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Panzenhagen AC, Petry FDS, Alves-Teixeira A, Santos L, Carazza-Kessler FG, Gelain DP, Moreira JCF. Biomarkers of methylmercury neurotoxicity and neurodevelopmental features: A systematic review. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 191:114851. [PMID: 38986832 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The issue of MeHg contamination is a significant concern due to its detrimental impact on the environment. This study aimed to thoroughly investigate the effects of MeHg on neurodevelopmental biomarkers, as there is a lack of systematic reviews in this area. We conducted a comprehensive search of three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and found 522 records, which were then meticulously reviewed by two independent reviewers. A total of 66 studies were included, with biomarkers related to oxidative stress, neurotransmission, inflammation, epigenetics, and apoptosis being the most prominent. The results of both in vitro and in vivo models indicate that antioxidant enzymes and other oxidative stress-related markers are indeed, altered following MeHg exposure. Moreover, MeHg exposure causes significant disruptions to neurotransmitter levels, activities of neurotransmitter synthesis enzymes, receptor densities, and proteins involved in synaptic function. Proinflammatory biomarkers are consistently overexpressed in both MeHg-treated cells and the brains of exposed rats. Furthermore, studies on DNA methylation and biomarker activity suggest that MeHg exposure may lead to neurotoxicity and neurodevelopmental issues via perturbations to epigenetic markers and the apoptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana Castro Panzenhagen
- Centro de Estudos Em Estresse Oxidativo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda Dos Santos Petry
- Centro de Estudos Em Estresse Oxidativo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Alexsander Alves-Teixeira
- Centro de Estudos Em Estresse Oxidativo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lucas Santos
- Centro de Estudos Em Estresse Oxidativo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Flávio Gabriel Carazza-Kessler
- Centro de Estudos Em Estresse Oxidativo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Daniel Pens Gelain
- Centro de Estudos Em Estresse Oxidativo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - José Cláudio Fonseca Moreira
- Centro de Estudos Em Estresse Oxidativo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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2
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Yang L, Sun P, Tao L, Zhao X. An in silico study on human carcinogenicity mechanism of polybrominated biphenyls exposure. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 397:111075. [PMID: 38815667 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer; however, relevant mechanistic studies are lacking. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying PBB-induced human thyroid cancer. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics methods were employed to investigate the metabolism of PBBs by the cytochrome P450 enzyme under aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediation into mono- and di-hydroxylated metabolites. This was taken as the molecular initiation event. Subsequently, considering the interactions of PBBs and their metabolites with the thyroxine-binding globulin protein as key events, an adverse outcome pathway for thyroid cancer caused by PBBs exposure was constructed. Based on 2D quantitative structure activity relationship (2D-QSAR) models, the contribution of amino acid residues and binding energy were analyzed to understand the mechanism underlying human carcinogenicity (adverse effect) of PBBs. Hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions were identified as key factors influencing the carcinogenic adverse outcome pathway of PBBs. Analysis of non-bonding forces revealed that PBBs and their hydroxylation products were predominantly bound to the thyroxine-binding globulin protein through hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions. The key amino acids involved in hydrophobic interactions were alanine 330, arginine 381 and lysine 270, and the key amino acids involved in hydrogen bond interactions were arginine 381 and lysine 270. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying human health risk associated with PBBs exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luze Yang
- College of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.
| | - Peixuan Sun
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Li Tao
- College of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.
| | - Xingmin Zhao
- College of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.
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3
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Campbell KA, Colacino JA, Dou J, Dolinoy DC, Park SK, Loch-Caruso R, Padmanabhan V, Bakulski KM. Placental and Immune Cell DNA Methylation Reference Panel for Bulk Tissue Cell Composition Estimation in Epidemiological Studies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.06.588886. [PMID: 38766167 PMCID: PMC11100803 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.06.588886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
To distinguish DNA methylation (DNAm) from cell proportion changes in whole placental tissue research, we developed a robust cell type-specific DNAm reference to estimate cell composition. We collated newly collected and existing cell type DNAm profiles quantified via Illumina EPIC or 450k microarrays. To estimate cell composition, we deconvoluted whole placental samples (n=36) with robust partial correlation based on the top 50 hyper- and hypomethylated sites per cell type. To test deconvolution performance, we evaluated RMSE in predicting principal component one of DNAm variation in 204 external placental samples. We analyzed DNAm profiles (n=368,435 sites) from 12 cell types: cytotrophoblasts (n=18), endothelial cells (n=19), Hofbauer cells (n=26), stromal cells (n=21), syncytiotrophoblasts (n=4), six lymphocyte types (n=36), and nucleated red blood cells (n=11). Median cell composition was consistent with placental biology: 60.4% syncytiotrophoblast, 17.1% stromal, 8.8% endothelial, 4.5% cytotrophoblast, 3.9% Hofbauer, 1.7% nucleated red blood cells, and 1.2% neutrophils. Our expanded reference outperformed an existing reference in predicting DNAm variation (15.4% variance explained, IQR=21.61) with cell composition estimates (RMSE:10.51 vs. 11.43, p-value<0.001). This cell type reference can robustly estimate cell composition from whole placental DNAm data to detect important cell types, reveal biological mechanisms, and improve casual inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Campbell
- Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Justin A. Colacino
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John Dou
- Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dana C. Dolinoy
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rita Loch-Caruso
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Vasantha Padmanabhan
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kelly M. Bakulski
- Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Yu G, Wu L, Su Q, Ji X, Zhou J, Wu S, Tang Y, Li H. Neurotoxic effects of heavy metal pollutants in the environment: Focusing on epigenetic mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123563. [PMID: 38355086 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123563] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The pollution of heavy metals (HMs) in the environment is a significant global environmental issue, characterized by its extensive distribution, severe contamination, and profound ecological impacts. Excessive exposure to heavy metal pollutants can damage the nervous system. However, the mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of most heavy metals are not completely understood. Epigenetics is defined as a heritable change in gene function that can influence gene and subsequent protein expression levels without altering the DNA sequence. Growing evidence indicates that heavy metals can induce neurotoxic effects by triggering epigenetic changes and disrupting the epigenome. Compared with genetic changes, epigenetic alterations are more easily reversible. Epigenetic reprogramming techniques, drugs, and certain nutrients targeting specific epigenetic mechanisms involved in gene expression regulation are emerging as potential preventive or therapeutic tools for diseases. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of epigenetic modifications encompassing DNA/RNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in the nervous system, elucidating their association with various heavy metal exposures. These primarily include manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), sliver (Ag), toxic metalloids arsenic (As), and etc. The potential epigenetic mechanisms in the etiology, precision prevention, and target therapy of various neurodevelopmental disorders or different neurodegenerative diseases are emphasized. In addition, the current gaps in research and future areas of study are discussed. From a perspective on epigenetics, this review offers novel insights for prevention and treatment of neurotoxicity induced by heavy metal pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxia Yu
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Lingyan Wu
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Qianqian Su
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xianqi Ji
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jinfu Zhou
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Fujian Maternity and Child Hospital College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Siying Wu
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Fujian Center for Prevention and Control Occupational Diseases and Chemical Poisoning, Fuzhou 350125, China
| | - Huangyuan Li
- Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China.
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Su LJ, Chiang TC, O’Connor SN. Arsenic in brown rice: do the benefits outweigh the risks? Front Nutr 2023; 10:1209574. [PMID: 37521417 PMCID: PMC10375490 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1209574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Brown rice has been advocated for as a healthier alternative to white rice. However, the concentration of arsenic and other pesticide contaminants is greater in brown rice than in white. The potential health risks and benefits of consuming more brown rice than white rice remain unclear; thus, mainstream nutritional messaging should not advocate for brown rice over white rice. This mini-review aims to summarize the most salient concepts related to dietary arsenic exposure with emphasis on more recent findings and provide consumers with evidence of both risks and benefits of consuming more brown rice than white rice. Despite risk-benefit assessments being a challenging new frontier in nutrition, researchers should pursue an assessment to validate findings and solidify evidence. In the interim, consumers should be cognizant that the dose of arsenic exposure determines its toxicity, and brown rice contains a greater concentration of arsenic than white rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihchyun Joseph Su
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Tung-Chin Chiang
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Sarah N. O’Connor
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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Lu Z, Zhao C, Yang J, Ma Y, Qiang M. Paternal exposure to arsenic and sperm DNA methylation of imprinting gene Meg3 in reproductive-aged men. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:3055-3068. [PMID: 36152128 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01394-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to arsenic and mercury have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes that might be in part mediated by dynamic modification of imprinting gene that are emerging mechanism. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of paternal exposure to arsenic and co-exposure to arsenic and mercury on human sperm DNA methylation status of imprinting genes, respectively. METHODS A total of 352 male subjects (23-52 years old) were recruited and demographic data were obtained through questionnaires. Urinary arsenic and mercury levels were measured using hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometer. Multivariate regression model was employed to investigate the relationship between urinary arsenic levels and sperm DNA methylation status at H19, Meg3 and Peg3, measured by pyrosequencing, and evaluating the interaction with mercury. RESULTS After adjusting potential confounds factors by multivariate regression model, the results indicated a significantly positive relationship between urinary arsenic levels and the methylation status of Meg3 at both mean level (β = + 0.125, p < 0.001) and all individual CpGs, i.e., CpG1 (β = + 0.094, p < 0.001), CpG2 (β = + 0.132, p < 0.001), CpG3 (β = + 0.121, p < 0.001), CpG4 (β = + 0.142, p < 0.001), CpG5 (β = + 0.111, p < 0.001), CpG6 (β = + 0.120, p < 0.001), CpG7 (β = + 0.143, p < 0.001), CpG8 (β = + 0.139, p < 0.001) of Meg3 DMRs. The interaction effects analysis indicated the interaction effects of arsenic and mercury on Meg3 were not existing. CONCLUSIONS Paternal nonoccupational exposure to arsenic induces the altered DNA methylation status of Meg3 in human sperm DNA. In addition, the interaction effects of arsenic and mercury on Meg3 were not existing. These findings would implicate the sensibility of sperm epigenome for environmental pollutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxu Lu
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
- Children's Hospital Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China.
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China.
| | - Chuo Zhao
- School of Public Health, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China
| | - Jia Yang
- Department of Children and Adolescences Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Yufeng Ma
- Department of Children and Adolescences Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Mei Qiang
- Department of Children and Adolescences Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
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Cediel-Ulloa A, Lindner S, Rüegg J, Broberg K. Epigenetics of methylmercury. Neurotoxicology 2023; 97:34-46. [PMID: 37164037 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Methylmercury (MeHg) is neurotoxic at high levels and particularly affects the developing brain. One proposed mechanism of MeHg neurotoxicity is alteration of the epigenetic programming. In this review, we summarise the experimental and epidemiological literature on MeHg-associated epigenetic changes. RECENT FINDINGS Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified changes in DNA methylation following in utero exposure to MeHg, and some of the changes appear to be persistent. A few studies have evaluated associations between MeHg-related changes in DNA methylation and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Experimental studies reveal changes in histone modifications after MeHg exposure, but we lack epidemiological studies supporting such changes in humans. Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified microRNA-related changes associated with MeHg; however, more research is needed to conclude if these changes lead to persistent and toxic effects. SUMMARY MeHg appears to interfere with epigenetic processes, potentially leading to persistent changes. However, observed associations of mercury with epigenetic changes are as of yet of unknown relevance to neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cediel-Ulloa
- Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sabrina Lindner
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Paz-Sabillón M, Torres-Sánchez L, Piña-Pozas M, Del Razo LM, Quintanilla-Vega B. Prenatal Exposure to Potentially Toxic Metals and Their Effects on Genetic Material in Offspring: a Systematic Review. Biol Trace Elem Res 2023; 201:2125-2150. [PMID: 35713810 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-022-03323-2] [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: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the background level of environmental pollutants, including metals, has increased. Pollutant exposure during the earliest stages of life may determine chronic disease susceptibility in adulthood because of genetic or epigenetic changes. The objective of this review was to identify the association between prenatal and early postnatal exposure to potentially toxic metals (PTMs) and their adverse effects on the genetic material of offspring. A systematic review was carried out following the Cochrane methodology in four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible papers were those conducted in humans and published in English between 2010/01/01 and 2021/04/30. A total of 57 articles were included, most of which evaluated prenatal exposure. Most commonly evaluated PTMs were As, Cd, and Pb. Main adverse effects on the genetic material of newborns associated with PTM prenatal exposure were alterations in telomere length, gene or protein expression, mitochondrial DNA content, metabolomics, DNA damage, and epigenetic modifications. Many of these effects were sex-specific, being predominant in boys. One article reported a synergistic interaction between As and Hg, and two articles observed antagonistic interactions between PTMs and essential metals, such as Cu, Se, and Zn. The findings in this review highlight that the problem of PTM exposure persists, affecting the most susceptible populations, such as newborns. Some of these associations were observed at low concentrations of PTMs. Most of the studies have focused on single exposures; however, three interactions between essential and nonessential metals were observed, highlighting that metal mixtures need more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Paz-Sabillón
- Department of Toxicology, Cinvestav, Ave. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luisa Torres-Sánchez
- National Institute of Public Health, Ave. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Maricela Piña-Pozas
- National Institute of Public Health, Ave. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Luz M Del Razo
- Department of Toxicology, Cinvestav, Ave. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Betzabet Quintanilla-Vega
- Department of Toxicology, Cinvestav, Ave. IPN 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Zheng K, Zeng Z, Tian Q, Huang J, Zhong Q, Huo X. Epidemiological evidence for the effect of environmental heavy metal exposure on the immune system in children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161691. [PMID: 36669659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals exist widely in daily life, and exposure to heavy metals caused by environmental pollution has become a serious public health problem worldwide. Due to children's age-specific behavioral characteristics and imperfect physical function, the adverse health effects of heavy metals on children are much higher than in adults. Studies have found that heavy metal exposure is associated with low immune function in children. Although there are reviews describing the evidence for the adverse effects of heavy metal exposure on the immune system in children, the summary of evidence from epidemiological studies involving the level of immune molecules is not comprehensive. Therefore, this review summarizes the current epidemiological study on the effect of heavy metal exposure on childhood immune function from multiple perspectives, emphasizing its risks to the health of children's immune systems. It focuses on the effects of six heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn)) on children's innate immune cells, lymphocytes and their subpopulations, cytokines, total and specific immunoglobulins, and explores the immunotoxicological effects of heavy metals. The review finds that exposure to heavy metals, particularly Pb, Cd, As, and Hg, not only reduced lymphocyte numbers and suppressed adaptive immune responses in children, but also altered the innate immune response to impair the body's ability to fight pathogens. Epidemiological evidence suggests that heavy metal exposure alters cytokine levels and is associated with the development of inflammatory responses in children. Pb, As, and Hg exposure was associated with vaccination failure and decreased antibody titers, and increased risk of immune-related diseases in children by altering specific immunoglobulin levels. Cd, Ni and Mn showed activation effects on the immune response to childhood vaccination. Exposure age, sex, nutritional status, and co-exposure may influence the effects of heavy metals on immune function in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyang Zheng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Qianwen Tian
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Jintao Huang
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi Zhong
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xia Huo
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China.
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10
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Germolec DR, Lebrec H, Anderson SE, Burleson GR, Cardenas A, Corsini E, Elmore SE, Kaplan BL, Lawrence BP, Lehmann GM, Maier CC, McHale CM, Myers LP, Pallardy M, Rooney AA, Zeise L, Zhang L, Smith MT. Consensus on the Key Characteristics of Immunotoxic Agents as a Basis for Hazard Identification. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:105001. [PMID: 36201310 PMCID: PMC9536493 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Key characteristics (KCs), properties of agents or exposures that confer potential hazard, have been developed for carcinogens and other toxicant classes. KCs have been used in the systematic assessment of hazards and to identify assay and data gaps that limit screening and risk assessment. Many of the mechanisms through which pharmaceuticals and occupational or environmental agents modulate immune function are well recognized. Thus KCs could be identified for immunoactive substances and applied to improve hazard assessment of immunodulatory agents. OBJECTIVES The goal was to generate a consensus-based synthesis of scientific evidence describing the KCs of agents known to cause immunotoxicity and potential applications, such as assays to measure the KCs. METHODS A committee of 18 experts with diverse specialties identified 10 KCs of immunotoxic agents, namely, 1) covalently binds to proteins to form novel antigens, 2) affects antigen processing and presentation, 3) alters immune cell signaling, 4) alters immune cell proliferation, 5) modifies cellular differentiation, 6) alters immune cell-cell communication, 7) alters effector function of specific cell types, 8) alters immune cell trafficking, 9) alters cell death processes, and 10) breaks down immune tolerance. The group considered how these KCs could influence immune processes and contribute to hypersensitivity, inappropriate enhancement, immunosuppression, or autoimmunity. DISCUSSION KCs can be used to improve efforts to identify agents that cause immunotoxicity via one or more mechanisms, to develop better testing and biomarker approaches to evaluate immunotoxicity, and to enable a more comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of adverse effects of exposures on the immune system. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10800.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dori R. Germolec
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Herve Lebrec
- Translational Safety & Bioanalytical Sciences, Amgen Research, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Stacey E. Anderson
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Gary R. Burleson
- Burleson Research Technologies, Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Emanuela Corsini
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah E. Elmore
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Barbara L.F. Kaplan
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA
| | - B. Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Geniece M. Lehmann
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Curtis C. Maier
- In Vitro In Vivo Translation, Research and Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cliona M. McHale
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - L. Peyton Myers
- Division of Pharm/Tox, Office of Infectious Diseases, Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Marc Pallardy
- Inserm, Inflammation microbiome immunosurveillance, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Andrew A. Rooney
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren Zeise
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Luoping Zhang
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Martyn T. Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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11
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Lodge EK, Dhingra R, Martin CL, Fry RC, White AJ, Ward-Caviness CK, Wani AH, Uddin M, Wildman DE, Galea S, Aiello AE. Serum lead, mercury, manganese, and copper and DNA methylation age among adults in Detroit, Michigan. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2022; 8:dvac018. [PMID: 36330039 PMCID: PMC9620967 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although the effects of lead, mercury, manganese, and copper on individual disease processes are well understood, estimating the health effects of long-term exposure to these metals at the low concentrations often observed in the general population is difficult. In addition, the health effects of joint exposure to multiple metals are difficult to estimate. Biological aging refers to the integrative progression of multiple physiologic and molecular changes that make individuals more at risk of disease. Biomarkers of biological aging may be useful to estimate the population-level effects of metal exposure prior to the development of disease in the population. We used data from 290 participants in the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study to estimate the effect of serum lead, mercury, manganese, and copper on three DNA methylation-based biomarkers of biological aging (Horvath Age, PhenoAge, and GrimAge). We used mixed models and Bayesian kernel machine regression and controlled for participant sex, race, ethnicity, cigarette use, income, educational attainment, and block group poverty. We observed consistently positive estimates of the effects between lead and GrimAge acceleration and mercury and PhenoAge acceleration. In contrast, we observed consistently negative associations between manganese and PhenoAge acceleration and mercury and Horvath Age acceleration. We also observed curvilinear relationships between copper and both PhenoAge and GrimAge acceleration. Increasing total exposure to the observed mixture of metals was associated with increased PhenoAge and GrimAge acceleration and decreased Horvath Age acceleration. These findings indicate that an increase in serum lead or mercury from the 25th to 75th percentile is associated with a ∼0.25-year increase in two epigenetic markers of all-cause mortality in a population of adults in Detroit, Michigan. While few of the findings were statistically significant, their consistency and novelty warrant interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evans K Lodge
- *Correspondence address. Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Tel: +574-339-0253; Fax: +919-966-2089; E-mail:
| | - Radhika Dhingra
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chantel L Martin
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 123 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA
- Center for Environmental Health & Susceptibility, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Center for Environmental Health & Susceptibility, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alexandra J White
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, A323 David P Rall Building, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Cavin K Ward-Caviness
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 104 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Agaz H Wani
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Monica Uddin
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Derek E Wildman
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 123 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA
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12
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Domingo-Relloso A, Makhani K, Riffo-Campos AL, Tellez-Plaza M, Klein KO, Subedi P, Zhao J, Moon KA, Bozack AK, Haack K, Goessler W, Umans JG, Best LG, Zhang Y, Herreros-Martinez M, Glabonjat RA, Schilling K, Galvez-Fernandez M, Kent JW, Sanchez TR, Taylor KD, Craig Johnson W, Durda P, Tracy RP, Rotter JI, Rich SS, Berg DVD, Kasela S, Lappalainen T, Vasan RS, Joehanes R, Howard BV, Levy D, Lohman K, Liu Y, Daniele Fallin M, Cole SA, Mann KK, Navas-Acien A. Arsenic Exposure, Blood DNA Methylation, and Cardiovascular Disease. Circ Res 2022; 131:e51-e69. [PMID: 35658476 PMCID: PMC10203287 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.320991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic dysregulation has been proposed as a key mechanism for arsenic-related cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated differentially methylated positions (DMPs) as potential mediators on the association between arsenic and CVD. METHODS Blood DNA methylation was measured in 2321 participants (mean age 56.2, 58.6% women) of the Strong Heart Study, a prospective cohort of American Indians. Urinary arsenic species were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We identified DMPs that are potential mediators between arsenic and CVD. In a cross-species analysis, we compared those DMPs with differential liver DNA methylation following early-life arsenic exposure in the apoE knockout (apoE-/-) mouse model of atherosclerosis. RESULTS A total of 20 and 13 DMPs were potential mediators for CVD incidence and mortality, respectively, several of them annotated to genes related to diabetes. Eleven of these DMPs were similarly associated with incident CVD in 3 diverse prospective cohorts (Framingham Heart Study, Women's Health Initiative, and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). In the mouse model, differentially methylated regions in 20 of those genes and DMPs in 10 genes were associated with arsenic. CONCLUSIONS Differential DNA methylation might be part of the biological link between arsenic and CVD. The gene functions suggest that diabetes might represent a relevant mechanism for arsenic-related cardiovascular risk in populations with a high burden of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arce Domingo-Relloso
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Chronic Diseases Epidemiology, National Center for Epidemiology, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of Valencia, Spain
| | - Kiran Makhani
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Angela L. Riffo-Campos
- Millennium Nucleus on Sociomedicine (SocioMed) and Vicerrectoría Académica, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- Department of Computer Science, ETSE, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Tellez-Plaza
- Department of Chronic Diseases Epidemiology, National Center for Epidemiology, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Kathleen Oros Klein
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pooja Subedi
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jinying Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Katherine A. Moon
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Karin Haack
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Walter Goessler
- Institute of Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry for Health and Environment, University of Graz, Austria
| | | | - Lyle G. Best
- Missouri Breaks Industries and Research Inc., Eagle Butte, SD, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, OK, USA
| | | | - Ronald A. Glabonjat
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathrin Schilling
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marta Galvez-Fernandez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Chronic Diseases Epidemiology, National Center for Epidemiology, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jack W. Kent
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Tiffany R Sanchez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kent D. Taylor
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - W. Craig Johnson
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter Durda
- Department of Pathology Laboratory Medicine, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Russell P. Tracy
- Department of Pathology Laboratory Medicine, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Jerome I. Rotter
- The Institute for Translational Genomics and Population Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Stephen S. Rich
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - David Van Den Berg
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Silva Kasela
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tuuli Lappalainen
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ramachandran S Vasan
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s and Boston University’s Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA; Sections of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, department of Epidemiology, Boston University Schools of medicine and Public health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roby Joehanes
- Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
- Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA
| | | | - Daniel Levy
- Population Sciences Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
- Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA
| | - Kurt Lohman
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yongmei Liu
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- Departments of Mental Health and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shelley A. Cole
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Koren K. Mann
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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13
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Epigenetics at the Intersection of COVID-19 Risk and Environmental Chemical Exposures. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:477-489. [PMID: 35648356 PMCID: PMC9157479 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00353-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Several environmental contaminants have been implicated as contributors to COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Immunomodulation and epigenetic regulation have been hypothesized as mediators of this relationship, but the precise underlying molecular mechanisms are not well-characterized. This review examines the evidence for epigenetic modification at the intersection of COVID-19 and environmental chemical exposures. RECENT FINDINGS Numerous environmental contaminants including air pollutants, toxic metal(loid)s, per- and polyfluorinated substances, and endocrine disrupting chemicals are hypothesized to increase susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the risk of severe COVID-19, but few studies currently exist. Drawing on evidence that many environmental chemicals alter the epigenetic regulation of key immunity genes and pathways, we discuss how exposures likely perturb host antiviral responses. Specific mechanisms vary by contaminant but include general immunomodulation as well as regulation of viral entry and recognition, inflammation, and immunologic memory pathways, among others. Associations between environmental contaminants and COVID-19 are likely mediated, in part, by epigenetic regulation of key immune pathways involved in the host response to SARS-CoV-2.
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14
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Stojsavljević A, Perović M, Nešić A, Miković Ž, Manojlović D. Levels of non-essential trace metals and their impact on placental health: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:43662-43674. [PMID: 35426027 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20205-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
According to recent research, even low levels of environmental chemicals, particularly heavy metals, can considerably disrupt placental homeostasis. This review aims to explore the profile of non-essential trace metals in placental tissues across the globe and to specify trace metal(s) that can be candidates for impaired placental health. Accordingly, we conducted an extensive survey on relevant databases of peer-reviewed papers published in the last two decades. Among a considerable number of non-essential trace metals, arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) were identified as the most detrimental to placental health. Comparative analysis showed remarkable differences in placental levels of these trace metals worldwide. Based on current data reported across the globe, a median (min-max) range from 0.55 to 15 ng/g for placental As levels could be deemed safe. The placental Cd and Pb levels were markedly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Occupationally exposed pregnant women had several orders of magnitude higher Cd, Pb, and Hg levels in placental tissues than non-occupationally exposed women. Also, we concluded that even low-level exposure to As, Cd, Pb, and Hg could be deleterious to proper fetal development. This review implies the need to reduce exposure to non-essential trace metals to preserve placental health and prevent numerous poor pregnancy outcomes. Overall, the information presented is expected to help plan future fundamental and applied investigations on the placental toxicity of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Stojsavljević
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
- Innovation Center of the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Milan Perović
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics Narodni Front, Kraljice Natalije 62, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića starijeg 8, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andrijana Nešić
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Željko Miković
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics Narodni Front, Kraljice Natalije 62, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića starijeg 8, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragan Manojlović
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
- South Ural State University, Lenin prospect 76, Chelyabinsk, Russia
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15
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Stojsavljević A, Rovčanin M, Miković Ž, Perović M, Jeremić A, Zečević N, Manojlović D. Analysis of essential, toxic, rare earth, and noble elements in maternal and umbilical cord blood. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:37375-37383. [PMID: 35060029 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18190-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Progressive industrialization in recent decades has contributed to the increase of metal levels in the environment, which has a dangerous impact on human health, primarily pregnant women. In this study, we aimed to compare levels of various elements in maternal and umbilical cord (UC) plasma samples collected from 125 healthy pregnant women, conduct correlation analysis among paired plasma samples, and compare our data with other populations worldwide. The study design included the following elements: essential (Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo), non-essential (Be, Al, Ni, As, Rb, Sr, Cd, Sb, Pb, U), rare earth (La, Pr, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er), and noble metals (Ru, Rh, Re, Pt). Levels of 30 elements were higher in maternal plasma than in UC plasma samples. However, no disparities at the statistically significant level were found for Be, Zn, Rb, Cd, Ce, and Ho. Correlation analysis among paired plasma samples revealed only positive/synergistic correlations of different strengths between most elements. Compared to other countries across the globe, our participants had considerably lower plasma levels of Zn and higher levels of Co, Ni, and As. This study provides not only a new and deeper comprehension, but also the first insight into the levels, correlation, distribution, and potential transplacental transfer of 30 elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Stojsavljević
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia.
- Innovation Center of the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Marija Rovčanin
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics Narodni front, Kraljice Natalije 62, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića starijeg 8, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Željko Miković
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics Narodni front, Kraljice Natalije 62, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića starijeg 8, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milan Perović
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics Narodni front, Kraljice Natalije 62, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića starijeg 8, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Jeremić
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics Narodni front, Kraljice Natalije 62, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nebojša Zečević
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics Narodni front, Kraljice Natalije 62, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića starijeg 8, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragan Manojlović
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, Belgrade, Serbia
- South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Lenin prospect 76, Russia
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16
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Mercury and cancer: Where are we now after two decades of research? Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 164:113001. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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17
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Schmidt S. Navigating a Two-Way Street: Metal Toxicity and the Human Gut Microbiome. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:32001. [PMID: 35302387 PMCID: PMC8932408 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
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18
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Lozano M, Yousefi P, Broberg K, Soler-Blasco R, Miyashita C, Pesce G, Kim WJ, Rahman M, Bakulski KM, Haug LS, Ikeda-Araki A, Huel G, Park J, Relton C, Vrijheid M, Rifas-Shiman S, Oken E, Dou JF, Kishi R, Gutzkow KB, Annesi-Maesano I, Won S, Hivert MF, Fallin MD, Vafeiadi M, Ballester F, Bustamante M, Llop S. DNA methylation changes associated with prenatal mercury exposure: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies from PACE consortium. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112093. [PMID: 34562483 PMCID: PMC10879652 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous heavy metal that originates from both natural and anthropogenic sources and is transformed in the environment to its most toxicant form, methylmercury (MeHg). Recent studies suggest that MeHg exposure can alter epigenetic modifications during embryogenesis. In this study, we examined associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and levels of cord blood DNA methylation (DNAm) by meta-analysis in up to seven independent studies (n = 1462) as well as persistence of those relationships in blood from 7 to 8 year-old children (n = 794). In cord blood, we found limited evidence of differential DNAm at cg24184221 in MED31 (β = 2.28 × 10-4, p-value = 5.87 × 10-5) in relation to prenatal MeHg exposure. In child blood, we identified differential DNAm at cg15288800 (β = 0.004, p-value = 4.97 × 10-5), also located in MED31. This repeated link to MED31, a gene involved in lipid metabolism and RNA Polymerase II transcription function, may suggest a DNAm perturbation related to MeHg exposure that persists into early childhood. Further, we found evidence for association between prenatal MeHg exposure and child blood DNAm levels at two additional CpGs: cg12204245 (β = 0.002, p-value = 4.81 × 10-7) in GRK1 and cg02212000 (β = -0.001, p-value = 8.13 × 10-7) in GGH. Prenatal MeHg exposure was associated with DNAm modifications that may influence health outcomes, such as cognitive or anthropometric development, in different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lozano
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Paul Yousefi
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Karin Broberg
- Unit of Metals and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Raquel Soler-Blasco
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Giancarlo Pesce
- INSERM UMR1018, Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESP), Villejuif, France
| | - Woo Jin Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Environmental Health Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Mohammad Rahman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kelly M Bakulski
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Line S Haug
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environment, Oslo, Norway
| | - Atsuko Ikeda-Araki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan; Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Guy Huel
- INSERM UMR1018, Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESP), Villejuif, France
| | - Jaehyun Park
- Interdisciplinary Program of Bioinformatics, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Caroline Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sheryl Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - John F Dou
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kristine B Gutzkow
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environment, Oslo, Norway
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- INSERM UMR1302, Montpellier University, Insitut Desbrest d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IDESP), Montpellier, France
| | - Sungho Won
- Interdisciplinary Program of Bioinformatics, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Public Health Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States; Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marina Vafeiadi
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ferran Ballester
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; School of Nursing, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mariona Bustamante
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Chakraborty A, Ghosh S, Biswas B, Pramanik S, Nriagu J, Bhowmick S. Epigenetic modifications from arsenic exposure: A comprehensive review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:151218. [PMID: 34717984 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is a notorious element with the potential to harm exposed individuals in ways that include cancerous and non-cancerous health complications. Millions of people across the globe (especially in South and Southeast Asian countries including China, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh) are currently being unknowingly exposed to precarious levels of arsenic. Among the diverse effects associated with such arsenic levels of exposure is the propensity to alter the epigenome. Although a large volume of literature exists on arsenic-induced genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and inter-individual susceptibility due to active research on these subject areas from the last millennial, it is only recently that attention has turned on the ramifications and mechanisms of arsenic-induced epigenetic changes. The present review summarizes the possible mechanisms involved in arsenic induced epigenetic alterations. It focuses on the mechanisms underlying epigenome reprogramming from arsenic exposure that result in improper cell signaling and dysfunction of various epigenetic components. The mechanistic information articulated from the review is used to propose a number of novel therapeutic strategies with a potential for ameliorating the burden of worldwide arsenic poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Chakraborty
- Kolkata Zonal Center, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata, West Bengal 700107, India
| | - Soma Ghosh
- Kolkata Zonal Center, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata, West Bengal 700107, India
| | - Bratisha Biswas
- Kolkata Zonal Center, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata, West Bengal 700107, India
| | - Sreemanta Pramanik
- Kolkata Zonal Center, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata, West Bengal 700107, India
| | - Jerome Nriagu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
| | - Subhamoy Bhowmick
- Kolkata Zonal Center, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata, West Bengal 700107, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Sharma V, Gangopadhyay S, Shukla S, Chauhan A, Singh S, Singh RD, Tiwari R, Singh D, Srivastava V. Prenatal exposure to arsenic promotes sterile inflammation through the Polycomb repressive element EZH2 and accelerates skin tumorigenesis in mouse. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 443:116004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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21
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Rehman MYA, Briedé JJ, van Herwijnen M, Krauskopf J, Jennen DGJ, Malik RN, Kleinjans JCS. Integrating SNPs-based genetic risk factor with blood epigenomic response of differentially arsenic-exposed rural subjects reveals disease-associated signaling pathways. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 292:118279. [PMID: 34619179 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater is responsible for numerous adverse health outcomes among millions of people. Epigenetic alterations are among the most widely studied mechanisms of As toxicity. To understand how As exposure alters gene expression through epigenetic modifications, a systematic genome-wide study was designed to address the impact of multiple important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to As exposure on the methylome of drinking water As-exposed rural subjects from Pakistan. Urinary As levels were used to stratify subjects into low, medium and high exposure groups. Genome-wide DNA methylation was investigated using MeDIP in combination with NimbleGen 2.1 M Deluxe Promotor arrays. Transcriptome levels were measured using Agilent 8 × 60 K expression arrays. Genotyping of selected SNPs (As3MT, DNMT1a, ERCC2, EGFR and MTHFR) was measured and an integrated genetic risk factor for each respondent was calculated by assigning a specific value to the measured genotypes based on known risk allele numbers. To select a representative model related to As exposure we compared 9 linear mixed models comprising of model 1 (including the genetic risk factor), model 2 (without the genetic risk factor) and models with individual SNPs incorporated into the methylome data. Pathway analysis was performed using ConsensusPathDB. Model 1 comprising the integrated genetic risk factor disclosed biochemical pathways including muscle contraction, cardio-vascular diseases, ATR signaling, GPCR signaling, methionine metabolism and chromatin modification in association with hypo- and hyper-methylated gene targets. A unique pathway (direct P53 effector) was found associated with the individual DNMT1a polymorphism due to hyper-methylation of CSE1L and TRRAP. Most importantly, we provide here the first evidence of As-associated DNA methylation in relation with gene expression of ATR, ATF7IP, TPM3, UBE2J2. We report the first evidence that integrating SNPs data with methylome data generates a more representative epigenome profile and discloses a better insight in disease risks of As-exposed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Yasir Abdur Rehman
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jacco Jan Briedé
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
| | - Marcel van Herwijnen
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Julian Krauskopf
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Danyel G J Jennen
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Riffat Naseem Malik
- Environmental Health Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jos C S Kleinjans
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
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22
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Bermick J, Schaller M. Epigenetic regulation of pediatric and neonatal immune responses. Pediatr Res 2022; 91:297-327. [PMID: 34239066 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of transcription is a collective term that refers to mechanisms known to regulate gene transcription without changing the underlying DNA sequence. These mechanisms include DNA methylation and histone tail modifications which influence chromatin accessibility, and microRNAs that act through post-transcriptional gene silencing. Epigenetics is known to regulate a variety of biological processes, and the role of epigtenetics in immunity and immune-mediated diseases is becoming increasingly recognized. While DNA methylation is the most widely studied, each of these systems play an important role in the development and maintenance of appropriate immune responses. There is clear evidence that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to developmental stage-specific immune responses in a cell-specific manner. There is also mounting evidence that prenatal exposures alter epigenetic profiles and subsequent immune function in exposed offspring. Early life exposures that are associated with poor long-term health outcomes also appear to impact immune specific epigenetic patterning. Finally, each of these epigenetic mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases that manifest during childhood. This review will discuss each of these areas in detail. IMPACT: Epigenetics, including DNA methylation, histone tail modifications, and microRNA expression, dictate immune cell phenotypes. Epigenetics influence immune development and subsequent immune health. Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposures alter immune cell epigenetic profiles and subsequent immune function. Numerous pediatric-onset diseases have an epigenetic component. Several successful strategies for childhood diseases target epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Bermick
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. .,Iowa Inflammation Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Matthew Schaller
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app112311179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Eating seafood has numerous health benefits; however, it constitutes one of the main sources of exposure to several harmful environmental pollutants, both of anthropogenic and natural origin. Among these, methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons give rise to concerns related to their possible effects on human biology. In the present review, we summarize the results of epidemiological investigations on the genetic component of individual susceptibility to methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in humans, and on the effects that these two pollutants have on human epigenetic profiles (DNA methylation). Then, we provide evidence that Mediterranean coastal communities represent an informative case study to investigate the potential impact of methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the human genome and epigenome, since they are characterized by a traditionally high local seafood consumption, and given the characteristics that render the Mediterranean Sea particularly polluted. Finally, we discuss the challenges of a molecular anthropological approach to this topic.
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Ke T, Tinkov AA, Skalny AV, Bowman AB, Rocha JBT, Santamaria A, Aschner M. Developmental exposure to methylmercury and ADHD, a literature review of epigenetic studies. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2021; 7:dvab014. [PMID: 34881051 PMCID: PMC8648069 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the competence of academic performance and social wellness in children and adults. The causes of ADHD are unclear. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of ADHD. The behavioral impairments in ADHD are associated with epigenetic changes in genes that are important for neurodevelopment. Among environmental causes of ADHD, the neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg) is associated with an increased risk for ADHD. Developing children are susceptible to neurotoxic effects of prenatal MeHg exposure. Human epidemiology studies have shown that prenatal MeHg exposure could invoke epigenetic changes in genes that are involved in ADHD. In addition, the pathogenesis of ADHD involves dopaminergic system, which is a target of developmental MeHg exposure. MeHg-induced alterations in the dopaminergic system have a profound impact on behavioral functions in adults. As a trace level of MeHg (around nM) can induce long-lasting behavioral alterations, potential mechanisms of MeHg-induced functional changes in the dopaminergic system may involve epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we review the relevant evidence on developmental MeHg exposures and the risk for ADHD. We also point out research gaps in understanding environmental causes of ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ke
- **Correspondence address. Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Forchheimer Building, Room 209, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. Tel: +1 718 430 4047; Fax: +1 718 430 8922; E-mail:
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119435, Russia
- Laboratory of Ecobiomonitoring and Quality Control, Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl 150003, Russia
| | - Antoly V Skalny
- World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119435, Russia
- Laboratory of Medical Elementology, K.G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management, Moscow 109004, Russia
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2051, USA
| | - Joao B T Rocha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Abel Santamaria
- Laboratorio de Aminoácidos Excitadores, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City 14269, Mexico
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Forchheimer Building, Room 209, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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Vaiserman A, Lushchak O. DNA methylation changes induced by prenatal toxic metal exposure: An overview of epidemiological evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2021; 7:dvab007. [PMID: 34631153 PMCID: PMC8493661 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to unfavorable conditions early in life can substantially contribute to the risk of chronic disorders later in life ('developmental programming' phenomenon). The mechanistic basis for this phenomenon remains poorly understood so far, although epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA-mediated gene regulation apparently play a crucial role. The key role of epigenetic modifications triggered by unfavorable environmental cues during sensitive developmental periods in linking adverse early-life events to later-life health outcomes is evident from a large body of studies, including methylome-wide association studies and research of candidate genes. Toxic metals (TMs), such as heavy metals, including lead, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, etc., are among environmental contaminants currently most significantly impacting human health status. Since TMs can cross the placental barrier and accumulate in fetal tissues, exposure to high doses of these xenobiotics early in development is considered to be among important factors contributing to the developmental programming of adult-life diseases in modern societies. In this mini-review, we summarize epidemiological findings indicating that prenatal TM exposure can induce epigenetic dysregulation, thereby potentially affecting adult health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Vaiserman
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, D.F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, NAMS, 67 Vyshgorodska str., Kyiv 04114, Ukraine
| | - Oleh Lushchak
- *Correspondence address. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str., Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine. Tel/Fax: +38 0342 71 46 83; E-mail:
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Martinez VD, Lam WL. Health Effects Associated With Pre- and Perinatal Exposure to Arsenic. Front Genet 2021; 12:664717. [PMID: 34659330 PMCID: PMC8511415 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.664717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic is a well-established human carcinogen, able to induce genetic and epigenetic alterations. More than 200 million people worldwide are exposed to arsenic concentrations in drinking water exceeding the recommended WHO threshold (10μg/l). Additionally, chronic exposure to levels below this threshold is known to result in long-term health effects in humans. The arsenic-related health effects in humans are associated with its biotransformation process, whereby the resulting metabolites can induce molecular damage that accumulates over time. The effects derived from these alterations include genomic instability associated with oxidative damage, alteration of gene expression (including coding and non-coding RNAs), global and localized epigenetic reprogramming, and histone posttranslational modifications. These alterations directly affect molecular pathways involved in the onset and progression of many conditions that can arise even decades after the exposure occurs. Importantly, arsenic metabolites generated during its biotransformation can also pass through the placental barrier, resulting in fetal exposure to this carcinogen at similar levels to those of the mother. As such, more immediate effects of the arsenic-induced molecular damage can be observed as detrimental effects on fetal development, pregnancy, and birth outcomes. In this review, we focus on the genetic and epigenetic damage associated with exposure to low levels of arsenic, particularly those affecting early developmental stages. We also present how these alterations occurring during early life can impact the development of certain diseases in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor D. Martinez
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
- The Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- The Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Weyde KVF, Olsen AK, Duale N, Kamstra JH, Skogheim TS, Caspersen IH, Engel SM, Biele G, Xia Y, Meltzer HM, Aase H, Villanger GD. Gestational blood levels of toxic metal and essential element mixtures and associations with global DNA methylation in pregnant women and their infants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 787:147621. [PMID: 34000534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women and their fetuses are exposed to multiple toxic metals that together with variations in essential element levels may alter epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate the associations between gestational levels of toxic metals and essential elements and mixtures thereof, with global DNA methylation levels in pregnant women and their newborn children. METHODS Using 631 mother-child pairs from a prospective birth cohort (The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study), we measured maternal blood concentration (gestation week ~18) of five toxic metals and seven essential elements. We investigated associations as individual exposures and two-way interactions, using elastic net regression, and total mixture, using quantile g-computation, with blood levels of 5-methylcytocine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in mothers during pregnancy and their newborn children (cord blood). Multiple testing was adjusted for using the Benjamini and Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) approach. RESULTS The most sensitive marker of DNA methylation appeared to be 5mC levels. In pregnant mothers, elastic net regression indicated associations between 5mC and selenium and lead (non-linear), while in newborns results indicated relationships between maternal selenium, cobalt (non-linear) and mercury and 5mC, as well as copper (non-linear) and 5hmC levels. Several possible two-way interactions were identified (e.g. arsenic and mercury, and selenium and maternal smoking in newborns). None of these findings met the FDR threshold for multiple testing. No net effect was observed in the joint (mixture) exposure-approach using quantile g-computation. CONCLUSION We identified few associations between gestational levels of several toxic metals and essential elements and global DNA methylation in pregnant mothers and their newborn children. As DNA methylation dysregulation might be a key mechanism in disease development and thus of high importance for public health, our results should be considered as important candidates to investigate in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nur Duale
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jorke H Kamstra
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Stephanie M Engel
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Guido Biele
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yankai Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Heidi Aase
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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CoNaMad-Cohorte de Nacimiento de Madre de Dios/Madre de Dios Birth Cohort to Study Effects of in-utero Trace Metals Exposure in the Southern Peruvian Amazon. Ann Glob Health 2021; 87:69. [PMID: 34327116 PMCID: PMC8300581 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In-utero exposure to mercury and other trace metals pose a significant threat to child health and development, but exposures and health impacts in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) environments are poorly defined. Objectives: We describe the CONAMAD study design, a prospective birth cohort consisting of multiparous women (18 and over) living in rural and peri-urban Peruvian Amazon communities exposed to ASGM. Methods: Pregnant women are enrolled from health posts across four zones of Madre de Dios, Peru. Data are collected at enrollment, childbirth, and (planned) 36-48 months. At enrollment, hair samples for mercury assessment, demographic and clinical data are obtained. At birth, we obtain venous and cord blood, placenta, hair, toenails, and saliva. Findings: Two hundred seventy mothers were enrolled at an average 20 weeks gestational age with no differences in maternal characteristics across zones. Two hundred fifteen mothers were successfully followed at birth. We obtained 214 maternal and cord blood samples, 211 maternal and 212 infant hair samples, 212 placenta samples, 210 infant saliva samples, and 214 infant dried blood spots. Data collected will allow for testing our primary hypotheses of maternal malnutrition modifying ratios of cord:maternal blood total mercury (tHg), cord blood:maternal hair tHg, and infant:maternal hair tHg, and whether chemical mixtures (Hg, Pb, Cd) have synergistic effects on infant neurodevelopment. Conclusions: CONAMAD is designed to collect and store samples for future processing and hypothesis testing associated with in-utero mercury exposure and child development. We have completed the exposure assessments and will conduct a follow-up of mothers to evaluate early child development outcomes, including developmental delay and growth. These data offer insights into disease mechanisms, exposure prevention, and policy guidance for countries where ASGM is prevalent.
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Lee KS, Choi YJ, Cho JW, Moon SJ, Lim YH, Kim JI, Lee YA, Shin CH, Kim BN, Hong YC. Children's Greenness Exposure and IQ-Associated DNA Methylation: A Prospective Cohort Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7429. [PMID: 34299878 PMCID: PMC8304819 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics is known to be involved in regulatory pathways through which greenness exposure influences child development and health. We aimed to investigate the associations between residential surrounding greenness and DNA methylation changes in children, and further assessed the association between DNA methylation and children's intelligence quotient (IQ) in a prospective cohort study. We identified cytosine-guanine dinucleotide sites (CpGs) associated with cognitive abilities from epigenome- and genome-wide association studies through a systematic literature review for candidate gene analysis. We estimated the residential surrounding greenness at age 2 using a geographic information system. DNA methylation was analyzed from whole blood using the HumanMethylationEPIC array in 59 children at age 2. We analyzed the association between greenness exposure and DNA methylation at age 2 at the selected CpGs using multivariable linear regression. We further investigated the relationship between DNA methylation and children's IQ. We identified 8743 CpGs associated with cognitive ability based on the literature review. Among these CpGs, we found that 25 CpGs were significantly associated with greenness exposure at age 2, including cg26269038 (Bonferroni-corrected p ≤ 0.05) located in the body of SLC6A3, which encodes a dopamine transporter. DNA methylation at cg26269038 at age 2 was significantly associated with children's performance IQ at age 6. Exposure to surrounding greenness was associated with cognitive ability-related DNA methylation changes, which was also associated with children's IQ. Further studies are warranted to clarify the epigenetic pathways linking greenness exposure and neurocognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Shin Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (K.-S.L.); (Y.-J.C.); (S.-J.M.); (Y.-H.L.)
- Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Yoon-Jung Choi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (K.-S.L.); (Y.-J.C.); (S.-J.M.); (Y.-H.L.)
- Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Jin-Woo Cho
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA;
| | - Sung-Ji Moon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (K.-S.L.); (Y.-J.C.); (S.-J.M.); (Y.-H.L.)
| | - Youn-Hee Lim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (K.-S.L.); (Y.-J.C.); (S.-J.M.); (Y.-H.L.)
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johanna-Inhyang Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul 04763, Korea;
| | - Young-Ah Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (Y.-A.L.); (C.-H.S.)
| | - Choong-Ho Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (Y.-A.L.); (C.-H.S.)
| | - Bung-Nyun Kim
- Division of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Yun-Chul Hong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea; (K.-S.L.); (Y.-J.C.); (S.-J.M.); (Y.-H.L.)
- Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 03080, Korea
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Salas LA, Lundgren SN, Browne EP, Punska EC, Anderton DL, Karagas MR, Arcaro KF, Christensen BC. Prediagnostic breast milk DNA methylation alterations in women who develop breast cancer. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:662-673. [PMID: 31943067 PMCID: PMC7068171 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior candidate gene studies have shown tumor suppressor DNA methylation in breast milk related with history of breast biopsy, an established risk factor for breast cancer. To further establish the utility of breast milk as a tissue-specific biospecimen for investigations of breast carcinogenesis, we measured genome-wide DNA methylation in breast milk from women with and without a diagnosis of breast cancer in two independent cohorts. DNA methylation was assessed using Illumina HumanMethylation450k in 87 breast milk samples. Through an epigenome-wide association study we explored CpG sites associated with a breast cancer diagnosis in the prospectively collected milk samples from the breast that would develop cancer compared with women without a diagnosis of breast cancer using linear mixed effects models adjusted for history of breast biopsy, age, RefFreeCellMix cell estimates, time of delivery, array chip and subject as random effect. We identified 58 differentially methylated CpG sites associated with a subsequent breast cancer diagnosis (q-value <0.05). Nearly all CpG sites associated with a breast cancer diagnosis were hypomethylated in cases compared with controls and were enriched for CpG islands. In addition, inferred repeat element methylation was lower in breast milk DNA from cases compared to controls, and cases exhibited increased estimated epigenetic mitotic tick rate as well as DNA methylation age compared with controls. Breast milk has utility as a biospecimen for prospective assessment of disease risk, for understanding the underlying molecular basis of breast cancer risk factors and improving primary and secondary prevention of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Salas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA.,The Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA
| | - Sara N Lundgren
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA.,The Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA
| | - Eva P Browne
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Punska
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Douglas L Anderton
- Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina, Columbus, SC 29208, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA.,The Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA
| | - Kathleen F Arcaro
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA.,Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA.,Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766, USA
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31
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Aung MT, M Bakulski K, Feinberg JI, F Dou J, D Meeker J, Mukherjee B, Loch-Caruso R, Ladd-Acosta C, Volk HE, Croen LA, Hertz-Picciotto I, Newschaffer CJ, Fallin MD. Maternal blood metal concentrations and whole blood DNA methylation during pregnancy in the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI). Epigenetics 2021; 17:253-268. [PMID: 33794742 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1897059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The maternal epigenome may be responsive to prenatal metals exposures. We tested whether metals are associated with concurrent differential maternal whole blood DNA methylation. In the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation cohort, we measured first or second trimester maternal blood metals concentrations (cadmium, lead, mercury, manganese, and selenium) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. DNA methylation in maternal whole blood was measured on the Illumina 450 K array. A subset sample of 97 women had both measures available for analysis, all of whom did not report smoking during pregnancy. Linear regression was used to test for site-specific associations between individual metals and DNA methylation, adjusting for cell type composition and confounding variables. Discovery gene ontology analysis was conducted on the top 1,000 sites associated with each metal. We observed hypermethylation at 11 DNA methylation sites associated with lead (FDR False Discovery Rate q-value <0.1), near the genes CYP24A1, ASCL2, FAT1, SNX31, NKX6-2, LRC4C, BMP7, HOXC11, PCDH7, ZSCAN18, and VIPR2. Lead-associated sites were enriched (FDR q-value <0.1) for the pathways cell adhesion, nervous system development, and calcium ion binding. Manganese was associated with hypermethylation at four DNA methylation sites (FDR q-value <0.1), one of which was near the gene ARID2. Manganese-associated sites were enriched for cellular metabolism pathways (FDR q-value<0.1). Effect estimates for DNA methylation sites associated (p < 0.05) with cadmium, lead, and manganese were highly correlated (Pearson ρ > 0.86). DNA methylation sites associated with lead and manganese may be potential biomarkers of exposure or implicate downstream gene pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max T Aung
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Kelly M Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Jason I Feinberg
- Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.,Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.,Center for Epigenetics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - John F Dou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Rita Loch-Caruso
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Christine Ladd-Acosta
- Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Heather E Volk
- Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.,Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Lisa A Croen
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, USA
| | - Craig J Newschaffer
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, College of Health and Human Development, Penn State University, USA
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- Wendy Klag Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.,Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
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32
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Mathiesen L, Buerki-Thurnherr T, Pastuschek J, Aengenheister L, Knudsen LE. Fetal exposure to environmental chemicals; insights from placental perfusion studies. Placenta 2021; 106:58-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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33
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Ding D, Wang C, Chen Z, Xia K, Tang B, Qiu R, Jiang H. Polyglutamine-expanded ataxin3 alter specific gene expressions through changing DNA methylation status in SCA3/MJD. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 13:3680-3698. [PMID: 33411688 PMCID: PMC7906150 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation has recently been linked to transcriptional dysregulation and neuronal dysfunction in polyglutamine (polyQ) disease. This study aims to determine whether (CAG)n expansion in ATXN3 perturbs DNA methylation status and affects gene expression. We analyzed DNA methylation throughout the genome using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) and confirmed the results using MethylTarget sequencing. Dynamic changes in DNA methylation, transcriptional and translational levels of specific genes were detected using BSP, qRT-PCR and western blot. In total, 135 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified between SCA3/MJD and WT mouse cerebellum. KEGG analysis revealed differentially methylated genes involved in amino acid metabolism, Hedgehog signaling pathway, thyroid cancer, tumorigenesis and other pathways. We focused on DMRs that were directly associated with gene expression. On this basis, we further assessed 7 genes, including 13 DMRs, for DNA methylation validation and gene expression. We found that the methylation status of the DMRs of En1 and Nkx2-1 was negatively associated with their transcriptional and translational levels and that alteration of the DNA methylation status of DMRs and the corresponding transcription occurred before dyskinesia in SCA3/MJD mice. These results revealed novel DNA methylation-regulated genes, En1 and Nkx2-1, which may be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of SCA3/MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxue Ding
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Chunrong Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Kun Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Rong Qiu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China
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34
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Goodrich JM, Hector EC, Tang L, LaBarre JL, Dolinoy DC, Mercado-Garcia A, Cantoral A, Song PX, Téllez-Rojo MM, Peterson KE. Integrative Analysis of Gene-Specific DNA Methylation and Untargeted Metabolomics Data from the ELEMENT Cohort. Epigenet Insights 2020; 13:2516865720977888. [PMID: 33354655 PMCID: PMC7734565 DOI: 10.1177/2516865720977888] [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: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, influence gene expression and cardiometabolic phenotypes that are manifest in developmental periods in later life, including adolescence. Untargeted metabolomics analysis provide a comprehensive snapshot of physiological processes and metabolism and have been related to DNA methylation in adults, offering insights into the regulatory networks that influence cellular processes. We analyzed the cross-sectional correlation of blood leukocyte DNA methylation with 3758 serum metabolite features (574 of which are identifiable) in 238 children (ages 8-14 years) from the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) study. Associations between these features and percent DNA methylation in adolescent blood leukocytes at LINE-1 repetitive elements and genes that regulate early life growth (IGF2, H19, HSD11B2) were assessed by mixed effects models, adjusting for sex, age, and puberty status. After false discovery rate correction (FDR q < 0.05), 76 metabolites were significantly associated with LINE-1 DNA methylation, 27 with HSD11B2, 103 with H19, and 4 with IGF2. The ten identifiable metabolites included dicarboxylic fatty acids (five associated with LINE-1 or H19 methylation at q < 0.05) and 1-octadecanoyl-rac-glycerol (q < 0.0001 for association with H19 and q = 0.04 for association with LINE-1). We then assessed the association between these ten known metabolites and adiposity 3 years later. Two metabolites, dicarboxylic fatty acid 17:3 and 5-oxo-7-octenoic acid, were inversely associated with measures of adiposity (P < .05) assessed approximately 3 years later in adolescence. In stratified analyses, sex-specific and puberty-stage specific (Tanner stage = 2 to 5 vs Tanner stage = 1) associations were observed. Most notably, hundreds of statistically significant associations were observed between H19 and LINE-1 DNA methylation and metabolites among children who had initiated puberty. Understanding relationships between subclinical molecular biomarkers (DNA methylation and metabolites) may increase our understanding of genes and biological pathways contributing to metabolic changes that underlie the development of adiposity during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Deptartment of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily C Hector
- Deptartment of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Deptartment of Statistics, North Carolina State University, USA
| | - Lu Tang
- Deptartment of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Jennifer L LaBarre
- Deptartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dana C Dolinoy
- Deptartment of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Deptartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adriana Mercado-Garcia
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Alejandra Cantoral
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Peter Xk Song
- Deptartment of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Karen E Peterson
- Deptartment of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Deptartment of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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35
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Wang Y, Habibullah-Al-Mamun M, Han J, Wang L, Zhu Y, Xu X, Li N, Qiu G. Total mercury and methylmercury in rice: Exposure and health implications in Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:114991. [PMID: 32574891 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Rice methylmercury (MeHg) contamination has attracted global attention, especially in countries where rice is considered a staple food. The daily rice intake rate in Bangladesh ranks first in the world; however, no attention has been paid to rice MeHg contamination in Bangladesh. Total Hg (THg) and MeHg concentrations of commercial rice (n = 172) from Bangladesh were first analyzed to accurately evaluate both rice MeHg and inorganic Hg (IHg) exposure in different age-gender groups of Bangladeshis. The corresponding adverse health impacts and associated economic loss were also assessed. The results showed that THg concentration in all samples ranged from 0.42 to 14.4 ng/g, with an average of 2.48 ± 1.41 ng/g, while the MeHg concentration ranged from 0.026 to 7.47 ng/g, with an average of 0.83 ± 0.60 ng/g. The highest average MeHg and IHg were both recorded in rice from Chittagong. The highest mean MeHg and IHg exposures were observed in 2-5 years-old group and were 16.2% of the reference dose (RfD) of 0.1 μg/kg/day for MeHg and 7.09% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 0.571 μg/kg/day for IHg. Surprisingly, MeHg exposure of the 2-5 year-old children could be up to 93.7% of the RfD at a high percentile (P99.9). The total intelligence quotient reduction caused by rice MeHg exposure could be 54700 points, and the associated economic loss is approximately 42.5 million USD. To avoid high rice MeHg exposure, it was suggested that diet structure be improved. More attention should be paid to residents with long-term rice MeHg exposure, especially children in the 2-5 year-old group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Wang
- College of Food Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Md Habibullah-Al-Mamun
- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Jialiang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Le Wang
- Guizhou Province Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Areas and Protection of Ecological Environment, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China; Plateau Wetland Ecology and Environment Research Center, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550001, China
| | - Yaru Zhu
- College of Resource & Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Xiaohang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Ning Li
- National Grid Ningxia Electric Power Co., Ltd, Yinchuan Institute of Economy and Technology, Yinchuan, 750002, China
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
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36
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Chatterjee N, Jeong J, Park MS, Ha M, Cheong HK, Choi J. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between global DNA (hydroxy) methylation and exposure biomarkers of the Hebei Spirit oil spill cohort in Taean, Korea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 263:114607. [PMID: 33618490 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Hebei Spirit oil spill (HSOS) occurred on the west coast of South Korea (Taean county) on December 7, 2007, and studies revealed that exposure to the oil spill was associated with various adverse health issues in the inhabiting population. However, no studies evaluated the association between crude-oil exposure and epigenetic changes. This study aimed to investigate the HSOS exposure-associated longitudinal and cross-sectional variations in global DNA methylation (5-mc) and/or hydroxymethylation (5-hmc) and expression profiles of related genes in Taean cohort participants from 2009 (AH-baseline) and 2014 (AH-follow-up) relative to the reference group (AL). We measured global DNA 5-mc and 5-hmc levels and related gene expression levels in whole blood. We identified significant associations between HSOS exposure and AH-baseline-5-mc, AH-baseline-5-hmc, and AH-follow-up-5-hmc. HSOS exposure was associated with lower %5-mc content and higher %5-hmc content in the same individuals from both the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. In addition, we found a strong correlation between 5-mc and DNMT3B expression, and between 5-hmc and TET1 expression. Our findings suggested that epigenetic changes are important biomarkers for HSOS exposure and that 5-hmc is likely to be more sensitive for environmental epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivedita Chatterjee
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02504, South Korea
| | - Jaeseong Jeong
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02504, South Korea
| | - Myung-Sook Park
- Taean Environmental Health Center, Taean, Chungnam, 32148, South Korea
| | - Mina Ha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Chungnam, 31116, South Korea
| | - Hae-Kwan Cheong
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, South Korea
| | - Jinhee Choi
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02504, South Korea.
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A prospective cohort study of in utero and early childhood arsenic exposure and infectious disease in 4- to 5-year-old Bangladeshi children. Environ Epidemiol 2020; 4:e086. [PMID: 32656486 PMCID: PMC7319226 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research found that infants who were exposed to high levels of arsenic in utero had an increased risk of infectious disease in the first year of life. This prospective study examined the association between arsenic exposures during gestation, and respiratory, diarrheal, and febrile morbidity in children 4–5 years of age.
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38
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Association between mercury in cord serum and sex-specific DNA methylation in cord tissues. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:124-131. [PMID: 32241331 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420000161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to mercury in utero causes abnormal foetal growth and adverse outcomes. DNA methylation is currently considered a possible mechanism through which this occurs. However, few studies have investigated the association between prenatal exposure to mercury and DNA methylation in detail. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between prenatal exposure to total mercury (Hg) and DNA methylation and its associations with sex-specific characteristics in male and female offspring. In a birth cohort study known as the Chiba study of Mother and Child Health, the DNA methylation status in cord tissue and Hg concentrations in cord serum were examined. A total of 67 participants (27 males and 40 females) were analysed based on Spearman's correlations, adjusted by a false discovery rate of the sex of each offspring. Only one methylated locus was positively correlated with Hg concentrations in cord serum in male offspring, but not in female offspring, and was annotated to the haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolase domain-containing protein 1 (HDHD1) gene on chromosome X. This locus was located in the intron of the HDHD1 gene body and is a binding site for the zinc finger protein CCCTC-binding factor. One of the other loci, located in HDHD1, was highly methylated in the group with higher mercury concentrations, and this locus was in the gene body of HDHD1. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to Hg might affect the epigenetic status of male foetuses.
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DiGiovanni A, Demanelis K, Tong L, Argos M, Shinkle J, Jasmine F, Sabarinathan M, Rakibuz-Zaman M, Sarwar G, Islam MT, Shahriar H, Islam T, Rahman M, Yunus M, Graziano J, Gamble MV, Ahsan H, Pierce BL. Assessing the impact of arsenic metabolism efficiency on DNA methylation using Mendelian randomization. Environ Epidemiol 2020; 4:e083. [PMID: 32337471 PMCID: PMC7147391 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arsenic exposure affects >100 million people globally and increases risk for chronic diseases. One possible toxicity mechanism is epigenetic modification. Previous epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have identified associations between arsenic exposure and CpG-specific DNA methylation. To provide additional evidence that observed associations represent causal relationships, we examine the association between genetic determinants of arsenic metabolism efficiency (percent dimethylarsinic acid, DMA%, in urine) and DNA methylation among individuals from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (n = 379) and Bangladesh Vitamin E and Selenium Trial (n = 393). METHODS We used multivariate linear models to assess the association of methylation at 221 arsenic-associated CpGs with DMA% and measures of genetically predicted DMA% derived from three SNPs (rs9527, rs11191527, and rs61735836). We also conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses to estimate the association between arsenic metabolism efficiency and CpG methylation. RESULTS Among the associations between DMA% and methylation at each of 221 CpGs, 64% were directionally consistent with associations observed between arsenic exposure and the 221 CpGs from a prior EWAS. Similarly, among the associations between genetically predicted DMA% and each CpG, 62% were directionally consistent with the prior EWAS results. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses produced similar conclusions. CONCLUSION Our findings support the hypothesis that arsenic exposure effects DNA methylation at specific CpGs in whole blood. Our novel approach for assessing the impact of arsenic exposure on DNA methylation requires larger samples in order to draw more robust conclusions for specific CpG sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony DiGiovanni
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kathryn Demanelis
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lin Tong
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Maria Argos
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Justin Shinkle
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Farzana Jasmine
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mekala Sabarinathan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Golam Sarwar
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Hasan Shahriar
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tariqul Islam
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahfuzar Rahman
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Yunus
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Joseph Graziano
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York
| | - Mary V Gamble
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York
| | - Habibul Ahsan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Human Genetics
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Brandon L Pierce
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Human Genetics
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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40
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Perera BP, Faulk C, Svoboda LK, Goodrich JM, Dolinoy DC. The role of environmental exposures and the epigenome in health and disease. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2020; 61:176-192. [PMID: 31177562 PMCID: PMC7252203 DOI: 10.1002/em.22311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The genetic material of every organism exists within the context of regulatory networks that govern gene expression, collectively called the epigenome. Epigenetics has taken center stage in the study of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, but its integration into the field of environmental health is still emerging. As the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, we have come together to review and summarize the seminal advances in the field of environmental epigenomics. Specifically, we focus on the role epigenetics may play in multigenerational and transgenerational transmission of environmentally induced health effects. We also summarize state of the art techniques for evaluating the epigenome, environmental epigenetic analysis, and the emerging field of epigenome editing. Finally, we evaluate transposon epigenetics as they relate to environmental exposures and explore the role of noncoding RNA as biomarkers of environmental exposures. Although the field has advanced over the past several decades, including being recognized by EMGS with its own Special Interest Group, recently renamed Epigenomics, we are excited about the opportunities for environmental epigenetic science in the next 50 years. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:176-192, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bambarendage P.U. Perera
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Christopher Faulk
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota
| | - Laurie K. Svoboda
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Dana C. Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Correspondence to: Dana C. Dolinoy, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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41
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Jiang Y, Wei J, Zhang H, Ewart S, Rezwan FI, Holloway JW, Arshad H, Karmaus W. Epigenome wide comparison of DNA methylation profile between paired umbilical cord blood and neonatal blood on Guthrie cards. Epigenetics 2019; 15:454-461. [PMID: 31818188 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1699983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) in blood (umbilical cord blood and capillary blood collected after birth on Guthrie cards) during the perinatal period is being increasingly studied with the aim of identifying epigenetic markers of in utero environmental exposures or later disease development. However, the comparability in DNAm between these two sources is unknown. To this end, DNAm from the cord blood and capillary blood of 34 subjects in the Isle of Wight 3rd Generation Birth Cohort (68 samples) were included to assess the comparability. Differences in average DNAm (overall agreement), correlations in DNAm, and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) in DNAm between the two sources, at each of the 430,742 CpG sites, were evaluated. The results showed that a high proportion (70.1%) of the CpGs DNAm agreed between cord blood and neonatal blood on Guthrie cards. A small portion of CpGs showed high correlation (correlation ≥0.5) or high ICC (ICC ≥0.5) in DNAm of the whole genome. This proportion increased dramatically in differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that are associated with exposure to maternal smoking, between the two sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jiang
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jinfeng Wei
- College of Arts and Sciences, Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Susan Ewart
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Faisal I Rezwan
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - John W Holloway
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Hasan Arshad
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Isle of Wight, UK
| | - Wilfried Karmaus
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
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DNA methylation at LRP1 gene locus mediates the association between maternal total cholesterol changes in pregnancy and cord blood leptin levels. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2019; 11:369-378. [PMID: 31753053 DOI: 10.1017/s204017441900076x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Placental lipids transfer is essential for optimal fetal development, and alterations of these mechanisms could lead to a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), and scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1) genes are encoding lipoprotein receptors expressed in the placenta where they participate in cholesterol exchange from maternal to fetal circulation. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the association between maternal lipid changes occurring in pregnancy, placental DNA methylation (DNAm) variations at LDLR, LRP1, and SCARB1 gene loci, and newborn's anthropometric profile at birth. Sixty-nine normoglycemic women were followed from the first trimester of pregnancy until delivery. Placental DNAm was quantified at 43 Cytosine-phosphate-Guanines (CpGs) at LDLR, LRP1, and SCARB1 gene loci using pyrosequencing: 4 CpGs were retained for further analysis. Maternal clinical data were collected at each trimester of pregnancy. Newborns' data were collected from medical records. Statistical models included minimally newborn sex and gestational and maternal age. Maternal total cholesterol changes during pregnancy (ΔT3-T1) were correlated with DNAm variations at LDLR (r = -0.32, p = 0.01) and LRP1 (r = 0.34, p = 0.007). DNAm at these loci was also correlated with newborns' cord blood triglyceride and leptin levels. Mediation analysis supports a causal relationship between maternal cholesterol changes, DNAm levels at LRP1 locus, and cord blood leptin concentration (pmediation = 0.02). These results suggest that LRP1 DNAm link maternal blood cholesterol changes in pregnancy and offspring adiposity at birth, which provide support for a better follow-up of blood lipids in pregnancy.
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Methylmercury Epigenetics. TOXICS 2019; 7:toxics7040056. [PMID: 31717489 PMCID: PMC6958348 DOI: 10.3390/toxics7040056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) has conventionally been investigated for effects on nervous system development. As such, epigenetic modifications have become an attractive mechanistic target, and research on MeHg and epigenetics has rapidly expanded in the past decade. Although, these inquiries are a recent advance in the field, much has been learned in regards to MeHg-induced epigenetic modifications, particularly in the brain. In vitro and in vivo controlled exposure studies illustrate that MeHg effects microRNA (miRNA) expression, histone modifications, and DNA methylation both globally and at individual genes. Moreover, some effects are transgenerationally inherited, as organisms not directly exposed to MeHg exhibited biological and behavioral alterations. miRNA expression generally appears to be downregulated consequent to exposure. Further, global histone acetylation also seems to be reduced, persist at distinct gene promoters, and is contemporaneous with enhanced histone methylation. Moreover, global DNA methylation appears to decrease in brain-derived tissues, but not in the liver; however, selected individual genes in the brain are hypermethylated. Human epidemiological studies have also identified hypo- or hypermethylated individual genes, which correlated with MeHg exposure in distinct populations. Intriguingly, several observed epigenetic modifications can be correlated with known mechanisms of MeHg toxicity. Despite this knowledge, however, the functional consequences of these modifications are not entirely evident. Additional research will be necessary to fully comprehend MeHg-induced epigenetic modifications and the impact on the toxic response.
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Mordaunt CE, Park BY, Bakulski KM, Feinberg JI, Croen LA, Ladd-Acosta C, Newschaffer CJ, Volk HE, Ozonoff S, Hertz-Picciotto I, LaSalle JM, Schmidt RJ, Fallin MD. A meta-analysis of two high-risk prospective cohort studies reveals autism-specific transcriptional changes to chromatin, autoimmune, and environmental response genes in umbilical cord blood. Mol Autism 2019; 10:36. [PMID: 31673306 PMCID: PMC6814108 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0287-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects more than 1% of children in the USA. ASD risk is thought to arise from both genetic and environmental factors, with the perinatal period as a critical window. Understanding early transcriptional changes in ASD would assist in clarifying disease pathogenesis and identifying biomarkers. However, little is known about umbilical cord blood gene expression profiles in babies later diagnosed with ASD compared to non-typically developing and non-ASD (Non-TD) or typically developing (TD) children. Methods Genome-wide transcript levels were measured by Affymetrix Human Gene 2.0 array in RNA from cord blood samples from both the Markers of Autism Risk in Babies-Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) and the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) high-risk pregnancy cohorts that enroll younger siblings of a child previously diagnosed with ASD. Younger siblings were diagnosed based on assessments at 36 months, and 59 ASD, 92 Non-TD, and 120 TD subjects were included. Using both differential expression analysis and weighted gene correlation network analysis, gene expression between ASD and TD, and between Non-TD and TD, was compared within each study and via meta-analysis. Results While cord blood gene expression differences comparing either ASD or Non-TD to TD did not reach genome-wide significance, 172 genes were nominally differentially expressed between ASD and TD cord blood (log2(fold change) > 0.1, p < 0.01). These genes were significantly enriched for functions in xenobiotic metabolism, chromatin regulation, and systemic lupus erythematosus (FDR q < 0.05). In contrast, 66 genes were nominally differentially expressed between Non-TD and TD, including 8 genes that were also differentially expressed in ASD. Gene coexpression modules were significantly correlated with demographic factors and cell type proportions. Limitations ASD-associated gene expression differences identified in this study are subtle, as cord blood is not the main affected tissue, it is composed of many cell types, and ASD is a heterogeneous disorder. Conclusions This is the first study to identify gene expression differences in cord blood specific to ASD through a meta-analysis across two prospective pregnancy cohorts. The enriched gene pathways support involvement of environmental, immune, and epigenetic mechanisms in ASD etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Mordaunt
- 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Bo Y Park
- 2Department of Public Health, California State University, Fullerton, CA USA
| | - Kelly M Bakulski
- 3Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Jason I Feinberg
- 4Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Lisa A Croen
- 5Division of Research and Autism Research Program, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA USA
| | | | - Craig J Newschaffer
- 6Department of Biobehavioral Health, College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
| | - Heather E Volk
- 4Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Sally Ozonoff
- 7Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- 8Department of Public Health Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- 8Department of Public Health Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - M Daniele Fallin
- 4Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
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45
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Bjørklund G, Chirumbolo S, Dadar M, Pivina L, Lindh U, Butnariu M, Aaseth J. Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2019; 125:317-327. [PMID: 31136080 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), a highly toxic environmental pollutant, shows harmfulness which still represents a big concern for human health, including hazards to fertility and pregnancy outcome. Research has shown that Hg could induce impairments in the reproductive function, cellular deformation of the Leydig cells and the seminiferous tubules, and testicular degeneration as well as abnormal menstrual cycles. Some studies investigated spontaneous abortion and complicated fertility outcome due to occupational Hg exposure. Moreover, there is a relation between inhaled Hg vapour and reproductive outcome. This MiniReview evaluates the hypothesis that exposure to Hg may increase the risk of reduced fertility, spontaneous abortion and congenital deficits or abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway
| | - Salvatore Chirumbolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,CONEM Scientific Secretary, Verona, Italy
| | - Maryam Dadar
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Lyudmila Pivina
- Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan.,CONEM Kazakhstan Environmental Health and Safety Research Group, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Ulf Lindh
- Biology Education Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Monica Butnariu
- Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.,CONEM Romania Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences Group, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Jan Aaseth
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway.,Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
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46
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Curtis SW, Cobb DO, Kilaru V, Terrell ML, Marder ME, Barr DB, Marsit CJ, Marcus M, Conneely KN, Smith AK. Exposure to polybrominated biphenyl and stochastic epigenetic mutations: application of a novel epigenetic approach to environmental exposure in the Michigan polybrominated biphenyl registry. Epigenetics 2019; 14:1003-1018. [PMID: 31200609 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1629232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting compounds are associated with altered epigenetic regulation and adverse health outcomes, although inconsistent results suggest that people have varied responses to the same exposure. Interpersonal variation in response to environmental exposures is not identified using standard, population-based methods. However, methods that capture an individual's response, such as analyzing stochastic epigenetic mutations (SEMs), may capture currently missed effects of environmental exposure. To test whether polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) was associated with SEMs, DNA methylation was measured using Illumina's MethylationEPIC array in PBB-exposed individuals, and SEMs were identified. Association was tested using a linear regression with robust sandwich variance estimators, controlling for age, sex, lipids, and cell types. The number of SEMs was variable (range: 119-18,309), and positively associated with age (p = 1.23e-17), but not with sex (p = 0.97). PBBs and SEMs were only positively associated in people who were older when they were exposed (p = 0.02 vs. p = 0.91). Many subjects had SEMs enriched in biological pathways, particularly in pathways involved with xenobiotic metabolism and endocrine function. Higher number of SEMs was also associated with higher age acceleration (intrinsic: p = 1.70e-3; extrinsic: p = 3.59e-11), indicating that SEMs may be associated with age-related health problems. Finding an association between environmental contaminants and higher SEMs may provide insight into individual differences in response to environmental contaminants, as well as into the biological mechanism behind SEM formation. Furthermore, these results suggest that people may be particularly vulnerable to epigenetic dysregulation from environmental exposures as they age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah W Curtis
- a Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Dawayland O Cobb
- b Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Varun Kilaru
- b Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Metrecia L Terrell
- c Department of Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - M Elizabeth Marder
- d Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Dana Boyd Barr
- d Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- d Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Michele Marcus
- e Departments of Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, and Department of Pediatrics Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Karen N Conneely
- f Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- g Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics & Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta , GA , USA
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47
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Everson TM, Marsit CJ. Integrating -Omics Approaches into Human Population-Based Studies of Prenatal and Early-Life Exposures. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 5:328-337. [PMID: 30054820 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-018-0204-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We present the study design and methodological suggestions for population-based studies that integrate molecular -omics data and highlight recent studies that have used such data to examine the potential impacts of prenatal environmental exposures on fetal health. RECENT FINDINGS Epidemiologic studies have observed numerous relationships between prenatal exposures (smoking, toxic metals, endocrine disruptors) and fetal and early-life molecular profiles, though such investigations have so far been dominated by epigenomic association studies. However, recent transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies have demonstrated their promise for the identification of exposure and response biomarkers. Molecular -omics have opened new avenues of research in environmental health that can improve our understanding of disease etiology and contribute to the development of exposure and response biomarkers. Studies that incorporate multiple -omics data from different molecular domains in longitudinally collected samples hold particular promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd M Everson
- Departments of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Claudia Nance Rollins Room 2021, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Carmen J Marsit
- Departments of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Claudia Nance Rollins Room 2021, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. .,Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Claudia Nance Rollins Room 2021, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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48
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Li S, Chen M, Li Y, Tollefsbol TO. Prenatal epigenetics diets play protective roles against environmental pollution. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:82. [PMID: 31097039 PMCID: PMC6524340 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0659-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is thought that germ cells and preimplantation embryos during development are most susceptible to endogenous and exogenous environmental factors because the epigenome in those cells is undergoing dramatic elimination and reconstruction. Exposure to environmental factors such as nutrition, climate, stress, pathogens, toxins, and even social behavior during gametogenesis and early embryogenesis has been shown to influence disease susceptibility in the offspring. Early-life epigenetic modifications, which determine the expression of genetic information stored in the genome, are viewed as one of the general mechanisms linking prenatal exposure and phenotypic changes later in life. From atmospheric pollution, endocrine-disrupting chemicals to heavy metals, research increasingly suggests that environmental pollutions have already produced significant consequences on human health. Moreover, mounting evidence now links such pollution to relevant modification in the epigenome. The epigenetics diet, referring to a class of bioactive dietary compounds such as isothiocyanates in broccoli, genistein in soybean, resveratrol in grape, epigallocatechin-3-gallate in green tea, and ascorbic acid in fruits, has been shown to modify the epigenome leading to beneficial health outcomes. This review will primarily focus on the causes and consequences of prenatal environment pollution exposure on the epigenome, and the potential protective role of the epigenetics diet, which could play a central role in neutralizing epigenomic aberrations against environmental pollutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhao Li
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Trygve O Tollefsbol
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
- Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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49
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Demanelis K, Argos M, Tong L, Shinkle J, Sabarinathan M, Rakibuz-Zaman M, Sarwar G, Shahriar H, Islam T, Rahman M, Yunus M, Graziano JH, Broberg K, Engström K, Jasmine F, Ahsan H, Pierce BL. Association of Arsenic Exposure with Whole Blood DNA Methylation: An Epigenome-Wide Study of Bangladeshi Adults. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2019; 127:57011. [PMID: 31135185 PMCID: PMC6791539 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arsenic exposure affects [Formula: see text] people worldwide, including [Formula: see text] in Bangladesh. Arsenic exposure increases the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases, and one potential mechanism of arsenic toxicity is epigenetic dysregulation. OBJECTIVE We assessed associations between arsenic exposure and genome-wide DNA methylation measured at baseline among 396 Bangladeshi adults participating in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) who were exposed by drinking naturally contaminated well water. METHODS Methylation in whole blood DNA was measured at [Formula: see text] using the Illumina InfiniumMethylationEPIC (EPIC) array. To assess associations between arsenic exposure and CpG methylation, we used linear regression models adjusted for covariates and surrogate variables (SVs) (capturing unknown technical and biologic factors). We attempted replication and conducted a meta-analysis using an independent dataset of [Formula: see text] from 400 Bangladeshi individuals with arsenical skin lesions. RESULTS We identified 34 CpGs associated with [Formula: see text] creatinine-adjusted urinary arsenic [[Formula: see text]]. Sixteen of these CpGs annotated to the [Formula: see text] array, and 10 associations were replicated ([Formula: see text]). The top two CpGs annotated upstream of the ABR gene (cg01912040, cg10003262 ). All urinary arsenic-associated CpGs were also associated with arsenic concentration measured in drinking water ([Formula: see text]). Meta-analysis ([Formula: see text] samples) identified 221 urinary arsenic-associated CpGs ([Formula: see text]). The arsenic-associated CpGs from the meta-analysis were enriched in non-CpG islands and shores ([Formula: see text]) and depleted in promoter regions ([Formula: see text]). Among the arsenic-associated CpGs ([Formula: see text]), we observed significant enrichment of genes annotating to the reactive oxygen species pathway, inflammatory response, and tumor necrosis factor [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) signaling via nuclear factor kappa-B ([Formula: see text]) hallmarks ([Formula: see text]). CONCLUSIONS The novel and replicable associations between arsenic exposure and DNA methylation at specific CpGs observed in this work suggest that epigenetic alterations should be further investigated as potential mediators in arsenic toxicity and as biomarkers of exposure and effect in exposed populations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3849.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Demanelis
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Maria Argos
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lin Tong
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Justin Shinkle
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mekala Sabarinathan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Golam Sarwar
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Hasan Shahriar
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tariqul Islam
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahfuzar Rahman
- UChicago Research Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Yunus
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Joseph H. Graziano
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Karin Broberg
- Unit of Metals and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Engström
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Farzana Jasmine
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Habibul Ahsan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Brandon L. Pierce
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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50
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Emeny RT, Korrick SA, Li Z, Nadeau K, Madan J, Jackson B, Baker E, Karagas MR. Prenatal exposure to mercury in relation to infant infections and respiratory symptoms in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 171:523-529. [PMID: 30743244 PMCID: PMC6561090 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mechanistic studies support the potential for mercury (Hg) to alter immunity, including via in utero exposure. As yet, there are few prospective studies of in utero Hg exposure and subsequent immune-related outcomes, especially in infancy. OBJECTIVES We investigated the association of biomarkers of prenatal Hg exposure and maternal silver-mercury dental amalgams with the occurrence of infant allergy, respiratory infection, and respiratory symptoms in the first year of life. METHODS The New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) ascertained information on infant allergies, infections and symptoms through telephone interviews at 4, 8 and 12 months postpartum and measured total Hg in maternal toenails collected at ~28-30 weeks gestation. Information on maternal fish consumption and presence of dental amalgams was obtained from a questionnaire administered at study enrollment at 24-28 weeks. A total of 1321 NHBCS mother-infant pairs had at least one Hg exposure measure (toenail Hg or information on dental amalgams) and information on dietary fish intake. Generalized linear models and generalized estimating equation models with Poisson regression adjusted for potential confounders (maternal age, level of education, parity, smoking, alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, infant sex, gestational age, feeding mode, and day care attendance) were used to assess the association between infant outcomes and prenatal toenail Hg levels. We subsetted this analysis on mothers who consumed fish (n = 706) as a measure of in utero methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Associations between infant outcomes and dental amalgams as a measure of in utero inorganic Hg exposure were assessed among mothers who did not consume fish (n = 218). RESULTS Among women who ate fish during pregnancy, higher maternal toenail Hg concentrations were associated with an increased risk of lower respiratory infections and respiratory symptoms requiring a doctor visit among infants age 9-12 months (relative risk (RR) 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1, 1.9) and 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0, 1.4) respectively), whereas a reduced risk of lower respiratory infections was observed among infants 0-4 months of age (RR = 0.7 (95% CI: 0.5, 1.0). We found little to no evidence of associations of toenail Hg with upper respiratory infections, allergy or eczema at any age to one year. Among infants of mothers who did not consume fish, we found an elevated risk of upper respiratory infections requiring a doctor visit in relation to having dental amalgams during pregnancy (RR = 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1, 2.1)). Overall, weaker associations were observed with lower respiratory infections, respiratory symptoms, and medically confirmed allergies, and there was no association with eczema. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses of a US birth cohort, along with prior mechanistic work, raise the possibility that gestational Hg exposure through fish/seafood consumption and dental amalgams may alter respiratory infections and respiratory symptoms in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca T Emeny
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Susan A Korrick
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhigang Li
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions & College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kari Nadeau
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Stanford Medical School and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Juliette Madan
- Division of Neonatology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Brian Jackson
- Trace Element Analysis Lab, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emily Baker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
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