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Siwakoti RC, Park S, Ferguson KK, Hao W, Cantonwine DE, Mukherjee B, McElrath TF, Meeker JD. Prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and maternal oxidative stress: Evidence from the LIFECODES study. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 360:142363. [PMID: 38768789 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although their underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood, evidence suggests PFAS may disrupt endocrine functions and contribute to oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. OBJECTIVE We examined associations between early pregnancy PFAS exposure and OS biomarkers, exploring potential effect modifications by fetal sex and maternal race. METHODS We used data from 469 LIFECODES participants with measured plasma PFAS (median 10 weeks gestation) and repeated measures (median 10, 18, 26, and 35 weeks gestation) of urinary OS biomarkers [8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α (8-isoprostane) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)]. Protein damage biomarkers (chlorotyrosine, dityrosine, and nitrotyrosine) were additionally measured in plasma from a subset (N = 167) during the third visit. Associations between each PFAS and OS biomarkers were examined using linear mixed-effects models and multivariable linear regressions, adjusting for potential confounders, including maternal age, race, education level, pre-pregnancy BMI, insurance status, and parity. Effect modifications were evaluated by including an interaction term between each PFAS and fetal sex or maternal race in the models. RESULTS We observed significant positive associations between PFOS and 8-isoprostane, with a 9.68% increase in 8-isoprostane levels (95% CI: 0.10%, 20.18%) per interquartile range increase in PFOS. In contrast, PFUA was negatively associated [9.32% (95% CI: -17.68%, -0.11%)], while there were suggestive positive associations for MPAH and PFOA with 8-isoprostane. The associations of several PFAS with 8-OHdG varied by fetal sex, showing generally positive trends in women who delivered females, but negative or null in those who delivered males. No significant effect modification by maternal race was observed. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence linking PFAS exposure to OS during pregnancy, with potential sex-specific effects of certain PFAS on 8-OHdG. Further research should explore additional OS/inflammatory biomarkers and assess the modifying effects of dietary and behavioral patterns across diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram C Siwakoti
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Seonyoung Park
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kelly K Ferguson
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Wei Hao
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - David E Cantonwine
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thomas F McElrath
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Saadat N, Aguate F, Nowak AL, Hyer S, Lin AB, Decot H, Koch H, Walker DS, Lydic T, Padmanabhan V, Campos GDL, Misra D, Giurgescu C. Changes in Lipid Profiles with the Progression of Pregnancy in Black Women. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2795. [PMID: 38792337 PMCID: PMC11122055 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Lipid metabolism plays an important role in maternal health and fetal development. There is a gap in the knowledge of how lipid metabolism changes during pregnancy for Black women who are at a higher risk of adverse outcomes. We hypothesized that the comprehensive lipidome profiles would show variation across pregnancy indicative of requirements during gestation and fetal development. Methods: Black women were recruited at prenatal clinics. Plasma samples were collected at 8-18 weeks (T1), 22-29 weeks (T2), and 30-36 weeks (T3) of pregnancy. Samples from 64 women who had term births (≥37 weeks gestation) were subjected to "shotgun" Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Mixed-effects models were used to quantify systematic changes and dimensionality reduction models were used to visualize patterns and identify reliable lipid signatures. Results: Total lipids and major lipid classes showed significant increases with the progression of pregnancy. Phospholipids and glycerolipids exhibited a gradual increase from T1 to T2 to T3, while sphingolipids and total sterol lipids displayed a more pronounced increase from T2 to T3. Acylcarnitines, hydroxy acylcarnitines, and Lyso phospholipid levels significantly decreased from T1 to T3. A deviation was that non-esterified fatty acids decreased from T1 to T2 and increased again from T2 to T3, suggestive of a potential role for these lipids during the later stages of pregnancy. The fatty acids showing this trend included key fatty acids-non-esterified Linoleic acid, Arachidonic acid, Alpha-linolenic acid, Eicosapentaenoic acid, Docosapentaenoic acid, and Docosahexaenoic acid. Conclusions: Mapping lipid patterns and identifying lipid signatures would help develop intervention strategies to reduce perinatal health disparities among pregnant Black women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Saadat
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019, USA;
| | - Fernando Aguate
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Suzanne Hyer
- College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Anna B. Lin
- Molecular Metabolism and Disease Mass Spectrometry Core, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Hannah Decot
- Molecular Metabolism and Disease Mass Spectrometry Core, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Hannah Koch
- Molecular Metabolism and Disease Mass Spectrometry Core, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Todd Lydic
- Molecular Metabolism and Disease Mass Spectrometry Core, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - Gustavo de los Campos
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Dawn Misra
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Carmen Giurgescu
- College of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
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3
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Han YC, Laketic K, Hornaday KK, Slater DM, Mu C, Tough SC, Shearer J. Maternal Acylcarnitine Disruption as a Potential Predictor of Preterm Birth in Primigravida: A Preliminary Investigation. Nutrients 2024; 16:595. [PMID: 38474728 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth, defined as any birth before 37 weeks of completed gestation, poses adverse health risks to both mothers and infants. Despite preterm birth being associated with several risk factors, its relationship to maternal metabolism remains unclear, especially in first-time mothers. Aims of the present study were to identify maternal metabolic disruptions associated with preterm birth and to evaluate their predictive potentials. Blood was collected, and the serum harvested from the mothers of 24 preterm and 42 term births at 28-32 weeks gestation (onset of the 3rd trimester). Serum samples were assayed by untargeted metabolomic analyses via liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (QTOF-LC/MS). Metabolites were annotated by inputting the observed mass-to-charge ratio into the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB). Analysis of 181 identified metabolites by PLS-DA modeling using SIMCA (v17) showed reasonable separation between the two groups (CV-ANOVA, p = 0.02). Further statistical analysis revealed lower serum levels of various acyl carnitines and amino acid metabolites in preterm mothers. Butenylcarnitine (C4:1), a short-chain acylcarnitine, was found to be the most predictive of preterm birth (AUROC = 0.73, [CI] 0.60-0.86). These observations, in conjuncture with past literature, reveal disruptions in fatty acid oxidation and energy metabolism in preterm primigravida. While these findings require validation, they reflect altered metabolic pathways that may be predictive of preterm delivery in primigravida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chieh Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Katarina Laketic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Kylie K Hornaday
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Donna M Slater
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Chunlong Mu
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Suzanne C Tough
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jane Shearer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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Synan L, Ghazvini S, Uthaman S, Cutshaw G, Lee CY, Waite J, Wen X, Sarkar S, Lin E, Santillan M, Santillan D, Bardhan R. First Trimester Prediction of Preterm Birth in Patient Plasma with Machine-Learning-Guided Raman Spectroscopy and Metabolomics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:38185-38200. [PMID: 37549133 PMCID: PMC10625673 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c04260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant deaths globally. Current clinical measures often fail to identify women who may deliver preterm. Therefore, accurate screening tools are imperative for early prediction of PTB. Here, we show that Raman spectroscopy is a promising tool for studying biological interfaces, and we examine differences in the maternal metabolome of the first trimester plasma of PTB patients and those that delivered at term (healthy). We identified fifteen statistically significant metabolites that are predictive of the onset of PTB. Mass spectrometry metabolomics validates the Raman findings identifying key metabolic pathways that are enriched in PTB. We also show that patient clinical information alone and protein quantification of standard inflammatory cytokines both fail to identify PTB patients. We show for the first time that synergistic integration of Raman and clinical data guided with machine learning results in an unprecedented 85.1% accuracy of risk stratification of PTB in the first trimester that is currently not possible clinically. Correlations between metabolites and clinical features highlight the body mass index and maternal age as contributors of metabolic rewiring. Our findings show that Raman spectral screening may complement current prenatal care for early prediction of PTB, and our approach can be translated to other patient-specific biological interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilly Synan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
| | - Saman Ghazvini
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
| | - Saji Uthaman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
| | - Gabriel Cutshaw
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
| | - Che-Yu Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi 62106, Taiwan
| | - Joshua Waite
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa state University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
| | - Xiaona Wen
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
| | - Soumik Sarkar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa state University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
| | - Eugene Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi 62106, Taiwan
| | - Mark Santillan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Donna Santillan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Rizia Bardhan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50012, USA
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5
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Qiu S, Cai Y, Yao H, Lin C, Xie Y, Tang S, Zhang A. Small molecule metabolites: discovery of biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:132. [PMID: 36941259 PMCID: PMC10026263 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01399-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 112.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic abnormalities lead to the dysfunction of metabolic pathways and metabolite accumulation or deficiency which is well-recognized hallmarks of diseases. Metabolite signatures that have close proximity to subject's phenotypic informative dimension, are useful for predicting diagnosis and prognosis of diseases as well as monitoring treatments. The lack of early biomarkers could lead to poor diagnosis and serious outcomes. Therefore, noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring methods with high specificity and selectivity are desperately needed. Small molecule metabolites-based metabolomics has become a specialized tool for metabolic biomarker and pathway analysis, for revealing possible mechanisms of human various diseases and deciphering therapeutic potentials. It could help identify functional biomarkers related to phenotypic variation and delineate biochemical pathways changes as early indicators of pathological dysfunction and damage prior to disease development. Recently, scientists have established a large number of metabolic profiles to reveal the underlying mechanisms and metabolic networks for therapeutic target exploration in biomedicine. This review summarized the metabolic analysis on the potential value of small-molecule candidate metabolites as biomarkers with clinical events, which may lead to better diagnosis, prognosis, drug screening and treatment. We also discuss challenges that need to be addressed to fuel the next wave of breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Qiu
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Ying Cai
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Hong Yao
- First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Chunsheng Lin
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yiqiang Xie
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China.
| | - Songqi Tang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China.
| | - Aihua Zhang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150040, China.
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6
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Tsutsumi T, Yasuda K, Neya M, Okada H, Tokumura A. Lysophosphatidic acid production from lysophosphatidylcholine by lysophospholipase D activity of autotaxin in plasma of women with normal and adverse pregnancies. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2022; 163:106670. [PMID: 35963509 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2022.106670] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
To identify biomarker lipids causing preterm delivery, we focused on lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). The results of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed that plasma levels of LPCs and LPAs were higher in the first and third (T3) trimesters of human normal and adverse pregnancies than in the second trimester, suggesting the direct metabolic conversion of LPC to LPA by lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity of autotaxin. The elevated LPC and LPA levels in women with preterm deliveries in T3 were higher than in women with term deliveries under normal pregnancy in T3. We measured lysoPLD activity of diluted sera of pregnant women by quantification of choline released from exogenous LPC, and found progressive increases of lysoPLD activities in women with normal and adverse pregnancies. Ratios of lysoPLD activities for linoleoyl LPC to that for palmitoyl LPC were found to be decreased in pregnant women compared to that in non-pregnant women. These results may be due to the altered patterns of endogenous modulators for autotaxin and the profiles of the bound metal ion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Tsutsumi
- Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, 1714-1 Yoshinomachi, Nobeoka 882-8508, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Yasuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Medical University, Shinmachi, Hirakata 573-1191, Japan
| | - Mariko Neya
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Shomachi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Okada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Medical University, Shinmachi, Hirakata 573-1191, Japan
| | - Akira Tokumura
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, 1-78-1 Shomachi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan; Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women's University, 6-13-1 Yasuhigashi, Asaminami-ku, Hiroshima 731-0153, Japan.
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7
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Ashrap P, Aung MT, Watkins DJ, Mukherjee B, Rosario-Pabón Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Maternal urinary phthalate metabolites are associated with lipidomic signatures among pregnant women in Puerto Rico. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:384-391. [PMID: 35075242 PMCID: PMC9124693 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00410-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phthalates have been reported to alter circulating lipid concentrations in animals, and investigation of these associations in humans will provide greater understanding of potential mechanisms for health outcomes. OBJECTIVE To explore associations between phthalate metabolite biomarkers and lipidomic profiles among pregnant women (n = 99) in the Puerto Rico PROTECT cohort. METHODS We measured 19 urinary phthalate metabolites during 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Lipidomic profiles were identified from plasma samples by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics. Relationships between phthalate metabolites and lipid profiles were estimated using compound-by-compound comparisons in multiple linear regression and dimension reduction techniques. We derived sums for each lipid class and sub-class (saturated, mono-unsaturated, polyunsaturated) which were then regressed on phthalate metabolites. Associations were adjusted for false discovery. RESULTS After controlling for multiple comparisons, 33 phthalate-lipid associations were identified (False discovery rate adjusted p value < 0.05), and diacylglycerol 40:7 and plasmenyl-phosphatidylcholine 35:1 were the most strongly associated with multiple phthalate metabolites. Metabolites of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalates, and diisobutyl phthalate were associated with increased ceramides, lysophosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, and triacylglycerols, particularly those containing saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acid chains. SIGNIFICANCE Characterization of associations between lipidomic markers and phthalate metabolites during pregnancy will yield mechanistic insight for maternal and child health outcomes. IMPACT This study leverages emerging technology to evaluate lipidome-wide signatures of phthalate exposure during pregnancy. The greatest lipid signatures of phthalate exposure were observed for diacylglycerol 40:7 and plasmenyl-phosphatidylcholine 35:1. Polymerized glycerides are important for energy production and regulated through hormone signaling, while plasmenyl-phosphatidylcholines have been implicated in membrane dynamics and important for cell-to-cell signaling. Characterization of these mechanisms are relevant for informing the etiology of maternal and children's health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pahriya Ashrap
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Max T Aung
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zaira Rosario-Pabón
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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8
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Kim C, Ashrap P, Watkins DJ, Mukherjee B, Rosario-Pabón ZY, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh AN, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Maternal Metals/Metalloid Blood Levels Are Associated With Lipidomic Profiles Among Pregnant Women in Puerto Rico. Front Public Health 2022; 9:754706. [PMID: 35096734 PMCID: PMC8790322 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.754706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim: The association between heavy metal exposure and adverse birth outcomes is well-established. However, there is a paucity of research identifying biomarker profiles that may improve the early detection of heavy metal-induced adverse birth outcomes. Because lipids are abundant in our body and associated with important signaling pathways, we assessed associations between maternal metals/metalloid blood levels with lipidomic profiles among 83 pregnant women in the Puerto Rico PROTECT birth cohort. Methods: We measured 10 metals/metalloid blood levels during 24–28 weeks of pregnancy. Prenatal plasma lipidomic profiles were identified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics. We derived sums for each lipid class and sums for each lipid sub-class (saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated), which were then regressed on metals/metalloid. False discovery rate (FDR) adjusted p-values (q-values) were used to account for multiple comparisons. Results: A total of 587 unique lipids from 19 lipid classes were profiled. When controlling for multiple comparisons, we observed that maternal exposure to manganese and zinc were negatively associated with plasmenyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (PLPE), particularly those containing polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) chains. In contrast to manganese and zinc, arsenic and mercury were positively associated with PLPE and plasmenyl-phosphatidylcholine (PLPC). Conclusion: Certain metals were significantly associated with lipids that are responsible for the biophysical properties of the cell membrane and antioxidant defense in lipid peroxidation. This study highlighted lipid-metal associations and we anticipate that this study will open up new avenues for developing diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Pahriya Ashrap
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Zaira Y Rosario-Pabón
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Akram N Alshawabkeh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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9
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Winchester P, Nilsson E, Beck D, Skinner MK. Preterm birth buccal cell epigenetic biomarkers to facilitate preventative medicine. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3361. [PMID: 35232984 PMCID: PMC8888575 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07262-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth is the major cause of newborn and infant mortality affecting nearly one in every ten live births. The current study was designed to develop an epigenetic biomarker for susceptibility of preterm birth using buccal cells from the mother, father, and child (triads). An epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) was used to identify differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) using a comparison of control term birth versus preterm birth triads. Epigenetic DMR associations with preterm birth were identified for both the mother and father that were distinct and suggest potential epigenetic contributions from both parents. The mother (165 DMRs) and female child (136 DMRs) at p < 1e-04 had the highest number of DMRs and were highly similar suggesting potential epigenetic inheritance of the epimutations. The male child had negligible DMR associations. The DMR associated genes for each group involve previously identified preterm birth associated genes. Observations identify a potential paternal germline contribution for preterm birth and identify the potential epigenetic inheritance of preterm birth susceptibility for the female child later in life. Although expanded clinical trials and preconception trials are required to optimize the potential epigenetic biomarkers, such epigenetic biomarkers may allow preventative medicine strategies to reduce the incidence of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Winchester
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Franciscan Hospital, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5201, USA
| | - Eric Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Daniel Beck
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA.
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Chen Y, He B, Liu Y, Aung MT, Rosario-Pabón Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD, Garmire LX. Maternal plasma lipids are involved in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. Gigascience 2022; 11:giac004. [PMID: 35166340 PMCID: PMC8847704 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth is defined by the onset of labor at a gestational age shorter than 37 weeks, and it can lead to premature birth and impose a threat to newborns' health. The Puerto Rico PROTECT cohort is a well-characterized prospective birth cohort that was designed to investigate environmental and social contributors to preterm birth in Puerto Rico, where preterm birth rates have been elevated in recent decades. To elucidate possible relationships between metabolites and preterm birth in this cohort, we conducted a nested case-control study to conduct untargeted metabolomic characterization of maternal plasma of 31 women who experienced preterm birth and 69 controls who underwent full-term labor at 24-28 gestational weeks. RESULTS A total of 333 metabolites were identified and annotated with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Subsequent weighted gene correlation network analysis shows that the fatty acid and carene-enriched module has a significant positive association (P = 8e-04, FDR = 0.006) with preterm birth. After controlling for potential clinical confounders, a total of 38 metabolites demonstrated significant changes uniquely associated with preterm birth, where 17 of them were preterm biomarkers. Among 7 machine-learning classifiers, the application of random forest achieved a highly accurate and specific prediction (AUC = 0.92) for preterm birth in testing data, demonstrating their strong potential as biomarkers for preterm births. The 17 preterm biomarkers are involved in cell signaling, lipid metabolism, and lipid peroxidation functions. Additional modeling using only the 19 spontaneous preterm births (sPTB) and controls identifies 16 sPTB markers, with an AUC of 0.89 in testing data. Half of the sPTB overlap with those markers for preterm births. Further causality analysis infers that suberic acid upregulates several fatty acids to promote preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, this study demonstrates the involvement of lipids, particularly fatty acids, in the pathogenesis of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yile Chen
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Bing He
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Max T Aung
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Zaira Rosario-Pabón
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico 365067, Spain
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico 365067, Spain
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental and Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lana X Garmire
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
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