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Du X, Zhu J, Xu X, Lu Z, Li X, Li Y, Luo L, Zhang W, Liu J. Effects of cadmium exposure during pregnancy on genome-wide DNA methylation and the CREB/CREM pathway in the testes of male offspring rats. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140906. [PMID: 38092170 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140906] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
This experimental study explored the multigenerational and transgenerational effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure during pregnancy on the testicular tissue and spermatogenesis of male offspring rats. CdCl2 at different doses (0, 0.5, 1, 2 mg/kg/day) were dispensed to pregnant SD rats, thus producing generation F1. Adult females in F1 (PND 56) were mated with untreated fertile males so as to produce generation F2. Likewise, adult females in F2 were mated to produce generation F3. Damages to testicular tissue were observed in all the three generations, with serum testosterone (T) increased in F2 and F3. Notably, the genome-wide DNA methylation level in the testicular tissue of F1 was altered, as was the expression of F1-F3 methyltransferases. In addition, the expression of Creb/Crem pathway, a pathway critical for the metamorphosis from postmeiotic round spermatocytes to spermatozoa, was also remarkably altered in the three generations. In concludion, prenatal Cd exposure might bring multigenerational and transgenerational toxic effects to testes via genome-wide DNA methylation and the regulation of CREB/CREM pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiushuai Du
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China
| | - Jianlin Zhu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China
| | - Xueming Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China
| | - Zhilan Lu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoqin Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China
| | - Yuchen Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China
| | - Lingfeng Luo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China
| | - Wenchang Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Cancer, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China.
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Zhang J, Cheng X, Wei Y, Zhang Z, Zhou Q, Guan Y, Yan Y, Wang R, Jia C, An J, He M. Epigenome-wide perspective of cadmium-associated DNA methylation and its mediation role in the associations of cadmium with lipid levels and dyslipidemia risk. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 184:114409. [PMID: 38128686 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114409] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies demonstrated the associations of cadmium (Cd) with lipid levels and dyslipidemia risk, but the mechanisms involved need further exploration. OBJECTIVES We aimed to explore the role of DNA methylation (DNAM) in the relationship of Cd with lipid levels and dyslipidemia risk. METHODS Urinary cadmium levels (UCd) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein were measured with kits, and DNAM was measured using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Robust linear regressions were conducted for epigenome-wide association study. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were performed to explore the associations of UCd with lipid levels and dyslipidemia risk, respectively. Mediation analyses were conducted to explore potential mediating role of DNAM in the associations of Cd with lipid levels and dyslipidemia risk. RESULTS UCd was negatively associated with HDL levels (p = 0.01) and positively associated with dyslipidemia (p < 0.01). There were 92/11 DMPs/DMRs (FDR<0.05) associated with UCd. Cd-associated DNAM and pathways were connected with cardiometabolic diseases and immunity. Cg07829377 (LINC01060) mediated 42.05%/22.88% of the UCd-HDL/UCd-dyslipidemia associations (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Cadmium caused site-specific DNAM alterations and the associations of UCd with lipid levels and dyslipidemia risk may be partially mediated by DNAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhen Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xu Cheng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yue Wei
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China; Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Zefang Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China; Department of Tuberculosis Control, Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qihang Zhou
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Youbing Guan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Ruixin Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Chengyong Jia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jun An
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Meian He
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health for Incubating, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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Chbihi K, Menouni A, Hardy E, Creta M, Grova N, Van Nieuwenhuyse A, Godderis L, El Jaafari S, Duca RC. Exposure of children to brominated flame retardants and heavy metals in Morocco: Urine and blood levels in association with global cytosine and adenine methylation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108409. [PMID: 38185044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108409] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Persistent pollutants, namely brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and heavy metals, are compounds that are added to a wide range of products and materials for preventing ignition, increasing the functionality of materials or improving their performance, e.g. electric conductivity. The exposure of children might consequently be inferred, through indoor dust and hand-to-mouth or toy-chewing behaviors. The current study is aimed at assessing the exposure of Moroccan children to BFRs and heavy metal elements, and evaluating their associations with global DNA methylation. First, parents responded to a questionnaire pertaining to children's lifestyle, then blood and urine samples were collected from (n = 93) children aged between 5 and 11 years for biomonitoring and DNA methylation analysis. BFRs were detected in 54.84% of samples with a median concentration of 0.01 nmol/mL (range: 0.004-0.051 nmol/mL) while metal elements were detected in more than 90% of samples. BFRs showed no variations with global DNA methylation, unlike metal elements, which revealed significant associations with global DNA methylation markers, namely 5-mC, 5-hmC and N⁶-mA levels. Moroccan children may be exposed to flame retardants and heavy metals through several routes. Further research is required to assess the exposure and the health impacts of environmental pollutants and ultimately protect the Moroccan population by the prevention of adverse health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoutar Chbihi
- Cluster of Competences on Health & Environment, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes 50000, Morocco; Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg.
| | - Aziza Menouni
- Cluster of Competences on Health & Environment, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes 50000, Morocco; Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Emilie Hardy
- Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg
| | - Matteo Creta
- Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg
| | - Nathalie Grova
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity-Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Luxembourg; UMR Inserm 1256 nGERE, Nutrition-Génétique et exposition aux risques environnementaux, Institute of Medical Research (Pôle BMS) - University of Lorraine, B.P. 184, Nancy 54511, France
| | - An Van Nieuwenhuyse
- Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg
| | - Lode Godderis
- Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Heverlee 3001, Belgium
| | - Samir El Jaafari
- Cluster of Competences on Health & Environment, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes 50000, Morocco
| | - Radu-Corneliu Duca
- Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg.
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Bakulski KM, Blostein F, London SJ. Linking Prenatal Environmental Exposures to Lifetime Health with Epigenome-Wide Association Studies: State-of-the-Science Review and Future Recommendations. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:126001. [PMID: 38048101 PMCID: PMC10695268 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prenatal environment influences lifetime health; epigenetic mechanisms likely predominate. In 2016, the first international consortium paper on cigarette smoking during pregnancy and offspring DNA methylation identified extensive, reproducible exposure signals. This finding raised expectations for epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of other exposures. OBJECTIVE We review the current state-of-the-science for DNA methylation associations across prenatal exposures in humans and provide future recommendations. METHODS We reviewed 134 prenatal environmental EWAS of DNA methylation in newborns, focusing on 51 epidemiological studies with meta-analysis or replication testing. Exposures spanned cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, air pollution, dietary factors, psychosocial stress, metals, other chemicals, and other exogenous factors. Of the reproducible DNA methylation signatures, we examined implementation as exposure biomarkers. RESULTS Only 19 (14%) of these prenatal EWAS were conducted in cohorts of 1,000 or more individuals, reflecting the still early stage of the field. To date, the largest perinatal EWAS sample size was 6,685 participants. For comparison, the most recent genome-wide association study for birth weight included more than 300,000 individuals. Replication, at some level, was successful with exposures to cigarette smoking, folate, dietary glycemic index, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 10 μ m and < 2.5 μ m , nitrogen dioxide, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, electronic waste, PFAS, and DDT. Reproducible effects of a more limited set of prenatal exposures (smoking, folate) enabled robust methylation biomarker creation. DISCUSSION Current evidence demonstrates the scientific premise for reproducible DNA methylation exposure signatures. Better powered EWAS could identify signatures across many exposures and enable comprehensive biomarker development. Whether methylation biomarkers of exposures themselves cause health effects remains unclear. We expect that larger EWAS with enhanced coverage of epigenome and exposome, along with improved single-cell technologies and evolving methods for integrative multi-omics analyses and causal inference, will expand mechanistic understanding of causal links between environmental exposures, the epigenome, and health outcomes throughout the life course. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12956.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Freida Blostein
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Stephanie J. London
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Priya PS, Murugan R, Almutairi BO, Arokiyaraj S, Shanjeev P, Arockiaraj J. Delineating the protective action of cordycepin against cadmium induced oxidative stress and gut inflammation through downregulation of NF-κB pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 102:104246. [PMID: 37595934 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104246] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) exposure is known to cause gut inflammation. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of cordycepin, a natural compound with pharmacological properties, against gut inflammation induced by Cd exposure. Using zebrafish larvae and colon cell line models, we examined the impact of cordycepin on Cd-induced toxicity and inflammation. Zebrafish larvae were exposed to Cd (2 µg/mL) and treated with different concentrations of cordycepin (12.5, 25 and 50 µg/mL). Cordycepin treatment significantly reduced Cd-induced embryotoxicity in zebrafish larvae. It also alleviated Cd-induced oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. Furthermore, cordycepin treatment normalized the levels of liver-related biomarkers affected due to Cd exposure. Additionally, cordycepin (50 µg/mL) demonstrated a significant reduction in Cd bioaccumulation and downregulated the expression of inflammatory genes in both zebrafish larval gut and colon cell lines. These findings suggest that cordycepin could be an effective agent against Cd-induced gut inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Snega Priya
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu District, Kattankulatur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Raghul Murugan
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu District, Kattankulatur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Bader O Almutairi
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Selvaraj Arokiyaraj
- Department of Food Science & Biotechnology, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - P Shanjeev
- SG's Supreme Organics, Plot 148, Sri Valli Nagar, Nandhivaram Village, Guduvancherry, Chennai 603202, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jesu Arockiaraj
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu District, Kattankulatur 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Lawless L, Xie L, Zhang K. The inter- and multi- generational epigenetic alterations induced by maternal cadmium exposure. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1148906. [PMID: 37152287 PMCID: PMC10157395 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1148906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to cadmium during pregnancy, from environmental or lifestyle factors, has been shown to have detrimental fetal and placental developmental effects, along with negatively impacting maternal health during gestation. Additionally, prenatal cadmium exposure places the offspring at risk for developing diseases in infancy, adolescence, and adulthood. Although given much attention, the underlying mechanisms of cadmium-induced teratogenicity and disease development remain largely unknown. Epigenetic changes in DNA, RNA and protein modifications have been observed during cadmium exposure, which implies a scientific premise as a conceivable mode of cadmium toxicity for developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). This review aims to examine the literature and provide a comprehensive overview of epigenetic alterations induced by prenatal cadmium exposure, within the developing fetus and placenta, and the continued effects observed in childhood and across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Lawless
- Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Linglin Xie
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Ke Zhang
- Institute of Bioscience and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Ke Zhang,
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