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Rubin JB, Abou-Antoun T, Ippolito JE, Llaci L, Marquez CT, Wong JP, Yang L. Epigenetic developmental mechanisms underlying sex differences in cancer. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e180071. [PMID: 38949020 PMCID: PMC11213507 DOI: 10.1172/jci180071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer risk is modulated by hereditary and somatic mutations, exposures, age, sex, and gender. The mechanisms by which sex and gender work alone and in combination with other cancer risk factors remain underexplored. In general, cancers that occur in both the male and female sexes occur more commonly in XY compared with XX individuals, regardless of genetic ancestry, geographic location, and age. Moreover, XY individuals are less frequently cured of their cancers, highlighting the need for a greater understanding of sex and gender effects in oncology. This will be necessary for optimal laboratory and clinical cancer investigations. To that end, we review the epigenetics of sexual differentiation and its effect on cancer hallmark pathways throughout life. Specifically, we will touch on how sex differences in metabolism, immunity, pluripotency, and tumor suppressor functions are patterned through the epigenetic effects of imprinting, sex chromosome complement, X inactivation, genes escaping X inactivation, sex hormones, and life history.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joseph E. Ippolito
- Department of Radiology
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
| | - Lorida Llaci
- Deartment of Genetics Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Galineau L, Bourdin-Pintueles A, Bodard S, Busson J, Nadal-Desbarats L, Lefèvre A, Emond P, Mavel S. Temporal metabolomics state in pregnant rat: Analysis of amniotic fluid, placenta, and maternal plasma at embryonic and fetal time points. Placenta 2024; 150:22-30. [PMID: 38581971 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During pregnancy, the dynamic metabolic demands for fetal growth require a continuous supply of essential metabolites. Understanding maternal metabolome changes during gestation is crucial for predicting disease risks in neonates. METHODS The study aimed to characterize the placental and amniotic fluid (AF) metabolomes during gestation in rats at gestational days GD-13 and 19 reflecting the end of the embryonic and fetal periods, respectively, and the maternal plasma, using metabolomics (LC-MS) and chemometrics. The objective was to highlight, through univariate and multivariate analyses, the complementarity of the data obtained from these different biological matrices. RESULTS The biological matrix had more impact on the metabolome composition than the gestational stage. The placental and AF metabolomes showed specific metabolome evolving over the two gestational stages. Analyzing the three targeted metabolomes revealed evolving pathways in arginine and proline metabolism/glutathione metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism; purine metabolism; and carbohydrate metabolism. Significantly, lipid metabolism in the placenta exhibited substantial changes with higher levels of certain phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelins at GD19 while some cholesteryl esters and some glycosphingolipids levels being in higher levels at GD13. DISCUSSION These data highlight the metabolic gradients (mainly in placenta, also in AF, but only a few in plasma) observed through embryonic patterning and organ development during mid-to late gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Galineau
- Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France
| | | | - Sylvie Bodard
- Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France
| | - Julie Busson
- Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France
| | - Lydie Nadal-Desbarats
- Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France; PST-ASB, Université de Tours, France
| | - Antoine Lefèvre
- Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France; PST-ASB, Université de Tours, France
| | - Patrick Emond
- Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France; PST-ASB, Université de Tours, France; Service de Médecine Nucléaire In Vitro, CHRU Tours, Tours, France
| | - Sylvie Mavel
- Université de Tours, INSERM, Imaging Brain & Neuropsychiatry iBraiN U1253, 37032, Tours, France.
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Griffith JA, King RD, Dunn AC, Lewis SE, Maxwell BA, Nurkiewicz TR, Goldsmith WT, Kelley EE, Bowdridge EC. Maternal nano-titanium dioxide inhalation exposure alters placental cyclooxygenase and oxidant balance in a sexually dimorphic manner. ADVANCES IN REDOX RESEARCH 2024; 10:10.1016/j.arres.2023.100090. [PMID: 38562524 PMCID: PMC10979698 DOI: 10.1016/j.arres.2023.100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The placenta plays a critical role in nutrient-waste exchange between the maternal and fetal circulation, and thus impacts fetal growth and development. We have previously shown that nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) inhalation exposure during gestation decreased fetal female pup and placenta mass [1], which persists in the following generation [2]. In utero exposed females, once mated, their offspring's placentas had increased capacity for H2O2 production. Generation of oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), have been shown to impact cyclooxygenase activity, specifically metabolites such as prostacyclin (PGI2) or thromboxane (TXA2). Therefore, we hypothesized that maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation exposure during gestation results in alterations in placental production of prostacyclin and thromboxane mediated by enhanced H2O2 production in a sexually dimorphic manner. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nano-TiO2 aerosols or filtered air (sham--control) from gestational day (GD) 10-19. Dams were euthanized on GD 20, and fetal serum and placental tissue were collected based on fetal sex. Fetal placental zones (junctional zone (JZ) and labyrinth zone (LZ)) were assessed for xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity, H2O2, and catalase activity, as well as 6-keto-PGF1α and TXB2 levels. Nano-TiO2 exposed fetal female LZ demonstrated significantly greater XOR activity compared to exposed males. Exposed fetal female LZ also demonstrated significantly diminished catalase activity compared to sham-control females. Exposed fetal female LZ had significantly increased abundance of 6-keto-PGF1α compared to sham-control females and increased TXB2 compared to exposed males. In the aggregate these data indicate that maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation exposure has a greater impact on redox homeostasis and PGI2/TXA2 balance in the fetal female LZ. Future studies need to address if treatment with an XO inhibitor during gestation can prevent diminished fetal female growth during maternal nano-TiO2 inhalation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Griffith
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Rachel D. King
- Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Allison C. Dunn
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sara E. Lewis
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Brooke A. Maxwell
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Timothy R. Nurkiewicz
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - William T. Goldsmith
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Eric E. Kelley
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Bowdridge
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Legault LM, Breton-Larrivée M, Langford-Avelar A, Lemieux A, McGraw S. Sex-based disparities in DNA methylation and gene expression in late-gestation mouse placentas. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:2. [PMID: 38183126 PMCID: PMC10770955 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00577-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The placenta is vital for fetal development and its contributions to various developmental issues, such as pregnancy complications, fetal growth restriction, and maternal exposure, have been extensively studied in mice. The placenta forms mainly from fetal tissue and therefore has the same biological sex as the fetus it supports. Extensive research has delved into the placenta's involvement in pregnancy complications and future offspring development, with a notable emphasis on exploring sex-specific disparities. However, despite these investigations, sex-based disparities in epigenetic (e.g., DNA methylation) and transcriptomic features of the late-gestation mouse placenta remain largely unknown. METHODS We collected male and female mouse placentas at late gestation (E18.5, n = 3/sex) and performed next-generation sequencing to identify genome-wide sex differences in transcription and DNA methylation. RESULTS Our comparison between male and female revealed 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) on autosomes, which were associated with signaling pathways involved in transmembrane transport and the responses to viruses and external stimuli. X chromosome DEGs (n = 39) were associated with different pathways, including those regulating chromatin modification and small GTPase-mediated signal transduction. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were more common on the X chromosomes (n = 3756) than on autosomes (n = 1705). Interestingly, while most X chromosome DMRs had higher DNA methylation levels in female placentas and tended to be included in CpG dinucleotide-rich regions, 73% of autosomal DMRs had higher methylation levels in male placentas and were distant from CpG-rich regions. Several DEGs were correlated with DMRs. A subset of the DMRs present in late-stage placentas were already established in mid-gestation (E10.5) placentas (n = 348 DMRs on X chromosome and 19 DMRs on autosomes), while others were acquired later in placental development. CONCLUSION Our study provides comprehensive lists of DEGs and DMRs between male and female that collectively cause profound differences in the DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of late-gestation mouse placentas. Our results demonstrate the importance of incorporating sex-specific analyses into epigenetic and transcription studies to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of their conclusions and help address the significant knowledge gap regarding how sex differences influence placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Legault
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Alexandra Langford-Avelar
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Anthony Lemieux
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Serge McGraw
- CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de La Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, 2900 Boulevard Edouard‑Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
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Islam M, Behura SK. Role of paralogs in the sex-bias transcriptional and metabolic regulation of the brain-placental axis in mice. Placenta 2024; 145:143-150. [PMID: 38134547 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Duplicated genes or paralogs play important roles in the adaptive function of eukaryotic genomes. Animal studies have shown evidence for the functional role of paralogs in pregnancy, but our knowledge about the role of paralogs in the fetoplacental regulation remains limited. In particular, if fetoplacental metabolic regulation is modulated by differential expression of paralogs remains unexamined. METHODS In this study, gene expression profiles of day-15 placenta and fetal brain were compared to identify families or groups of paralogous genes expressed in the placenta and brain of male versus female fetuses in mice. A Bayesian modeling was applied to infer directional relationship of transcriptional variation of the paralogs relative to the phylogenetic variation of the genes in each family. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to perform untargeted metabolomics analysis of day-15 placenta and fetal brain of both sexes. RESULTS We identified paralog groups that were expressed in a sex and/or tissue biased manner between the placenta and fetal brain. Bayesian modeling showed evidence for directional relationship between expression and phylogeny of specific paralogs. These relationships were sex specific. GC-MS analysis identified metabolites that were expressed in a sex-bias manner between the placenta and fetal brain. By performing integrative analysis of the metabolomics and gene expression data, we showed that specific groups of metabolites and paralogous genes were expressed in a coordinated manner between the placenta and fetal brain. DISCUSSION The findings of this study collectively suggest that paralogs play an influential role in the regulation of the brain-placental axis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maliha Islam
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA
| | - Susanta K Behura
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA; MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, USA; Interdisciplinary Reproduction and Health Group, University of Missouri, USA; Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri, USA.
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Hall AM, Fleury E, Papandonatos GD, Buckley JP, Cecil KM, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Yolton K, Walker DI, Pennell KD, Braun JM, Manz KE. Associations of a Prenatal Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Mixture with the Cord Serum Metabolome in the HOME Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:21627-21636. [PMID: 38091497 PMCID: PMC11185318 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07515] [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] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous and persistent chemicals associated with multiple adverse health outcomes; however, the biological pathways affected by these chemicals are unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we used data from 264 mother-infant dyads in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study and employed quantile-based g-computation to estimate covariate-adjusted associations between a prenatal (∼16 weeks' gestation) serum PFAS mixture [perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)] and 14,402 features measured in cord serum. The PFAS mixture was associated with four features: PFOS, PFHxS, a putatively identified metabolite (3-monoiodo-l-thyronine 4-O-sulfate), and an unidentified feature (590.0020 m/z and 441.4 s retention time; false discovery rate <0.20). Using pathway enrichment analysis coupled with quantile-based g-computation, the PFAS mixture was associated with 49 metabolic pathways, most notably amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid and cofactor and vitamin metabolism, as well as glycan biosynthesis and metabolism (P(Gamma) <0.05). Future studies should assess if these pathways mediate associations of prenatal PFAS exposure with infant or child health outcomes, such as birthweight or vaccine response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber M Hall
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Elvira Fleury
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - George D Papandonatos
- Department of Biostatistics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, United States
- Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, United States
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, United States
| | - Douglas I Walker
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Katherine E Manz
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Jo S, Alejandro EU. RISING STARS: Mechanistic insights into maternal-fetal cross talk and islet beta-cell development. J Endocrinol 2023; 259:e230069. [PMID: 37855321 PMCID: PMC10692651 DOI: 10.1530/joe-23-0069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The metabolic health trajectory of an individual is shaped as early as prepregnancy, during pregnancy, and lactation period. Both maternal nutrition and metabolic health status are critical factors in the programming of offspring toward an increased propensity to developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Pancreatic beta-cells, part of the endocrine islets, which are nutrient-sensitive tissues important for glucose metabolism, are primed early in life (the first 1000 days in humans) with limited plasticity later in life. This suggests the high importance of the developmental window of programming in utero and early in life. This review will focus on how changes to the maternal milieu increase offspring's susceptibility to diabetes through changes in pancreatic beta-cell mass and function and discuss potential mechanisms by which placental-driven nutrient availability, hormones, exosomes, and immune alterations that may impact beta-cell development in utero, thereby affecting susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seokwon Jo
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Emilyn U Alejandro
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Bongaerts E, Nawrot TS, Wang C, Ameloot M, Bové H, Roeffaers MB, Chavatte-Palmer P, Couturier-Tarrade A, Cassee FR. Placental-fetal distribution of carbon particles in a pregnant rabbit model after repeated exposure to diluted diesel engine exhaust. Part Fibre Toxicol 2023; 20:20. [PMID: 37202804 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-023-00531-z] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Airborne pollution particles have been shown to translocate from the mother's lung to the fetal circulation, but their distribution and internal placental-fetal tissue load remain poorly explored. Here, we investigated the placental-fetal load and distribution of diesel engine exhaust particles during gestation under controlled exposure conditions using a pregnant rabbit model. Pregnant dams were exposed by nose-only inhalation to either clean air (controls) or diluted and filtered diesel engine exhaust (1 mg/m3) for 2 h/day, 5 days/week, from gestational day (GD) 3 to GD27. At GD28, placental and fetal tissues (i.e., heart, kidney, liver, lung and gonads) were collected for biometry and to study the presence of carbon particles (CPs) using white light generation by carbonaceous particles under femtosecond pulsed laser illumination. RESULTS CPs were detected in the placenta, fetal heart, kidney, liver, lung and gonads in significantly higher amounts in exposed rabbits compared with controls. Through multiple factor analysis, we were able to discriminate the diesel engine exposed pregnant rabbits from the control group taking all variables related to fetoplacental biometry and CP load into consideration. Our findings did not reveal a sex effect, yet a potential interaction effect might be present between exposure and fetal sex. CONCLUSIONS The results confirmed the translocation of maternally inhaled CPs from diesel engine exhaust to the placenta which could be detected in fetal organs during late-stage pregnancy. The exposed can be clearly discriminated from the control group with respect to fetoplacental biometry and CP load. The differential particle load in the fetal organs may contribute to the effects on fetoplacental biometry and to the malprogramming of the fetal phenotype with long-term effects later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bongaerts
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok d-box 7001, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
| | - Congrong Wang
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Marcel Ameloot
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, Diepenbeek, 3590, Belgium
| | - Hannelore Bové
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Maarten Bj Roeffaers
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan, Leuven, 200F-box 2454, 3001, Belgium
| | - Pascale Chavatte-Palmer
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Misons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Anne Couturier-Tarrade
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Misons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Flemming R Cassee
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, RIVM, PObox1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, the Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division Toxicology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Shanmuganathan M, Bogert M, Kroezen Z, Britz-McKibbin P, Atkinson SA. Dynamic Metabolic Signatures of Choline and Carnitine across Healthy Pregnancy and in Cord Blood: Association with Maternal Dietary Protein. J Nutr 2023; 153:999-1007. [PMID: 36780943 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.013] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In pregnancy, choline is deemed an essential nutrient and carnitine needs are increased, but amounts remain undefined. OBJECTIVES We aimed to measure choline and total dietary protein and dairy protein intake from food and supplements across pregnancy and the response to intake by profiling choline and carnitine metabolites across pregnancy and in cord blood. METHODS An exploratory analysis of choline and protein intake from 3-d diet records and measures of 36 serum choline and carnitine metabolites in early (12-17 wk) and late (36-38 wk) pregnancy was conducted in participants from the Be Healthy in Pregnancy study randomized to high dairy protein+walking exercise or usual care. Metabolites were measured in fasted maternal and cord serum using multisegment injection-capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. Mixed ANOVA adjusted for body mass index was performed for comparison of metabolites across pregnancy and between intervention and control. RESULTS In 104 participants, the median (Q1, Q3) total choline intake was 347 (263, 427) mg/d in early and 322 (270, 437) mg/d in late pregnancy. Only ∼20% of participants achieved the recommended adequate intake (450 mg/d) and ∼10% consumed supplemental choline (8-200 mg/d). Serum-free choline (μmol/L) was higher in late compared with early pregnancy [12.9 (11.4, 15.1) compared with 9.68 (8.25, 10.61), P < 0.001], but choline downstream metabolites were similar across pregnancy. Serum carnitine [10.3 (9.01, 12.2) compared with 15.9 (14.1, 17.9) μmol/L, P < 0.001] and acetylcarnitine [2.35 (1.92, 2.68) compared with 3.0 (2.56, 3.59), P < 0.001] were significantly lower in late pregnancy. High cord:maternal serum metabolite ratios were found in most measured metabolites. CONCLUSIONS Despite inadequate choline intake, serum-free choline was elevated in late pregnancy and enriched in cord blood compared with maternal serum. Serum carnitine declined in late pregnancy despite a high protein diet. The higher cord:maternal concentrations in choline and carnitine metabolites suggest active uptake in late pregnancy, reflecting the importance of these circulating metabolites in fetal development. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01689961.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera Shanmuganathan
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meghan Bogert
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zachary Kroezen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip Britz-McKibbin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Tang P, He W, Shao Y, Liu B, Huang H, Liang J, Liao Q, Tang Y, Mo M, Zhou Y, Li H, Huang D, Liu S, Zeng X, Qiu X. Associations between prenatal multiple plasma metal exposure and newborn telomere length: Effect modification by maternal age and infant sex. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 315:120451. [PMID: 36270567 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to metals during pregnancy may affect maternal and infant health. However, studies on the combined effects of metals on the telomere length (TL) of newborns are limited. A prospective cohort study was conducted among 1313 mother-newborn pairs in the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort. The concentrations of metals in maternal plasma during the first trimester were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We explored the associations between nine plasma metals and newborn TL using generalized linear models (GLMs), principal component analysis (PCA), quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). The GLMs revealed the inverse association between plasma arsenic (percent change, -5.56%; 95% CI: -7.69%, -3.38%) and barium concentrations (-9.84%; 95% CI: -13.81%, -5.68%) and newborn TL. Lead levels were related to significant decreases in newborn TL only in females. The PCA revealed a negative association between the PC3 and newborn TL (-4.52%; 95% CI: -6.34%, -2.68%). In the BKMR, the joint effect of metals was negatively associated with newborn TL. Qgcomp indicated that each one-tertile increase in metal mixture levels was associated with shorter newborn TL (-9.39%; 95% CI: -14.32%, -4.18%). The single and joint effects of multiple metals were more pronounced among pregnant women carrying female fetuses and among pregnant women <28 years of age. The finding suggests that prenatal exposure to arsenic, barium, antimony, and lead and mixed metals may shorten newborn TLs. The relationship between metal exposures and newborn TL may exhibit heterogeneities according to infant sex and maternal age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Wanting He
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yantao Shao
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530031, Guangxi, China
| | - Bihu Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Huishen Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Qian Liao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Meile Mo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yong Zhou
- School of Public Health, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou, 423000, China
| | - Han Li
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Dongping Huang
- Department of Sanitary Chemistry, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Shun Liu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zeng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Qiu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
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11
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Predisposed obesity and long-term metabolic diseases from maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — A review of its effect and potential mechanisms. Life Sci 2022; 310:121054. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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12
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Björvang RD, Mamsen LS. Sexually Dimorphic Accumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Fetuses. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:909307. [PMID: 35656542 PMCID: PMC9152108 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.909307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Living in an industrialized era, we are exposed to man-made chemicals including persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Previous studies have shown associations of POP exposure with adverse outcomes in humans, wildlife, and the environment, making it a global concern. Exposure during sensitive windows of susceptibility such as fetal development is of particular concern because of the potential increased risk of developing diseases in childhood and adulthood. However, there are limited studies on the sexual dimorphism of POP accumulation during the prenatal period. In this mini-review, we focus on differences in POP concentrations in the placenta and fetal tissues between males and females. We also show the sexually dimorphic adverse outcomes of prenatal exposure to POPs. Overall, our summary shows that males may accumulate higher concentrations of POPs in the placenta and fetal tissues compared to females, although studies are sparse and inconsistent. In addition, there are differences in adverse health outcomes associated to prenatal POP exposure according to sex. Hence, we highly urge researchers investigating the health effects of POP exposure to consider sexual dimorphism in their studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richelle D. Björvang
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linn Salto Mamsen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, University Hospital of Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Linn Salto Mamsen,
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13
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D'Errico JN, Doherty C, Reyes George JJ, Buckley B, Stapleton PA. Maternal, placental, and fetal distribution of titanium after repeated titanium dioxide nanoparticle inhalation through pregnancy. Placenta 2022; 121:99-108. [PMID: 35305398 PMCID: PMC9010360 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have associated ambient engineered nanomaterials or ultrafine particulate matter (PM0.1), collectively referred to as nanoparticles (NPs), with adverse pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage, preterm labor, and fetal growth restriction. Evidence from non-pregnant models demonstrate that NPs can cross the lung air-blood barrier and circulate systemically. Therefore, inhalation of NPs during pregnancy leading to fetoplacental exposure has garnered attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of inhaled titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) from the maternal lung to maternal and fetal systemic tissues. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were administered whole-body exposure to filtered air or of nano-TiO2 aerosols (9.96 ± 0.06 mg/m3) between gestational day (GD) 4 and 19. On GD 20 maternal, placental, and fetal tissues were harvested then digested for ICP-MS analysis to measure concentrations of titanium (Ti). TEM was used to visualize particle internalization by the placental syncytium. The results demonstrate the extrapulmonary distribution of Ti to various maternal organs during pregnancy. Our study found Ti accumulation in the decidua/junctional and labyrinth zones of placentas embedded in all sections of uterine horns. Further, NPs deposited in the placenta, identified by TEM, were found intracellularly within nuclear, endoplasmic reticulum, and vesicle organelles. This study identified the systemic distribution and placental accumulation of Ti after nano-TiO2 aerosol inhalation in a pregnancy model. These findings arouse concerns for poor air quality for pregnant women and possible contributions to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N D'Errico
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - C Doherty
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - J J Reyes George
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - B Buckley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - P A Stapleton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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14
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Schneider CM, Steeves KL, Mercer GV, George H, Paranavitana L, Simpson MJ, Simpson AJ, Cahill LS. Placental metabolite profiles in late gestation for healthy mice. Metabolomics 2022; 18:10. [PMID: 34993719 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-021-01868-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During pregnancy, appropriate placental metabolism is essential for fetuses to reach their growth potential. However, metabolic mechanisms during pregnancy remain poorly understood. Determination of the levels of placental metabolites in healthy pregnancy and how they change throughout gestation is critical for understanding placental function. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of gestational age on placental metabolites using healthy pregnant mice. METHODS In the present study, we collected placental tissue samples from healthy pregnant mice at three timepoints in late gestation (n = 16 placentas per gestational age). Metabolite profiles were determined using 1H high-resolution magic angle spinning magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HRMAS MRS). RESULTS Using HRMAS MRS, we identified 14 metabolites in murine placental tissue samples. The relative concentration of 12 of the 14 metabolites remains unchanged throughout late gestation. Lysine was found to decrease significantly (p = 0.04) and glucose showed an inverted U-shape relationship (p = 0.03) with gestational age. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of HRMAS MRS to determine relative metabolite concentrations in murine placental tissue. These findings establish baseline levels of placental tissue metabolite profiles and will serve as reference ranges for future studies using mouse models of fetal distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline M Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Katherine L Steeves
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Grace V Mercer
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Hannah George
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Leah Paranavitana
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Myrna J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - André J Simpson
- Environmental NMR Centre and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lindsay S Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 283 Prince Philip Drive, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X7, Canada.
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15
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Behlen JC, Lau CH, Li Y, Dhagat P, Stanley JA, Rodrigues Hoffman A, Golding MC, Zhang R, Johnson NM. Gestational Exposure to Ultrafine Particles Reveals Sex- and Dose-Specific Changes in Offspring Birth Outcomes, Placental Morphology, and Gene Networks. Toxicol Sci 2021; 184:204-213. [PMID: 34609516 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) causes adverse developmental outcomes following prenatal exposure, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain uncertain. Here we elucidate the effects of diesel exhaust ultrafine particle (UFP) exposure during pregnancy on placental and fetal development. Time-mated C57Bl/6n mice were gestationally exposed to UFPs at a low dose (LD, 100 µg/m3) or high dose (HD, 500 µg/m3) for 6 h daily. Phenotypic effects on fetuses and placental morphology at gestational day (GD) of 18.5 were evaluated, and RNA sequencing was characterized for transcriptomic changes in placental tissue from male and female offspring. A significant decrease in average placental weights and crown to rump lengths was observed in female offspring in the LD exposure group. Gestational UFP exposure altered placental morphology in a dose- and sex-specific manner. Average female decidua areas were significantly greater in the LD and HD groups. Maternal lacunae mean areas were increased in the female LD group, whereas fetal blood vessel mean areas were significantly greater in the male LD and HD groups. RNA sequencing indicated several disturbed cellular functions related to lipid metabolism, which were most pronounced in the LD group and especially in female placental tissue. Our findings demonstrate the vulnerability of offspring exposed to UFPs during pregnancy, highlighting sex-specific effects and emphasizing the importance of mitigating PM exposure to prevent adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yixin Li
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Prit Dhagat
- Alabama School of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama 36303, USA
| | - Jone A Stanley
- Covance Laboratories, Inc., Greenfield, Indiana 46140, USA
| | | | | | - Renyi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.,Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
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16
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Yang Y, Pan Z, Guo F, Wang H, Long W, Wang H, Yu B. Placental metabolic profiling in gestational diabetes mellitus: An important role of fatty acids. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e24096. [PMID: 34752662 PMCID: PMC8649376 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder during pregnancy. Accumulating studies have reported metabolites that are significantly associated with the development of GDM. However, studies on the metabolism of placenta, the most important organ of maternal‐fetal energy and material transport, are extremely rare. This study aimed to identify and discuss the relationship between differentially expressed metabolites (DEM) and clinical parameters of the mothers and newborns. Methods In this study, metabolites from 63 placenta tissues (32 GDM and 31 normal controls) were assayed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC‐HRMS). Results A total of 1297 annotated metabolites were detected, of which 87 significantly different in GDM placenta. Lipids and lipid‐like molecules accounted for 62.1% of DEM as they were significantly enriched via the “biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids” and “fatty acid biosynthesis” pathways. Linoleic acid and α‐linolenic acid appeared to be good biomarkers for the prediction and diagnosis of GDM. In addition, the level of PC(14:0/18:0) was negatively correlated with neonatal weight. 14 metabolites significantly different in male and female offspring, with the most increase in female newborns. Conclusion Even if maternal blood glucose level is well controlled, there are still metabolic abnormalities in GDM. Lipids and lipid‐like molecules were the main differential metabolites, especially unsaturated fatty acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Zhaoping Pan
- Department of Obstetrics, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Fang Guo
- Department of Medical Genetics, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Huihui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Wei Long
- Department of Medical Genetics, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Huiyan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
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17
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Christians JK. The Placenta's Role in Sexually Dimorphic Fetal Growth Strategies. Reprod Sci 2021; 29:1895-1907. [PMID: 34699045 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00780-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Fetal sex affects the risk of pregnancy complications and the long-term effects of prenatal environment on health. Some have hypothesized that growth strategies differ between the sexes, whereby males prioritize growth whereas females are more responsive to their environment. This review evaluates the role of the placenta in such strategies, focusing on (1) mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in gene expression, (2) the nature and extent of sexual dimorphism in placental gene expression, (3) sexually dimorphic responses to nutrient supply, and (4) sexual dimorphism in morphology and histopathology. The sex chromosomes contribute to sex differences in placental gene expression, and fetal hormones may play a role later in development. Sexually dimorphic placental gene expression may contribute to differences in the prevalence of complications such as preeclampsia, although this link is not clear. Placental responses to nutrient supply frequently show sexual dimorphism, but there is no consistent pattern where one sex is more responsive. There are sex differences in the prevalence of placental histopathologies, and placental changes in pregnancy complications, but also many similarities. Overall, no clear patterns support the hypothesis that females are more responsive to the maternal environment, or that males prioritize growth. While male fetuses are at greater risk of a variety of complications, total prenatal mortality is higher in females, such that males exposed to early insults may be more likely to survive and be observed in studies of adverse outcomes. Going forward, robust statistical approaches to test for sex-dependent effects must be more widely adopted to reduce the incidence of spurious results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada. .,Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada. .,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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18
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Ly R, Ly N, Sasaki K, Suzuki M, Kami K, Ohashi Y, Britz-McKibbin P. Nontargeted Serum Lipid Profiling of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis by Multisegment Injection-Nonaqueous Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry: A Multiplexed Separation Platform for Resolving Ionic Lipids. J Proteome Res 2021; 21:768-777. [PMID: 34676758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
New methods are needed for global lipid profiling due to the complex chemical structures and diverse physicochemical properties of lipids. Herein we introduce a robust data workflow to unambiguously select lipid features from serum ether extracts by multisegment injection-nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (MSI-NACE-MS). An iterative three-stage screening strategy is developed for nontargeted lipid analyses when using multiplexed electrophoretic separations coupled to an Orbitrap mass analyzer under negative ion mode. This approach enables the credentialing of 270 serum lipid features annotated based on their accurate mass and relative migration time, including 128 ionic lipids reliably measured (median CV ≈ 13%) in most serum samples (>75%) from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients (n = 85). A mobility map is introduced to classify charged lipid classes over a wide polarity range with selectivity complementary to chromatographic separations, including lysophosphatidic acids, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylinositols, phosphatidylethanolamines, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs). Serum lipidome profiles were also used to differentiate high- from low-risk NASH patients using a k-means clustering algorithm, where elevated circulating NEFAs (e.g., palmitic acid) were associated with increased glucose intolerance, more severe liver fibrosis, and greater disease burden. MSI-NACE-MS greatly expands the metabolome coverage of conventional aqueous-based CE-MS protocols and is a promising platform for large-scale lipidomic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritchie Ly
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Nicholas Ly
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Kazunori Sasaki
- Human Metabolome Technologies, Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Makoto Suzuki
- Human Metabolome Technologies, Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Kami
- Human Metabolome Technologies, Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Ohashi
- Human Metabolome Technologies, Inc., Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Philip Britz-McKibbin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
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19
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Yu P, Chen Y, Ge C, Wang H. Sexual dimorphism in placental development and its contribution to health and diseases. Crit Rev Toxicol 2021; 51:555-570. [PMID: 34666604 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.1977237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
According to the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD), intrauterine exposure to adverse environments can affect fetus and birth outcomes and lead to long-term disease susceptibility. Evidence has shown that neonatal outcomes and the timing and severity of adult diseases are sexually dimorphic. As the link between mother and fetus, the placenta is an essential regulator of fetal development programming. It is found that the physiological development trajectory of the placenta has sexual dimorphism. Furthermore, under pathological conditions, the placental function undergoes sex-specific adaptation to ensure fetal survival. Therefore, the placenta may be an important mediator of sexual dimorphism in neonatal outcomes and adult disease susceptibility. Few systematic reviews have been conducted on sexual dimorphism in placental development and its underlying mechanisms. In this review, sex chromosomes and sex hormones, as the main reasons for sexual differentiation of the placenta, will be discussed. Besides, in the etiology of fetal-originated adult diseases, overexposure to glucocorticoids is closely related to adverse neonatal outcomes and long-term disease susceptibility. Studies have found that prenatal glucocorticoid overexposure leads to sexually dimorphic expression of placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms, resulting in different sensitivity of the placenta to glucocorticoids, and may further affect fetal development. The present review examines what is currently known about sex differences in placental development and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of this sex bias. This review highlights the importance of placental contributions to the origins of sexual dimorphism in health and diseases. It may help develop personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies for fetal development in pathological pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxia Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yawen Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Caiyun Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China
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20
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Significance of Sex Differences in ncRNAs Expression and Function in Pregnancy and Related Complications. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111509. [PMID: 34829737 PMCID: PMC8614665 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the era of personalized medicine, fetal sex-specific research is of utmost importance for comprehending the mechanisms governing pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications. In recent times, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained increasing attention as critical players in gene regulation and disease pathogenesis, and as candidate biomarkers in human diseases as well. Different types of ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), participate in every step of pregnancy progression, although studies taking into consideration fetal sex as a central variable are still limited. To date, most of the available data have been obtained investigating sex-specific placental miRNA expression. Several studies revealed that miRNAs regulate the (patho)-physiological processes in a sexually dimorphic manner, ensuring normal fetal development, successful pregnancy, and susceptibility to diseases. Moreover, the observation that ncRNA profiles differ according to cells, tissues, and developmental stages of pregnancy, along with the complex interactions among different types of ncRNAs in regulating gene expression, strongly indicates that more studies are needed to understand the role of sex-specific ncRNA in pregnancy and associated disorders.
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21
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Piešťanský J, Čižmárová I, Štefánik O, Matušková M, Horniaková A, Majerová P, Mikuš P. Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry with Multisegment Injection and In-Capillary Preconcentration for High-Throughput and Sensitive Determination of Therapeutic Decapeptide Triptorelin in Pharmaceutical and Biological Matrices. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1488. [PMID: 34680605 PMCID: PMC8533539 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A capillary electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry method with a multisegment injection and an in-capillary field-enhanced sample stacking for determination of therapeutic peptide triptorelin in pharmaceutical and biological matrices was developed. The CE separation conditions were optimized in order to obtain maximal separation efficiency, analytical signal intensity and stability, and minimal adsorption of the analyzed peptide onto the capillary wall (1 M formic acid-HFo, pH 1.88). The implementation of the field-enhanced sample injection into CE improved the value of limit of detection 50 times while the multisegment injection increased the sample throughput three times in comparison to a conventional CE approach. The proposed method was characterized by favorable performance parameters, such as linearity (r2 ≥ 0.99), limit of detection (5 ng mL-1 in water matrix, 25 ng mL-1 in plasma matrix), precision (relative standard deviation, 1.5-9.4% for intraday and 2.3-11.9% for interday reproducibility), or accuracy (relative errors in the range of 80-109%). The FDA-validated method was successfully applied to the analysis of triptorelin in the commercial drug Diphereline® 0.1 mg (powder for injection) and in spiked human plasma samples. Favorable performance parameters along with proven application potentialities indicate the usefulness of the proposed method for its routine use in drug quality control laboratories and for clinical analysis, such as determination of triptorelin levels in plasma (for pharmacokinetic study).
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Affiliation(s)
- Juraj Piešťanský
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, SK-832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.P.); (I.Č.); (O.Š.); (M.M.); (A.H.)
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Science, Dubravska cesta 9, SK-845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Ivana Čižmárová
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, SK-832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.P.); (I.Č.); (O.Š.); (M.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Ondrej Štefánik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, SK-832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.P.); (I.Č.); (O.Š.); (M.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Michaela Matušková
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, SK-832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.P.); (I.Č.); (O.Š.); (M.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Andrea Horniaková
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, SK-832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.P.); (I.Č.); (O.Š.); (M.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Petra Majerová
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Science, Dubravska cesta 9, SK-845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Peter Mikuš
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, SK-832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.P.); (I.Č.); (O.Š.); (M.M.); (A.H.)
- Toxicological and Antidoping Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojarov 10, SK-832 32 Bratislava, Slovakia
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22
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Mohammad S, Bhattacharjee J, Vasanthan T, Harris CS, Bainbridge SA, Adamo KB. Metabolomics to understand placental biology: Where are we now? Tissue Cell 2021; 73:101663. [PMID: 34653888 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Metabolomics, the application of analytical chemistry methodologies to survey the chemical composition of a biological system, is used to globally profile and compare metabolites in one or more groups of samples. Given that metabolites are the terminal end-products of cellular metabolic processes, or 'phenotype' of a cell, tissue, or organism, metabolomics is valuable to the study of the maternal-fetal interface as it has the potential to reveal nuanced complexities of a biological system as well as differences over time or between individuals. The placenta acts as the primary site of maternal-fetal exchange, the success of which is paramount to growth and development of offspring during pregnancy and beyond. Although the study of metabolomics has proven moderately useful for the screening, diagnosis, and understanding of the pathophysiology of pregnancy complications, the placental metabolome in the context of a healthy pregnancy remains poorly characterized and understood. Herein, we discuss the technical aspects of metabolomics and review the current literature describing the placental metabolome in human and animal models, in the context of health and disease. Finally, we highlight areas for future opportunities in the emerging field of placental metabolomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mohammad
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - J Bhattacharjee
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - T Vasanthan
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - C S Harris
- Department of Biology & Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - S A Bainbridge
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - K B Adamo
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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23
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New Advances in Tissue Metabolomics: A Review. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11100672. [PMID: 34677387 PMCID: PMC8541552 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11100672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolomics offers a hypothesis-generating approach for biomarker discovery in clinical medicine while also providing better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of chronic diseases. Clinical metabolomic studies largely rely on human biofluids (e.g., plasma, urine) as a more convenient specimen type for investigation. However, biofluids are non-organ specific reflecting complex biochemical processes throughout the body, which may complicate biochemical interpretations. For these reasons, tissue metabolomic studies enable deeper insights into aberrant metabolism occurring at the direct site of disease pathogenesis. This review highlights new advances in metabolomics for ex vivo analysis, as well as in situ imaging of tissue specimens, including diverse tissue types from animal models and human participants. Moreover, we discuss key pre-analytical and post-analytical challenges in tissue metabolomics for robust biomarker discovery with a focus on new methodological advances introduced over the past six years, including innovative clinical applications for improved screening, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic interventions for cancer.
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24
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Dhakal P, Strawn M, Samal A, Behura SK. Fetal Brain Elicits Sexually Conflicting Transcriptional Response to the Ablation of Uterine Forkhead Box A2 ( Foxa2) in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189693. [PMID: 34575858 PMCID: PMC8468108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of ablation of uterine Forkhead Box A2 (Foxa2) on gene expression of fetal brain relative to placenta. Using a conditional knockout mouse model for uterine Foxa2, here we show that the lack of uterine Foxa2 elicits a sexually-conflicting transcriptional response in the fetal brain relative to placenta. The ablation of Foxa2 in the uterus altered expression of genes related to growth, nutrient sensing, aging, longevity and angiogenesis among others. In the wildtype mice, these genes were expressed higher in the fetal brain and placenta of males compared to females. However, in mice lacking uterine Foxa2, the same genes showed the opposite pattern i.e., higher expression in the fetal brain and placenta of females compared to males. Based on the known marker genes of mice placenta and fetal brain cells, we further predicted that the genes exhibiting the sexually conflicting expression were associated with vascular endothelial cells. Overall, our study suggests that uterine Foxa2 plays a role in the regulation of the brain-placental axis by influencing the fetoplacental vascular changes during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Dhakal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Monica Strawn
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Ananya Samal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Susanta K. Behura
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, 920 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (P.D.); (M.S.); (A.S.)
- MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-573-882-1722
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25
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Taylor AL, Davis DE, Codreanu SG, Harrison FE, Sherrod SD, McLean JA. Targeted and Untargeted Mass Spectrometry Reveals the Impact of High-Fat Diet on Peripheral Amino Acid Regulation in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:4405-4414. [PMID: 34382806 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent research regarding amino acid metabolism has shown that there may be a link between obesity and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This work reports a metabolomics study using targeted and untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomic strategies to investigate this link. Targeted hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and untargeted reversed-phase liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry assays were developed to analyze the metabolic changes that occur in AD and obesity. APPSwe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PSEN1) transgenic mice (to represent familial or early-onset AD) and wild-type littermate controls were fed either a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% kcal from lard) or a low-fat diet (LFD, 10% kcal from lard) from 2 months of age or a reversal diet (HFD, followed by LFD from 9.5 months). For targeted analyses, we applied the guidelines outlined in the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) LC-MS C62-A document and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bioanalytical method validation guidance for industry to evaluate the figures of merit of the assays. Our targeted and untargeted metabolomics results suggest that numerous peripheral pathways, specifically amino acid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism, were significantly affected by AD and diet. Multiple amino acids (including alanine, glutamic acid, leucine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine), carnitines, and members of the fatty acid oxidation pathway were significantly increased in APP/PSEN1 mice on HFD compared to those on LFD. More substantial effects and changes were observed in the APP/PSEN1 mice than in the WT mice, suggesting that they were more sensitive to an HFD. These dysregulated peripheral pathways include numerous amino acid pathways and fatty acid beta oxidation and suggest that obesity combined with AD further enhances cognitive impairment, possibly through aggravated mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, partial reversibility of many altered pathways was observed, which highlights that diet change can mitigate the metabolic effects of AD. The same trends in individual amino acids were observed in both strategies, highlighting the biological validity of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia L Taylor
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Don E Davis
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Simona G Codreanu
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States.,Center for Innovative Technology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Fiona E Harrison
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Stacy D Sherrod
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States.,Center for Innovative Technology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - John A McLean
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States.,Center for Innovative Technology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
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26
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Strawn M, Samal A, Sarker MB, Dhakal P, Behura SK. Relevance of microRNAs to the regulation of the brain-placental axis in mice. Placenta 2021; 112:123-131. [PMID: 34332202 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.07.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The development of fetal brain is intricately dependent upon placental functions. Recently, we showed that the placenta and fetal brain express genes in a coordinated manner in mice. But, how the brain-placental axis is regulated at the molecular level remains poorly understood. The microRNAs (miRNAs) play diverse roles in pregnancy including regulation of placenta function as well as brain development. Thus, we hypothesized that specific miRNAs are expressed in the placenta and fetal brain to coordinate gene regulation in the brain-placental axis. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we performed deep sequencing of small RNAs in mouse placenta and fetal brain of both sexes. RESULTS The findings study show that miRNAs are potent regulators of gene expression in the placenta and fetal brain. Our data provides evidence that fetal sex influences the regulation of miRNAs between the placenta and fetal brain. Functional annotation of known target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs show that they are significantly enriched with specific signaling and transporter pathways. DISCUSSION Together, the results of this study suggest that placental miRNAs are potent regulators of fetal brain development in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Strawn
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Ananya Samal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | | | - Pramod Dhakal
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Susanta K Behura
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA; MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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27
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Meakin AS, Cuffe JSM, Darby JRT, Morrison JL, Clifton VL. Let's Talk about Placental Sex, Baby: Understanding Mechanisms That Drive Female- and Male-Specific Fetal Growth and Developmental Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126386. [PMID: 34203717 PMCID: PMC8232290 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well understood that sex differences exist between females and males even before they are born. These sex-dependent differences may contribute to altered growth and developmental outcomes for the fetus. Based on our initial observations in the human placenta, we hypothesised that the male prioritises growth pathways in order to maximise growth through to adulthood, thereby ensuring the greatest chance of reproductive success. However, this male-specific “evolutionary advantage” likely contributes to males being less adaptable to shifts in the in-utero environment, which then places them at a greater risk for intrauterine morbidities or mortality. Comparatively, females are more adaptable to changes in the in-utero environment at the cost of growth, which may reduce their risk of poor perinatal outcomes. The mechanisms that drive these sex-specific adaptations to a change in the in-utero environment remain unclear, but an increasing body of evidence within the field of developmental biology would suggest that alterations to placental function, as well as the feto-placental hormonal milieu, is an important contributing factor. Herein, we have addressed the current knowledge regarding sex-specific intrauterine growth differences and have examined how certain pregnancy complications may alter these female- and male-specific adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S. Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - James S. M. Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (A.S.M.); (J.R.T.D.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Vicki L. Clifton
- Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Correspondence:
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28
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Hu JMY, Arbuckle TE, Janssen P, Lanphear BP, Zhuang LH, Braun JM, Chen A, McCandless LC. Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemical mixtures and infant birth weight: A Bayesian analysis using kernel machine regression. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110749. [PMID: 33465343 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women are regularly exposed to a multitude of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDC exposures, both individually and as mixtures, may affect fetal growth. The relationship of EDC mixtures with infant birth weight, however, remains poorly understood. We examined the relations between prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures and infant birth weight. METHODS We used data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a pan-Canadian cohort of 1857 pregnant women enrolled between 2008 and 2011. We quantified twenty-one chemical concentrations from five EDC classes, including organochlorine compounds (OCs), metals, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phenols and phthalate metabolites that were detected in >70% of urine or blood samples collected during the first trimester. In our primary analysis, we used Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models to assess variable importance, explore EDC mixture effects, and identify any interactions among EDCs. Our secondary analysis used traditional linear regression to compare the results with those of BKMR and to quantify the changes in mean birth weight in relation to prenatal EDC exposures. RESULTS We found evidence that mixtures of OCs and metals were associated with monotonic decreases in mean birth weight across the whole range of exposure. trans-Nonachlor from the OC mixture and lead (Pb) from the metal mixture had the greatest impact on birth weight. Our linear regression analysis corroborated the BKMR results and found that a 2-fold increase in trans-nonachlor and Pb concentrations reduced mean birth weight by -38 g (95% confidence interval (CI): -67, -10) and -39 g (95% CI: -69, -9), respectively. A sex-specific association for OC mixture was observed among female infants. PFAS, phenols and phthalates were not associated with birth weight. No interactions were observed among the EDCs. CONCLUSIONS Using BKMR, we observed that both OC and metal mixtures were associated with decreased birth weight in the MIREC Study. trans-Nonachlor from the OC mixture and Pb from the metal mixture contributed most to the adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice M Y Hu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Patricia Janssen
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Liheng H Zhuang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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29
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Recent (2018-2020) development in capillary electrophoresis. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 414:115-130. [PMID: 33754195 PMCID: PMC7984737 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Development of new capillary electrophoresis (CE) methodology and instrumentation, as well as application of CE to solve new problems, remains an active research area because of the attractive features of CE compared to other separation techniques. In this review, we focus on the representative works about sample preconcentration, separation media or capillary coating development, detector construction, and multidimensional separation in CE, which are judiciously selected from the papers published in 2018–2020.
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30
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Zhang W, Ramautar R. CE-MS for metabolomics: Developments and applications in the period 2018-2020. Electrophoresis 2021; 42:381-401. [PMID: 32906195 PMCID: PMC7891659 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202000203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is now a mature analytical technique in metabolomics, notably for the efficient profiling of polar and charged metabolites. Over the past few years, (further) progress has been made in the design of improved interfacing techniques for coupling CE to MS; also, in the development of CE-MS approaches for profiling metabolites in volume-restricted samples, and in strategies that further enhance the metabolic coverage. In this article, which is a follow-up of a previous review article covering the years 2016-2018 (Electrophoresis 2019, 40, 165-179), the main (technological) developments in CE-MS methods and strategies for metabolomics are discussed covering the literature from July 2018 to June 2020. Representative examples highlight the utility of CE-MS in the fields of biomedical, clinical, microbial, plant and food metabolomics. A complete overview of recent CE-MS-based metabolomics studies is given in a table, which provides information on sample type and pretreatment, capillary coatings, and MS detection mode. Finally, some general conclusions and perspectives are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Biomedical Microscale Analytics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug ResearchLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Rawi Ramautar
- Biomedical Microscale Analytics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug ResearchLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
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31
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Examining Sex Differences in the Human Placental Transcriptome During the First Fetal Androgen Peak. Reprod Sci 2020; 28:801-818. [PMID: 33150487 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in human placenta exist from early pregnancy to term, however, it is unclear whether these differences are driven solely by sex chromosome complement or are subject to differential sex hormonal regulation. Here, we survey the human chorionic villus (CV) transcriptome for sex-linked signatures from 11 to 16 gestational weeks, corresponding to the first window of increasing testis-derived androgen production in male fetuses. Illumina HiSeq RNA sequencing was performed on Lexogen Quantseq 3' libraries derived from CV biopsies (n = 11 females, n = 12 males). Differential expression (DE) was performed to identify sex-linked transcriptional signatures, followed by chromosome mapping, pathway analysis, predicted protein interaction, and post-hoc linear regressions to identify transcripts that trend over time. We observe 322 transcripts DE between male and female CV from 11 to 16 weeks, with 22 transcripts logFC > 1. Contrary to our predictions, the difference between male and female expression of DE autosomal genes was more pronounced at the earlier gestational ages. In females, we found selective upregulation of extracellular matrix components, along with a number of X-linked genes. In males, DE transcripts centered on chromosome 19, with mitochondrial, immune, and pregnancy maintenance-related transcripts upregulated. Among the highest differentially expressed autosomal genes were CCRL2, LGALS13, and LGALS14, which are known to regulate immune cell interactions. Our results provide insight into sex-linked gene expression in late first and early second trimester developing human placenta and lay the groundwork to understand the mechanistic origins of sex differences in prenatal development.
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32
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Joseph S, Walejko JM, Zhang S, Edison AS, Keller-Wood M. Maternal hypercortisolemia alters placental metabolism: a multiomics view. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2020; 319:E950-E960. [PMID: 32954824 PMCID: PMC7790119 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00190.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that increases in maternal cortisol or maternal stress in late pregnancy increase the risk of stillbirth at term. In an ovine model with increased maternal cortisol over the last 0.20 of gestation, we have previously found evidence of disruption of fetal serum and cardiac metabolomics and altered expression of genes related to mitochondrial function and metabolism in biceps femoris, diaphragm, and cardiac muscle. The present studies were designed to test for effects of chronically increased maternal cortisol on gene expression and metabolomics in placentomes near term. We hypothesized that changes in placenta might underlie or contribute to the alterations in fetal serum metabolomics and thereby contribute to changes in striated muscle metabolism. Placentomes were collected from pregnancies in early labor (143 ± 1 days gestation) of control ewes (n = 7) or ewes treated with cortisol (1 mg·kg-1·day-1 iv; n = 5) starting at day 115 of gestation. Transcriptomics and metabolomics were performed using an ovine gene expression microarray (Agilent 019921) and HR-MAS NMR, respectively. Multiomic analysis indicates that amino acid metabolism, particularly of branched-chain amino acids and glutamate, occur in placenta; changes in amino acid metabolism, degradation, or biosynthesis in placenta were consistent with changes in valine, isoleucine, leucine, and glycine in fetal serum. The analysis also indicates changes in glycerophospholipid metabolism and suggests changes in endoplasmic reticulum stress and antioxidant status in the placenta. These findings suggest that changes in placental function occurring with excess maternal cortisol in late gestation may contribute to metabolic dysfunction at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serene Joseph
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Jacquelyn M Walejko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville Florida
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Sicong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Arthur S Edison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Maureen Keller-Wood
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- D.H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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33
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Gill B, Jobst K, Britz-McKibbin P. Rapid Screening of Urinary 1-Hydroxypyrene Glucuronide by Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Tandem Mass Spectrometry: A High-Throughput Method for Biomonitoring of Recent Smoke Exposures. Anal Chem 2020; 92:13558-13564. [PMID: 32901481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (HP) is a widely used biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure relevant for biomonitoring the deleterious health impacts from tobacco smoke and ambient air pollution, as well as the hazards of certain occupations. Conventional methods for urinary HP analysis based on liquid chromatography with native fluorescence detection or tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are limited by low sample throughput and complicated sample workup protocols that are prone to bias. Herein, we introduce a high throughput method to directly analyze the intact glucuronide conjugate of HP (HP-G) in human urine after a simple acidified ether extraction procedure when using multisegment injection-capillary electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry (MSI-CE-MS/MS). Multiplexed analyses of 13 independent urine extracts are achieved in a single run (<3 min/sample) with stringent quality control while avoiding enzyme deconjugation and precolumn chemical derivatization. Method validation demonstrates good technical precision (CV = 7.7%, n = 45) and accuracy with a mean recovery of (93 ± 3%) for urinary HP-G at three concentration levels with adequate detection limits (7 ng/L, S/N = 3). An interlaboratory method comparison of urine samples collected from firefighters deployed in the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire also confirms good mutual agreement with an acceptable negative bias (mean bias = 15%, n = 55) when measuring urinary HP-G by MSI-CE-MS/MS as compared to total hydrolyzed urinary HP by GC-MS due to the low residual levels of free HP and its sulfate conjugate. This multiplexed separation platform is optimal for large-scale biomonitoring studies of air pollution relevant to global health as well as occupational smoke exposures in firefighters susceptible to dermal PAH absorption when using personal protective equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biban Gill
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Karl Jobst
- Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Philip Britz-McKibbin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada
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