCOS. Patients without PCOS showed lower clinical pregnancy rates with increased exposure to NO2 during periods 2 (oocyte retrieval to embryo transfer) and 5 (start of gonadotropin medication to embryo transfer), with aORs and 95% CIs of 0.94 (0.88, 0.99) and 0.94 (0.88, 0.98), respectively. Each IQR increase in SO2 among patients without PCOS during periods 1 (start of gonadotropin medication to oocyte retrieval), 2, 5, and 6 (start of gonadotropin medication to serum HCG test) was related to a decrease in clinical pregnancy rate. For the live birth rate, no significant relationship was found between air pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3, and the live birth rate for women with PCOS. However, women without PCOS presented a lower probability of live birth with exposure to SO2 during periods 1, 2, 5, and 6. Conclusion This retrospective study of reproductive-aged women observed no significant relationships between ambient pollutants and pregnancy outcomes among women with PCOS but found negative associations among women without PCOS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Cai
- Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyan Guo
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Jiaying Lin
| | - Jiaying Lin
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China,Yan Zhao
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yu X, Wang Q, Wei J, Zeng Q, Xiao L, Ni H, Xu T, Wu H, Guo P, Zhang X. Impacts of traffic-related particulate matter pollution on semen quality: A retrospective cohort study relying on the random forest model in a megacity of South China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158387. [PMID: 36049696 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence shows the detrimental impacts of particulate matter (PM) on poor semen quality. High-resolution estimates of PM concentrations are conducive to evaluating accurate associations between traffic-related PM exposure and semen quality. METHODS In this study, we firstly developed a random forest model incorporating meteorological factors, land-use information, traffic-related variables, and other spatiotemporal predictors to estimate daily traffic-related PM concentrations, including PM2.5, PM10, and PM1. Then we enrolled 1310 semen donors corresponding to 4912 semen samples during the study period from January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019 in Guangzhou city, China. Linear mixed models were employed to associate individual exposures to traffic-related PM during the entire (0-90 lag days) and key periods (0-37 and 34-77 lag days) with semen quality parameters, including sperm concentration, sperm count, progressive motility and total motility. RESULTS The results showed that decreased sperm concentration was associated with PM10 exposures (β: -0.21, 95 % CI: -0.35, -0.07), sperm count was inversely related to both PM2.5 (β: -0.19, 95 % CI: -0.35, -0.02) and PM10 (β: -0.19, 95 % CI: -0.33, -0.05) during the 0-90 days lag exposure window. Besides, PM2.5 and PM10 might diminish sperm concentration by mainly affecting the late phase of sperm development (0-37 lag days). Stratified analyses suggested that PBF and drinking seemed to modify the associations between PM exposure and sperm motility. We did not observe any significant associations of PM1 exposures with semen parameters. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that exposure to traffic-related PM2.5 and PM10 pollution throughout spermatogenesis may adversely affect semen quality, especially sperm concentration and count. The findings provided more evidence for the negative associations between traffic-related PM exposure and semen quality, highlighting the necessity to reduce ambient air pollution through environmental policy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Yu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Qiling Wang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China; Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), China
| | - Jing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Qinghui Zeng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Lina Xiao
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Haobo Ni
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Haisheng Wu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Pi Guo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Andrology, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Schuppe HC, Köhn FM. [Impact of lifestyle and environmental factors on male reproductive health]. UROLOGIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 61:1217-1228. [PMID: 36229540 DOI: 10.1007/s00120-022-01951-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The identification of potential environmental hazards is of clinical relevance for the diagnosis of male infertility. Knowledge about these factors will improve prevention of fertility disorders. Apart from drugs or factors related to lifestyle such as alcohol and tobacco smoke, various environmental and occupational agents, both chemical and physical, may impair male reproduction. Reproductive toxicity may evolve at the hypothalamic-pituitary, testicular, or posttesticular level; endpoints comprise deterioration of spermatogenesis and sperm function as well as endocrine disorders and sexual dysfunction. However, due to the complex regulation of the male reproductive system, information regarding single exogenous factors and their mechanisms of action in humans is limited. This is also due to the fact that extrapolation of results obtained from experimental animal or in vitro studies remains difficult. Nevertheless, the assessment of relevant exposures to reproductive toxicants should be carefully evaluated during diagnostic procedures of andrological patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Christian Schuppe
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Kinderurologie und Andrologie, Sektion Konservative Andrologie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH - Standort Gießen, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gaffkystr. 14, 35385, Gießen, Deutschland.
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Kortenkamp A, Scholze M, Ermler S, Priskorn L, Jørgensen N, Andersson AM, Frederiksen H. Combined exposures to bisphenols, polychlorinated dioxins, paracetamol, and phthalates as drivers of deteriorating semen quality. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107322. [PMID: 35691715 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Semen quality in men continues to decline in Western countries, but the contours of the issue remain obscure, in relation to contributing chemicals. OBJECTIVES To obtain more clarity about the chemicals that drive the deterioration of semen quality, we conducted a mixture risk assessment based on European exposures. METHODS We included chemicals capable of affecting semen quality after prenatal exposures, among them androgen receptor antagonists, substances that disrupt prostaglandin signalling, suppress testosterone synthesis, inhibit steroidogenic enzymes or activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. We employed the Hazard Index approach (HI), based on risk quotients of exposures in Europe and reference doses for reductions in semen quality. By summing up the risk quotients of the 29 chemicals included in the assessment we examined fold-exceedances of "acceptable" mixture exposures relative to an index value of 1. For bisphenols A, F, S, phthalates DEHP, DnBP, BBzP, DiNP, n-butyl paraben and paracetamol we relied on biomonitoring studies in which these 9 chemicals were measured together in the same subjects. This allowed us to construct personalised Hazard Indices. RESULTS Highly exposed subjects experienced combined exposures to the 9 chemicals that exceeded the index value of 1 by more than 100-fold; the median was a 17-fold exceedance. Accounting for median background exposures to the remaining 20 chemicals added a Hazard Index of 1.39. Bisphenol A made the largest contribution to the HI, followed by polychlorinated dioxins, bisphenols S and F and DEHP. Eliminating bisphenol A alone would still leave unacceptably high mixture risks. Paracetamol is also a driver of mixture risks among subjects using the drug. CONCLUSIONS Tolerable exposures to substances associated with deteriorations of semen quality are exceeded by a large margin. Bisphenols, polychlorinated dioxins, phthalates and analgesics drive these risks. Dedicated efforts towards lowering exposures to these substances are necessary to mitigate risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kortenkamp
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
| | - Martin Scholze
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Sibylle Ermler
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Lærke Priskorn
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Jørgensen
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|