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Chen K, Cai J, Tong J, Liu L, Liu Z, Chen J, Yang X, Yang C, Geng J, Ma C, Ren J, Jiang X. Body mass index modified the effectiveness of low dose aspirin treatment on frozen-thawed embryo transfer outcome: a propensity score-matched study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1365467. [PMID: 38706702 PMCID: PMC11067524 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1365467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Low-dose aspirin is one of the widely used adjuvants in assisted reproductive technologies with the hope of improving the live birth rate. However, the studies regarding its effects are conflicting. The study aimed to investigate the association between aspirin administration and live birth following frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in patients with different body mass index (BMI). Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed on 11,993 patients receiving FET treatments. 644 of which received a low-dose aspirin (100 mg/day) during endometrial preparation until 10 weeks after transfer. Propensity score matching was performed to avoid selection biases and potential confounders. Results The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were similar before matching (54.4% versus 55.4%, RR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.95-1.09, and 46.3 versus 47.8, RR: 1.03, 95%CI: 0.95-1.12 respectively). A weak association in favor of aspirin administration was found in the matched cohort (49.5% versus 55.4%, RR: 1.12, 95%CI: 1.01-1.24, and 41.9% versus 47.8%, RR: 1.14, 95%CI: 1.01-1.29 respectively). However, when stratified the patients with WHO BMI criteria, a significant increase in live birth rate associated with aspirin treatment was found only in patients with low BMI (<18.5 kg/m2) in either unmatched (46.4% versus 59.8%, RR:1.29, 95%CI:1.07-1.55) or matched cohort (44% versus 59.8%, RR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.01-1.83) but not in patients with higher BMI categories. With the interaction analysis, less association between aspirin and live birth appeared in patients with normal BMI (Ratio of OR:0.49, 95%CI: 0.29-0.81) and high BMI (Ratio of OR:0.57, 95%CI: 0.27-1.2) compared with patients with low BMI. Conclusion BMI may be considered when evaluating aspirin's effect in FET cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaijie Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jiali Cai
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jie Tong
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Lanlan Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenfang Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jinhua Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaolian Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jie Geng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Caihui Ma
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jianzhi Ren
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoming Jiang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Chenggong Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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2
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Dachew BA, Adane AA, Alati R. Maternal Pregnancy and Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Behavioural Outcomes in Children. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:49. [PMID: 38247701 PMCID: PMC10812996 DOI: 10.3390/bs14010049] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Reported associations of pre-pregnancy weight and/or gestational weight gain with offspring behavioural outcomes are inconsistent. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), this study aimed to examine these associations at five developmental stages between the ages of 3 and 16. Over 6800 mother-offspring pairs at age 3 and 3925 pairs at age 16 were included. Pre-pregnancy underweight was associated with a 22% increased risk of total behavioural difficulties (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.45). In separate analyses using the SDQ subscales, pre-pregnancy underweight was linked to a 37% (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.14-1.65) and 33% (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.01-1.76) increased risk of emotional symptoms and prosocial behaviour problems over time, respectively. While pre-pregnancy overweight was associated with an 11% (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20) and 18% (OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.36) increased risk of conduct and peer relationship problems, respectively, pregnancy obesity was associated with a 43% increased risk of emotional problems (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.16-1.77). We found no evidence of associations between gestational weight gain and child behaviour except for a reduced risk in prosocial behaviour problems (OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.96). Our findings provide insights into the link between preconception BMI and child behaviour, underscoring the necessity for further research to validate these associations and elucidate underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berihun A. Dachew
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia;
- enAble Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Akilew A. Adane
- Ngangk Yira Institute for Change, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia;
| | - Rosa Alati
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia;
- Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
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Freedman AN, Clark J, Eaves LA, Roell K, Oran A, Koval L, Rager J, Santos HP, Kuban K, Joseph RM, Frazier J, Marsit CJ, Burt AA, O’Shea TM, Fry RC. A multi-omic approach identifies an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) regulatory complex of functional epimutations in placentas from children born preterm. Autism Res 2023; 16:918-934. [PMID: 36938998 PMCID: PMC10192070 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Children born preterm are at heightened risk of neurodevelopmental impairments, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The placenta is a key regulator of neurodevelopmental processes, though the precise underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we employed a multi-omic approach to identify placental transcriptomic and epigenetic modifications related to ASD diagnosis at age 10, among children born preterm. Working with the extremely low gestational age (ELGAN) cohort, we hypothesized that a pro-inflammatory placental environment would be predictive of ASD diagnosis at age 10. Placental messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, CpG methylation, and microRNA (miRNA) expression were compared among 368 ELGANs (28 children diagnosed with ASD and 340 children without ASD). A total of 111 genes displayed expression levels in the placenta that were associated with ASD. Within these ASD-associated genes is an ASD regulatory complex comprising key genes that predicted ASD case status. Genes with expression that predicted ASD case status included Ewing Sarcoma Breakpoint Region 1 (EWSR1) (OR: 6.57 (95% CI: 2.34, 23.58)) and Bromodomain Adjacent To Zinc Finger Domain 2A (BAZ2A) (OR: 0.12 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.35)). Moreover, of the 111 ASD-associated genes, nine (8.1%) displayed associations with CpG methylation levels, while 14 (12.6%) displayed associations with miRNA expression levels. Among these, LRR Binding FLII Interacting Protein 1 (LRRFIP1) was identified as being under the control of both CpG methylation and miRNAs, displaying an OR of 0.42 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.95). This gene, as well as others identified as having functional epimutations, plays a critical role in immune system regulation and inflammatory response. In summary, a multi-omic approach was used to identify functional epimutations in the placenta that are associated with the development of ASD in children born preterm, highlighting future avenues for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia N. Freedman
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeliyah Clark
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren A. Eaves
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kyle Roell
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ali Oran
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren Koval
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hudson P Santos
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Karl Kuban
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert M. Joseph
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jean Frazier
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School/University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Amber A. Burt
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - T. Michael O’Shea
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Li Z, Tao M, Huang M, Pan W, Huang Q, Wang P, Zhang Y, Situ B, Zheng L. Quantification of placental extracellular vesicles in different pregnancy status via single particle analysis method. Clin Chim Acta 2023; 539:266-273. [PMID: 36587781 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nano-sized, lipid bilayer-delimited placental extracellular vesicles (PEVs) released by the placenta are now regarded as important mediators involved in various physiological and pathological processes of pregnant women. The number and contents of PEVs are significantly altered in preeclampsia and are considered as potential biomarkers. However, the distribution pattern of PEVs in the maternal circulation in different pregnancy status is still unclear for the limitation of the traditional method with low sensitivity. METHODS In this work, we recruited 561 pregnant women with different pregnancy status and investigated the distribution pattern of PEVs in the maternal circulation based on a single extracellular vesicle analysis method and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), a placenta-specific marker. RESULTS The concentration of PEVs in pregnant women increased with the progression of gestational age, while the ratio of PEVs decreased to about 10% in the third trimester. Surprisingly, the PLAP+ EVs also presented in the plasma of non-pregnant women and normal male about 5%. The change in the ratio of PEVs can reflect the pregnancy status and also had a better diagnostic value in severe preeclampsia (AUC = 0.7811). CONCLUSIONS Our study not only reveals the distribution pattern of PEVs, but also identifies the diagnostic potential of PEVs as biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixiong Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Maliang Tao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mei Huang
- Center for Clinical Laboratory, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Weilun Pan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qiuyu Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Pingping Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Bo Situ
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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Marable CA, Roell K, Kuban K, O’Shea TM, Fry RC. Placental transcriptional signatures associated with cerebral white matter damage in the neonate. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1017953. [PMID: 36389237 PMCID: PMC9650394 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1017953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral white matter is the most common anatomic location of neonatal brain injury in preterm newborns. Factors that predispose preterm newborns to white matter damage are understudied. In relation to studies of the placenta-brain-axis, dysregulated placental gene expression may play a role in preterm brain damage given its implication in programming early life origins of disease, including neurological disorders. There is a critical need to investigate the relationships between the placental transcriptome and white matter damage in the neonate. In a cohort of extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs), we aimed to investigate the relationship between the placental transcriptome and white matter damage as assessed by neonatal cranial ultrasound studies (echolucency and/or ventriculomegaly). We hypothesized that genes involved in inflammatory processes would be more highly expressed in placentas of ELGANs who developed ultrasound-defined indicators of white matter damage. Relative to either form of white matter damage, 659 placental genes displayed altered transcriptional profiles. Of these white matter damage-associated genes, largely distinct patterns of gene expression were observed in the study (n = 415/659 genes). Specifically, 381 genes were unique to echolucency and 34 genes were unique to ventriculomegaly. Pathways involved in hormone disruption and metabolism were identified among the unique echolucency or ventriculomegaly genes. Interestingly, a common set of 244 genes or 37% of all genes was similarly dysregulated in the placenta relative to both echolucency and ventriculomegaly. For this common set of white matter damage-related genes, pathways involved in inflammation, immune response and apoptosis, were enriched. Among the white matter damage-associated genes are genes known to be involved in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and endocrine system disorders. These data highlight differential mRNA expression patterning in the placenta and provide insight into potential etiologic factors that may predispose preterm newborns to white matter damage. Future studies will build upon this work to include functional measures of neurodevelopment as well as measures of brain volume later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Amelia Marable
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Kyle Roell
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gilling School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Karl Kuban
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - T. Michael O’Shea
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gilling School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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6
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Maligianni I, Yapijakis C, Nousia K, Bacopoulou F, Chrousos G. Exosomes and exosomal non‑coding RNAs throughout human gestation (Review). Exp Ther Med 2022; 24:582. [PMID: 35949320 PMCID: PMC9353550 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, research on exosomes and their content has been intensive, which has revealed their important role in cell-to-cell communication, and has implicated exosomal biomolecules in a broad spectrum of physiological processes, as well as in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Pregnancy and its normal progression rely highly on the efficient communication between the mother and the fetus, mainly mediated by the placenta. Recent studies have established the placenta as an important source of circulating exosomes and have demonstrated that exosome release into the maternal circulation gradually increases during pregnancy, starting from six weeks of gestation. This orchestrates maternal-fetal crosstalk, including maternal immune tolerance and pregnancy-associated metabolic adaptations. Furthermore, an increased number of secreted exosomes, along with altered patterns of exosomal non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have been observed in a number of pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia. The early detection of exosomes and specific exosomal ncRNAs in various biological fluids during pregnancy highlights them as promising candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of numerous pregnancy disorders in adolescents and adults. The present review aimed to provide insight into the current knowledge regarding the potential, only partially elucidated, role of exosomes and exosomal cargo in the regulation and progression of normal pregnancy, as well as their potential dysregulation and contribution to pathological pregnancy situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Maligianni
- First Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Orofacial Genetics, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Yapijakis
- First Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Orofacial Genetics, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Nousia
- First Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Orofacial Genetics, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - George Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Clark J, Bommarito P, Stýblo M, Rubio-Andrade M, García-Vargas GG, Gamble MV, Fry RC. Maternal serum concentrations of one-carbon metabolism factors modify the association between biomarkers of arsenic methylation efficiency and birth weight. Environ Health 2022; 21:68. [PMID: 35836250 PMCID: PMC9281096 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00875-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a ubiquitous metalloid and drinking water contaminant. Prenatal exposure is associated with birth outcomes across multiple studies. During metabolism, iAs is sequentially methylated to mono- and di-methylated arsenical species (MMAs and DMAs) to facilitate whole body clearance. Inefficient methylation (e.g., higher urinary % MMAs) is associated with increased risk of certain iAs-associated diseases. One-carbon metabolism factors influence iAs methylation, modifying toxicity in adults, and warrant further study during the prenatal period. The objective of this study was to evaluate folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine as modifiers of the relationship between biomarkers of iAs methylation efficiency and birth outcomes. METHODS Data from the Biomarkers of Exposure to ARsenic (BEAR) pregnancy cohort (2011-2012) with maternal urine and cord serum arsenic biomarkers and maternal serum folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine concentrations were utilized. One-carbon metabolism factors were dichotomized using clinical cutoffs and median splits. Multivariable linear regression models were fit to evaluate associations between each biomarker and birth outcome overall and within levels of one-carbon metabolism factors. Likelihood ratio tests of full and reduced models were used to test the significance of statistical interactions on the additive scale (α = 0.10). RESULTS Among urinary biomarkers, % U-MMAs was most strongly associated with birth weight (β = - 23.09, 95% CI: - 44.54, - 1.64). Larger, more negative mean differences in birth weight were observed among infants born to women who were B12 deficient (β = - 28.69, 95% CI: - 53.97, - 3.42) or experiencing hyperhomocysteinemia (β = - 63.29, 95% CI: - 154.77, 28.19). Generally, mean differences in birth weight were attenuated among infants born to mothers with higher serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 (or lower serum concentrations of homocysteine). Effect modification by vitamin B12 and homocysteine was significant on the additive scale for some associations. Results for gestational age were less compelling, with an approximate one-week mean difference associated with C-tAs (β = 0.87, 95% CI: 0, 1.74), but not meaningful otherwise. CONCLUSIONS Tissue distributions of iAs and its metabolites (e.g., % MMAs) may vary according to serum concentrations of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine during pregnancy. This represents a potential mechanism through which maternal diet may modify the harms of prenatal exposure to iAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeliyah Clark
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paige Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Miroslav Stýblo
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marisela Rubio-Andrade
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo G García-Vargas
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Mary V Gamble
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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8
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Hall SM, Zhang S, Hoffman K, Miranda ML, Stapleton HM. Concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human placental tissues and associations with birth outcomes. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 295:133873. [PMID: 35143854 PMCID: PMC8923299 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants commonly detected in human serum. Previous studies have observed associations between maternal serum PFAS and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes such as lower birth weight or pre-eclampsia; however, few studies have explored these associations with birth outcomes and placental tissue PFAS concentration. The placenta is a vital contributor to a healthy pregnancy and may be involved in the mechanism of PFAS reproductive toxicity. Our goal was to measure placental PFAS concentrations and examine associations with birth outcomes (e.g., birth weight, gestational duration). Placenta samples (n = 120) were collected during delivery from women enrolled in the Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby cohort (HPHB) in Durham, North Carolina. All placenta samples contained detectable PFAS, with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) being the most abundant and most frequently detected (all >96% detection frequency). While placental PFAS concentrations did not differ by infant sex, higher PFAS levels were observed in placenta from nulliparous women, suggesting that parity influences the accumulation of PFAS in the placenta. We used linear regression models to examine associations between placental PFAS and birth outcomes. After adjustment for parity, tobacco use, maternal age, and maternal race, we found that placental PFOS was associated with lower birth weight for gestational age in male infants and higher birth weight for gestational age in female infants. Similar findings were seen for PFNA for birth weight for gestational age. These differences in birth outcomes based on infant sex highlight a need to explore mechanistic differences in PFAS toxicity during gestation for male and female infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Hall
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Drive, Box 90328, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Sharon Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Drive, Box 90328, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Drive, Box 90328, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
| | - Marie Lynn Miranda
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, United States
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 9 Circuit Drive, Box 90328, Durham, NC, 27710, United States.
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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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