Coffee intake during pregnancy and neonatal low birth weight: data from a multicenter Italian cross sectional study

The high-expression programming of SR-B1 mediates adrenal dysfunction in female offspring induced by prenatal caffeine exposure and its cholesterol accumulation mechanism

The cholesterol metabolism and homeostasis of adrenal are important for steroidogenesis. Our previous studies found that prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) can inhibit adrenal steroidogenesis in offspring, but whether the mechanism is related to local imbalance of cholesterol metabolism remains unknown. Here, we found that PCE inhibited adrenal steroidogenesis and increased the expression of cell pyroptosis and inflammatory-related indicators (NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β) in female adult offspring rats, and at the same time, the cholesterol levels in serum and adrenal gland also significantly increased. In vitro, the high level of cholesterol could inhibit adrenal corticosteroid synthesis through pyroptosis and an inflammatory response. It suggested that the low adrenal steroidogenesis in PCE female adult offspring is related to local cholesterol accumulation-mediated pyroptosis and inflammation. Furthermore, dating back to the intrauterine period, PCE increased the serum CORT level in female fetal rats, and increased the expression of the adrenal cholesterol intake gene SR-B1, which persisted after birth and even into adulthood. At the cellular level, silencing SR-B1 could reverse the increase of intracellular cholesterol content caused by high levels of cortisol in NCI-H295R cells. Finally, we confirmed that high concentrations of glucocorticoids increased the expression and H3K14ac level of the promoter region in SR-B1 by upregulating the GR/SREBP1/p300 pathway in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, we clarified that the high-expression programming of SR-B1 mediates adrenal dysfunction in PCE female offspring and its cholesterol accumulation mechanism, which provided a favorable basis for finding novel targets to prevent and treat fetal-originated diseases.

Higher Coffee Consumption Is Associated With Reduced Cerebral Gray Matter Volume: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Background

Recently published two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) studies showed that genetically predicted coffee consumption may be associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and intracerebral hemorrhage but associated with a decreased risk of small vessel ischemic stroke. We aimed to investigate the effects of genetically predicted coffee consumption on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of cerebral small vessel disease and brain volume using the two-sample MR method.

Methods

Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in up to 375,833 individuals were used as genetic instruments for cups consumed per day of coffee. Another four SNPs from an independent sample were used to perform the replication analysis. Three SNPs in up to 45,821 individuals were used as genetic instruments for high coffee consumption vs. low/no coffee consumption.

Results

Mendelian randomization analysis showed that coffee consumption (cups/day) was inversely associated with gray matter volume (beta = −0.371, 95% CI = −0.596 to −0.147, p = 0.001). Replication analysis and multivariable analyses after adjusting for other risk factors confirmed the effect. High coffee consumption was also suggestively associated with decreased gray matter volume (beta = −0.061, 95% CI = −0.109 to −0.013, p = 0.013) compared with low/no coffee consumption. All analyses did not find an effect of coffee consumption on other outcomes including white matter hyperintensity volume, mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, brain microbleed, total brain volume, white matter volume, and hippocampus volume.

Conclusion

This two-sample MR study showed that genetically predicted higher coffee consumption is causally associated with reduced gray matter volume of the brain.

Optimizing respiratory management in preterm infants: a review of adjuvant pharmacotherapies

Adjuvant respiratory therapies in preterm neonates aim to reduce long-term morbidities and mortality. Commonly utilized therapies include caffeine, systemic glucocorticosteroids, inhaled steroids, inhaled bronchodilators, and diuretics. This review discusses the available literature that supports some of these practices and points out where clinical practices are not corroborated by evidence. Therapies with no proven clinical benefit must be weighed against potential adverse effects.

Does Prenatal Exposure to CNS Stimulants Increase the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Adult Offspring?

Prenatal exposure to an adverse uterine environment can have long lasting effects on adult offspring through DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and other epigenetic effects that alter gene expression and physiology. It is well-known that consumption of CNS stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine during pregnancy can adversely impact the offspring. However, most work in this area has focused on neurological and behavioral outcomes and has been limited to assessments in young offspring. The impact of prenatal exposure to these agents on the adult cardiovascular system has received relatively little attention. Evidence from both animal and human studies indicate that exposure to CNS stimulants during the gestational period can negatively impact the adult heart and vasculature, potentially leading to cardiovascular diseases later in life. This review discusses our current understanding of the impact of prenatal exposure to cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, and caffeine on the adult cardiovascular system.