1
|
Switching from tobacco cigarettes in very early pregnancy: The effects of in utero e-cigarette exposure on mouse offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour. Physiol Behav 2023; 263:114118. [PMID: 36796533 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are often perceived to be safer than smoking, which has led to some women switching to e-cigarettes during pregnancy. However, the effects of switching from smoking to e-cigarettes on both pregnancy outcomes and the foetus are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of switching from tobacco smoking to e-cigarette use in very early pregnancy on birth outcomes, neurodevelopment and behaviour of the offspring. METHODS Female BALB/c mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for up to two weeks before being mated. Mated dams were then allocated to one of four treatment groups: (i) continued exposure to cigarette smoke (ii) exposure to e-cigarette aerosol with nicotine, (iii) or without nicotine, or (iv) medical air. Pregnant mice were exposed for 2 h per day for the duration of pregnancy. Gestational outcomes including litter size and sex ratio were assessed, in addition to early-life markers of physical- and neuro- development. At 8 weeks of age, motor coordination, anxiety, locomotion, memory and learning of the adult offspring were assessed. RESULTS Gestational outcomes and early markers of physical- and neuro- development were unaffected by in utero exposure, as well as locomotion, anxiety-like behaviour, and object recognition memory during adulthood. However, both e-cigarette groups displayed increased spatial recognition memory compared to air exposed controls. Maternal exposure to nicotine containing e-cigarette aerosol was found to increase offspring bodyweight and impair motor skill learning. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest there may be some benefits as well as negative effects of switching to e-cigarettes in early pregnancy.
Collapse
|
2
|
Holme JA, Valen H, Brinchmann BC, Vist GE, Grimsrud TK, Becher R, Holme AM, Øvrevik J, Alexander J. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may explain the paradoxical effects of cigarette use on preeclampsia (PE). Toxicology 2022; 473:153206. [PMID: 35550401 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking and use of snus (smokeless tobacco) are associated with adverse effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Nicotine is considered a key toxicant involved in effects caused by both smoking and snus, while pyrolysis products including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cigarette smoke represents the constituents most unequally divided between these two groups of tobacco products. The aim of this review was: i) to compare the impact, in terms of relative effect estimates, of cigarette smoking and use of Swedish snus on pregnancy outcomes using similar non-tobacco user controls, and ii) to examine whether exposure to PAHs from smoking could explain possible differences in impact on pregnancy outcomes. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up to October 2021 and identified studies reporting risks for adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes associated with snus use and with smoking relative to pregnant women with no use of tobacco. Both snus use and smoking were associated with increased risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, and oral cleft malformation, with comparable point estimates. These effects were likely due to comparable nicotine exposure. We also found striking differences. While both smoking and snus increased the risk of having small for gestational age (SGA) infants, risk from maternal smoking was markedly higher as was the reduction in birthweight. In contrast, the risk of preeclampsia (PE) was markedly lower in smokers than in controls, while snus use was associated with a slightly increased risk. We suggest that PAHs acting via AhR may explain the stronger effects of tobacco smoking on SGA and also to the apparent protective effect of cigarette smoking on PE. Possible mechanisms involved include: i) disrupted endocrine control of fetal development as well as placental development and function, and ii) stress adaption and immune suppression in placenta and mother.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jørn A Holme
- Division of Climate and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Håkon Valen
- Division of Climate and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Bendik C Brinchmann
- Division of Climate and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Gunn E Vist
- Division for Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Tom K Grimsrud
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Rune Becher
- Division of Climate and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ane M Holme
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Johan Øvrevik
- Division of Climate and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Jan Alexander
- Division of Climate and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Deng Y, Gao H, Wang H, Chen L. Snail/HDAC1/2 mediate skeletal growth retardation in fetuses caused by prenatal nicotine exposure. Toxicology 2021; 459:152847. [PMID: 34245815 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous findings have confirmed that prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) leads to retarded cartilage development in the fetal growth plate. It is characterized by insufficient matrix synthesis and decreased expression of matrix phenotype genes aggrecan (ACAN) and Col2A1 in the fetal growth plate chondrocytes; however, the specific molecular mechanism is yet unclear. This study intends to clarify the specific molecular mechanism of fetal osteochondral retardation caused by PNE through animal and cellular experiments. The present study demonstrated that in male offspring of the PNE group (the pregnant rats were subcutaneously administered nicotine 1.0 mg/kg twice per day (2.0 mg/kg.d) at GD11-20), the cartilage matrix of the fetal growth plate was lightly stained, the collagen was reduced, and expression of the matrix phenotype genes, ACAN and Col2A1, was significantly decreased. It was further found that PNE decreased histone acetylation (H3K9/H3K14) levels in the ACAN and Col2A1 promoter regions. Moreover, the expression of Snail and HDAC1/2 was increased in the PNE group. in vitro, the nicotine treatment at different concentrations elevated the expression of Snail/HDAC1/2 while decreasing the H3K9/H3K14 levels in the ACAN and Col2A1 promoter regions. Snail-siRNA transfection partially abolished the nicotine-induced increase in HDAC1/2 expression and decreased the histone acetylation levels in the ACAN and Col2A1 promoter regions. Trichostatin A (TSA) treatment partially reversed the nicotine-induced changes in downstream parameters. In summary, PNE-induced decreased cartilage matrix synthesis in the fetal growth plate of male offspring is effectuated by Snail/HDAC1/2-mediated decreased H3K9/H3K14 levels in the ACAN and Col2A1 promoter regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Deng
- Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Microsurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University of School Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Liaobin Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan 430071, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
El-Merhie N, Krüger A, Uliczka K, Papenmeier S, Roeder T, Rabe KF, Wagner C, Angstmann H, Krauss-Etschmann S. Sex dependent effect of maternal e-nicotine on F1 Drosophila development and airways. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4441. [PMID: 33627715 PMCID: PMC7904947 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81607-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
E-cigarettes are heavily advertised as healthier alternative to common tobacco cigarettes, leading more and more women to switch from regular cigarettes to ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery system) during pregnancy. While the noxious consequences of tobacco smoking during pregnancy on the offspring health are well-described, information on the long-term consequences due to maternal use of e-cigarettes do not exist so far. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how maternal e-nicotine influences offspring development from earliest life until adulthood. To this end, virgin female Drosophila melanogaster flies were exposed to nicotine vapor (8 µg nicotine) once per hour for a total of eight times. Following the last exposure, e-nicotine or sham exposed females were mated with non-exposed males. The F1-generation was then analyzed for viability, growth and airway structure. We demonstrate that maternal exposure to e-nicotine not only leads to reduced maternal fertility, but also negatively affects size and weight, as well as tracheal development of the F1-generation, lasting from embryonic stage until adulthood. These results not only underline the need for studies investigating the effects of maternal vaping on offspring health, but also propose our established model for analyzing molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways mediating these intergenerational changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia El-Merhie
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany
| | - Arne Krüger
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany
| | - Karin Uliczka
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany
- Invertebrate Models, Priority Area Asthma & Allergy, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Stephanie Papenmeier
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany
- Invertebrate Models, Priority Area Asthma & Allergy, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Zoology, Christian Albrechts University, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Kiel, Germany
| | - Klaus F Rabe
- Department of Pneumology, LungenClinic, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Grosshansdorf, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Christian Albrechts University, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Kiel, Germany
| | - Christina Wagner
- Invertebrate Models, Priority Area Asthma & Allergy, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Borstel, Germany
| | - Hanna Angstmann
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany
| | - Susanne Krauss-Etschmann
- Division of Experimental Asthma Research, Early Life Origins of Chronic Lung Disease, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany.
- Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian Albrechts University, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and the Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Kiel, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang X, Lee NL, Burstyn I. Smoking and use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) in relation to preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age in a 2016 U.S. national sample. Prev Med 2020; 134:106041. [PMID: 32105682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Women who smoke may be motivated to switch to vaping (use electronic cigarettes, e-cigs) around pregnancy in seeking to alleviate known hazards of smoking. E-cigs typically contain nicotine but either eliminates or greatly reduces exposure to the combustion products of tobacco. We studied a U.S.-wide representative sample of 31,973 live singleton births in 2016. In the three months before pregnancy, 5029 (14%) mothers exclusively smoked tobacco ("sole smokers") and 976 (3%) used both tobacco and e-cigs ("dual-users"). Among pre-pregnancy sole smokers, 44% continued to only smoke while 1% became dual-users in late pregnancy. Logistic regression models were used to assess the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for preterm and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) by reported smoking or vaping in late pregnancy. Compared to women who used neither product ("non-users"), late-pregnancy sole smokers had increased risks for preterm birth (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.0) and SGA (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-2.9), after adjusting for their pre-pregnancy smoking or vaping status and other confounders. The adjusted models also showed that late-pregnancy sole vapers had similar risk of preterm birth as non-users (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 0.5-2.7). Late-pregnancy dual-users also had similar risk of preterm birth as non-users (aOR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8-2.3). However, late-pregnancy sole vapers and dual-users had increased risk of SGA compared to non-users (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0-5.7 for sole vapers, and aOR 2.3 95% CI 1.3-4.1 for dual-users). These findings suggest that vapers during pregnancy had similar risk of preterm as non-users but still had elevated risk for restricted fetal growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- PolicyLab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Nora L Lee
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Igor Burstyn
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nicotine protects fetus against LPS-induced fetal growth restriction through ameliorating placental inflammation and vascular development in late pregnancy in rats. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20190386. [PMID: 31209145 PMCID: PMC6603276 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous work has shown that nicotine suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced placental inflammation by inhibiting cytokine release as well as infiltration of leukocytes into the placenta through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Nicotine also increased fetal survival and restored pup weight. In the present study, we aim to further investigate if fetal growth restriction (FGR) occurs with LPS treatment, and evaluate the protective effects of nicotine on fetuses in late gestation of rats. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into control group, nicotine group, LPS group and LPS + nicotine group. Rats were first pretreated with nicotine or vehicle by subcutaneous injection on gestation day (GD)14 and GD15, followed by LPS or vehicle intraperitoneal injection on GD16, and were killed on GD18. Loss of fetuses, number and weights of live fetuses and weights of placentas were recorded. Placentas were collected to evaluate placental pathology and determine inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. We found that LPS treatment increased levels of placental inflammatory cytokines and placental pathological damage, decreased levels of VEGF, reduced number of live fetuses and induced FGR. Pretreatment with nicotine reversed LPS-induced high levels of placental inflammatory cytokines, low levels of placental VEGF and placental pathological damage, then rescued the number and weights of live fetuses. These data demonstrated that activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway by nicotine protected fetus against LPS-induced FGR through ameliorating placental inflammation and vascular development in late pregnancy in rats. It may be an alternative therapeutic strategy for inflammation- induced FGR in late pregnancy.
Collapse
|
7
|
Hu H, Zhao X, Ma J, Shangguan Y, Pan Z, Chen L, Zhang X, Wang H. Prenatal nicotine exposure retards osteoclastogenesis and endochondral ossification in fetal long bones in rats. Toxicol Lett 2018; 295:249-255. [PMID: 29981921 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the retarded development of long bone in fetus by prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) which had been demonstrated by our previous work. Nicotine (2.0 mg/kg.d) or saline was injected subcutaneously into pregnant rats every morning from gestational day (GD) 9 to 20. Fetal femurs or tibias were harvested for analysis on GD 20. We found massive accumulation of hypertrophic chondrocytes and a delayed formation of primary ossification center (POC) in the fetal femur or tibia of rat fetus after PNE, which was accompanied by a decreased amount of osteoclasts in the POC and up-regulated expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) but by no obvious change in the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). In primary osteoblastic cells, both nicotine (0, 162, 1620, 16,200 ng/ml) and corticosterone (0, 50, 250, 1250 nM) promoted the mRNA expression of OPG but concentration-dependently suppressed that of RANKL. Furthermore, blocking α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α4β2-nAChR) or glucocorticoid receptor rescued the above effects of nicotine and corticosterone, respectively. In conclusion, retarded osteoclastogenesis may contribute to delayed endochondral ossification in long bone in fetal rats with PNE. The adverse effects of PNE may be mediated via the direct effect of nicotine and indirect effect of maternal corticosterone on osteoblastic cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hang Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Physiology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Physiology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yangfan Shangguan
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhengqi Pan
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Liaobin Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xianrong Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Cartilage Regenerative Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No.1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan 430071, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu HX, Liu S, Qu W, Yan HY, Wen X, Chen T, Hou LF, Ping J. α7 nAChR mediated Fas demethylation contributes to prenatal nicotine exposure-induced programmed thymocyte apoptosis in mice. Oncotarget 2017; 8:93741-93756. [PMID: 29212186 PMCID: PMC5706832 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) on thymocyte apoptosis and postnatal immune impairments in vivo and further explore the epigenetic mechanisms of the pro-apoptotic effect of nicotine in vitro. The results showed that PNE caused immune impairments in offspring on postnatal day 49, manifested as increased IL-4 production and an increased IgG1/IgG2a ratio in serum. Enhanced apoptosis of total and CD4+SP thymocytes was observed both in fetus and in offspring. Further, by exposing thymocytes to 0–100 μM of nicotine in vitro for 48 h, we found that nicotine increased α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expression, activated the Fas apoptotic pathway, and promoted thymocyte apoptosis in concentration-dependent manners. In addition, nicotine could induce Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase (TET) 2 expression and Fas promoter demethylation, which can be abolished by TET2 siRNA transfection. Moreover, the α7 nAChR specific antagonist α-bungarotoxin can abrogate nicotine-induced TET2 increase, and the following Fas demethylation and Fas-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, our findings showed, for the first time, that α7 nAChR activation could induce TET2-mediated Fas demethylation in thymocytes and results in the upregulation of Fas apoptotic pathway, which provide evidence for elucidating the PNE-induced programmed thymocyte apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han-Xiao Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Sha Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wen Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui-Yi Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiao Wen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Li-Fang Hou
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jie Ping
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Intrauterine growth retardation-associated syncytin b hypermethylation in maternal rat blood revealed by DNA methylation array analysis. Pediatr Res 2017; 82:704-711. [PMID: 28604758 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2017.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests that DNA methylation in maternal blood is a promising target for intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) screening, a common developmental toxicity. Here, we aimed to screen out IUGR-related DNA methylation status in maternal blood via high-throughput profiling.MethodsPregnant Wistar rats were subcutaneously administered nicotine (1 mg/kg) twice per day from gestational day (GD) 11 to GD20 to establish the IUGR model. MeDIP array assays and the following GO analysis were used to evaluate DNA methylation status in maternal blood. One placental development-associated gene was selected for further confirmation.ResultsGenes regulating the development of multiple organs and major body systems had changed DNA methylation frequencies in the maternal blood of IUGR rats. Placental development, which can affect the development of multiple fetal organs and induce IUGR, is a hypermethylated cluster consisting of four significantly changed genes, including syncytin b (Synb), Lrrc15, Met, and Tex19.1. With the most significant change, Synb hypermethylation in maternal blood was confirmed by bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP). Moreover, decreased Synb expression and histological changes were observed in IUGR placentae.ConclusionThe IUGR-associated DNA methylation profile in maternal blood, such as placenta-related Synb hypermethylation, provides evidence for further studies on possible IUGR biomarkers.
Collapse
|
10
|
Increased Fetal Thymocytes Apoptosis Contributes to Prenatal Nicotine Exposure-induced Th1/Th2 Imbalance in Male Offspring Mice. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39013. [PMID: 27976742 PMCID: PMC5157046 DOI: 10.1038/srep39013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine, a definite risk factor during pregnancy, is an immunomodulator. This study was designed to investigate the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) on the balance of Th1/Th2 in offspring, and further explore the developmental origin mechanisms from the perspective of fetal thymocytes apoptosis. Pregnant Balb/c mice were administered 1.5 mg/kg nicotine subcutaneously twice per day from gestational day (GD) 9 to GD18. Results showed that PNE could cause a Th2 shift in male offspring, manifested as increased ratio of IgG1/IgG2a, IL-4 production in serum, and IL-4/IFN-γ expression ratio in spleen. Increased apoptosis of total thymocytes and CD4SP and reduced cell proportion of CD4SP were found in PNE male offspring on postnatal day (PND) 14 and PND 49. In the fetuses, decreased body weight and organ index of fetal thymus, histological changes in fetal thymus, reduced CD4SP proportion and increased fetal thymocyte apoptosis were observed in nicotine group. The increased mRNA expression of genes involved in Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway and protein expression of Fas were also detected. In conclusion, PNE could cause a Th2 shift in male offspring mediated by reduced CD4+ T cells output, which may result from the increasing apoptosis of total thymocytes and CD4SP.
Collapse
|
11
|
Wong MK, Holloway AC, Hardy DB. Nicotine Directly Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Rat Placental Trophoblast Giant Cells. Toxicol Sci 2016; 151:23-34. [PMID: 26803847 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfw019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotine exposure during pregnancy leads to placental insufficiency impairing both fetal and neonatal development. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that in rats, nicotine augmented endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in association with placental insufficiency; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Therefore, we sought to investigate the possible direct effect of nicotine on ER stress in Rcho-1 rat placental trophoblast giant (TG) cells during differentiation. Protein and/or mRNA expression of markers involved in ER stress (eg, phosphorylated PERK, eIF2α, CHOP, and BiP/GRP78) and TG cell differentiation and function (eg, Pl-1, placental growth factor [Pgf], Hsd11b1, and Hsd11b2) were quantified via Western blot or real-time polymerase chain reaction. Nicotine treatment led to dose-dependent increases in the phosphorylation of PERK[Thr981] and eIF2α[Ser51], whereas pretreatment with a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist (mecamylamine hydrochloride) blocked the induction of PERK phosphorylation, verifying the direct involvement of nicotine and nAChR binding. We next investigated select target genes known to play essential roles in placental TG cell differentiation and function (Pl-1, Pgf, Hsd11b1, and Hsd11b2), and found that nicotine significantly augmented the mRNA levels of Hsd11b1 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, using tauroursodeoxycholic acid, a safe bile acid known to improve protein chaperoning and folding, we were able to prevent nicotine-induced increases in both PERK phosphorylation and Hsd11b1 mRNA levels, revealing a potential novel therapeutic approach to reverse the deleterious effects of nicotine exposure in pregnancy. Collectively, these results implicate that nicotine, acting through its receptor, can directly augment ER stress and impair placental function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Wong
- *Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1
| | - Alison C Holloway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Daniel B Hardy
- *Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1 Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson, Health Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wu DM, He Z, Chen T, Liu Y, Ma LP, Ping J. DNA hypermethylation of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase contributes to inhibited cholesterol supply and steroidogenesis in fetal rat adrenals under prenatal nicotine exposure. Toxicology 2016; 340:43-52. [PMID: 26776438 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal nicotine exposure is a risk factor for intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Steroid hormones synthesized from cholesterol in the fetal adrenal play an important role in the fetal development. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on steroidogenesis in fetal rat adrenals from the perspective of cholesterol supply and explore the underlying epigenetic mechanisms. Pregnant Wistar rats were administered 1.0mg/kg nicotine subcutaneously twice a day from gestational day (GD) 7 to GD17. The results showed that prenatal nicotine exposure increased IUGR rates. Histological changes, decreased steroid hormone concentrations and decreased cholesterol supply were observed in nicotine-treated fetal adrenals. In the gene expression array, the expression of genes regulating ketone metabolic process decreased in nicotine-treated fetal adrenals. The following conjoint analysis of DNA methylation array with these differentially expressed genes suggested that acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase (AACS), the enzyme utilizing ketones for cholesterol supply, may play an important role in nicotine-induced cholesterol supply deficiency. Moreover, the decreased expression of AACS and increased DNA methylation in the proximal promoter of AACS in the fetal adrenal was verified by real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP), respectively. In conclusion, prenatal nicotine exposure can cause DNA hypermethylation of the AACS promoter in the rat fetal adrenal. These changes may result in decreased AACS expression and cholesterol supply, which inhibits steroidogenesis in the fetal adrenal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Mei Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zheng He
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Liang-Peng Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jie Ping
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan 430071, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wong MK, Barra NG, Alfaidy N, Hardy DB, Holloway AC. Adverse effects of perinatal nicotine exposure on reproductive outcomes. Reproduction 2015; 150:R185-93. [PMID: 26432348 DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine exposure during pregnancy through cigarette smoking, nicotine replacement therapies or e-cigarette use continues to be a widespread public health problem, impacting both fetal and postnatal health. Yet, at this time, there remains limited data regarding the safety and efficacy in using these nicotine products during pregnancy. Notably, reports assessing the effect of nicotine exposure on postnatal health outcomes in humans, including reproductive health, are severely lacking. Our current understanding regarding the consequences of nicotine exposure during pregnancy is limited to a few animal studies, which do not comprehensively address the underlying cellular mechanisms involved. This paper aims to critically review the current knowledge from human and animal studies regarding the direct and indirect effects (e.g. obesity) of maternal nicotine exposure, regardless of its source, on reproductive outcomes in pregnancy and postnatal life. Furthermore, this review highlights several key cellular mechanisms involved in these adverse reproductive deficits including oxidative stress, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. By understanding the interplay of the cellular mechanisms involved, further strategies could be developed to prevent the reproductive abnormalities resulting from exposure to nicotine in utero and influence informed clinical guidelines for pregnant women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nadia Alfaidy
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology Physiology and Pharmacology, Children's Health Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada University of Grenoble-Alpes 38000; INSERM U 1036, Grenoble, France; iRTSV-Biology of Cancer and Infection, Grenoble, France Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology McMaster University, RM HSC-3N52, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | | | - Alison C Holloway
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology Physiology and Pharmacology, Children's Health Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada University of Grenoble-Alpes 38000; INSERM U 1036, Grenoble, France; iRTSV-Biology of Cancer and Infection, Grenoble, France Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology McMaster University, RM HSC-3N52, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Maternal nicotine exposure leads to impaired disulfide bond formation and augmented endoplasmic reticulum stress in the rat placenta. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122295. [PMID: 25811377 PMCID: PMC4374683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal nicotine exposure has been associated with many adverse fetal and placental outcomes. Although underlying mechanisms remain elusive, recent studies have identified that augmented endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is linked to placental insufficiency. Moreover, ER function depends on proper disulfide bond formation—a partially oxygen-dependent process mediated by protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and ER oxidoreductases. Given that nicotine compromised placental development in the rat, and placental insufficiency has been associated with poor disulfide bond formation and ER stress, we hypothesized that maternal nicotine exposure leads to both placental ER stress and impaired disulfide bond formation. To test this hypothesis, female Wistar rats received daily subcutaneous injections of either saline (vehicle) or nicotine bitartrate (1 mg/kg) for 14 days prior to mating and during pregnancy. Placentas were harvested on embryonic day 15 for analysis. Protein and mRNA expression of markers involved in ER stress (e.g., phosphorylated eIF2α, Grp78, Atf4, and CHOP), disulfide bond formation (e.g., PDI, QSOX1, VKORC1), hypoxia (Hif1α), and amino acid deprivation (GCN2) were quantified via Western blot and/or Real-time PCR. Maternal nicotine exposure led to increased expression of Grp78, phosphorylated eIF2α, Atf4, and CHOP (p<0.05) in the rat placenta, demonstrating the presence of augmented ER stress. Decreased expression of PDI and QSOX1 (p<0.05) reveal an impaired disulfide bond formation pathway, which may underlie nicotine-induced ER stress. Finally, elevated expression of Hif1α and GCN2 (p<0.05) indicate hypoxia and amino acid deprivation in nicotine-exposed placentas, respectively, which may also cause impaired disulfide bond formation and augmented ER stress. This study is the first to link maternal nicotine exposure with both placental ER stress and disulfide bond impairment in vivo, providing novel insight into the mechanisms underlying nicotine exposure during pregnancy on placental health.
Collapse
|
15
|
Holloway AC, Salomon A, Soares MJ, Garnier V, Raha S, Sergent F, Nicholson CJ, Feige JJ, Benharouga M, Alfaidy N. Characterization of the adverse effects of nicotine on placental development: in vivo and in vitro studies. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2014; 306:E443-56. [PMID: 24368670 PMCID: PMC4865199 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00478.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In utero exposure to nicotine is associated with increased risk of numerous adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes, which suggests that it acts directly to affect placental development and the establishment of the fetomaternal circulation (FC). This study used both in vivo [Wistar rats treated with 1 mg/kg nicotine from 2 wk prior to mating until gestational day (GD) 15] and in vitro (RCHO-1 cell line; treated with 10(-9) to 10(-3)M nicotine) models to examine the effects of nicotine on these pathways. At GD 15, control and treated placentas were examined for the impact of nicotine on 1) trophoblast invasion, proliferation, and degree of hypoxia, 2) labyrinth vascularization, 3) expression of key genes of placental development, and 4) expression of placental angiogenic factors. The RCHO-1 cell line was used to determine the direct effects of nicotine on trophoblast differentiation. Our in vivo experiments show that nicotine inhibits trophoblast interstitial invasion, increases placental hypoxia, downregulates labyrinth vascularization as well as key transcription factors Hand1 and GCM1, and decreases local and circulating EG-VEGF, a key placental angiogenic factor. The in vitro experiments confirmed the inhibitory effects of nicotine on the trophoblast migration, invasion, and differentiation processes and demonstrated that those effects are most likely due to a dysregulation in the expression of nicotine receptors and a decrease in MMP9 activity. Taken together, these data suggest that adverse effects of maternal smoking on pregnancy outcome are due in part to direct and endocrine effects of nicotine on the main processes of placental development and establishment of FC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. C. Holloway
- 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;
| | - A. Salomon
- 2Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Grenoble, France;
- 3Université Joseph Fourrier, Grenoble, France;
- 4Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France;
| | - M. J. Soares
- 7Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - V. Garnier
- 2Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Grenoble, France;
- 3Université Joseph Fourrier, Grenoble, France;
- 4Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France;
| | - S. Raha
- 6Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - F. Sergent
- 2Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Grenoble, France;
- 3Université Joseph Fourrier, Grenoble, France;
- 4Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France;
| | - C. J. Nicholson
- 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;
| | - J. J. Feige
- 2Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Grenoble, France;
- 3Université Joseph Fourrier, Grenoble, France;
- 4Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France;
| | - M. Benharouga
- 1Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Grenoble, France;
- 2Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Grenoble, France;
- 3Université Joseph Fourrier, Grenoble, France;
| | - N. Alfaidy
- 2Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Grenoble, France;
- 3Université Joseph Fourrier, Grenoble, France;
- 4Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Grenoble, France;
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Nicotine-induced retardation of chondrogenesis through down-regulation of IGF-1 signaling pathway to inhibit matrix synthesis of growth plate chondrocytes in fetal rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2013; 269:25-33. [PMID: 23454400 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2012] [Revised: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have confirmed that maternal tobacco smoking causes intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and skeletal growth retardation. Among a multitude of chemicals associated with cigarette smoking, nicotine is one of the leading candidates for causing low birth weights. However, the possible mechanism of delayed chondrogenesis by prenatal nicotine exposure remains unclear. We investigated the effects of nicotine on fetal growth plate chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro. Rats were given 2.0 mg/kg·d of nicotine subcutaneously from gestational days 11 to 20. Prenatal nicotine exposure increased the levels of fetal blood corticosterone and resulted in fetal skeletal growth retardation. Moreover, nicotine exposure induced the inhibition of matrix synthesis and down-regulation of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling in fetal growth plates. The effects of nicotine on growth plates were studied in vitro by exposing fetal growth plate chondrocytes to 0, 1, 10, or 100 μM of nicotine for 10 days. Nicotine inhibited matrix synthesis and down-regulated IGF-1 signaling in chondrocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that prenatal nicotine exposure induces delayed chondrogenesis and that the mechanism may involve the down-regulation of IGF-1 signaling and the inhibition of matrix synthesis by growth plate chondrocytes. The present study aids in the characterization of delayed chondrogenesis caused by prenatal nicotine exposure, which might suggest a candidate mechanism for intrauterine origins of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
Collapse
|
17
|
Nicotine-induced over-exposure to maternal glucocorticoid and activated glucocorticoid metabolism causes hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis-associated neuroendocrine metabolic alterations in fetal rats. Toxicol Lett 2012; 209:282-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2011] [Revised: 01/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
18
|
Gestational nicotine treatment modulates cell death/survival-related pathways in the brains of adolescent female rats. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2011; 14:91-106. [PMID: 20426880 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145710000416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestational exposure to nicotine affects brain development, leading to numerous behavioural and physiological deficits in the offspring during adolescence. To analyse the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, a pathway-focused oligonucleotide microarray was used to determine gene expression profiles in five brain regions (i.e. amygdala, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and caudate putamen CPu) of adolescent rats that received nicotine or saline during gestation. Following appropriate statistical and Gene Set Enrichment Analyses, 24 cell death/survival-related pathways were found to be significantly modulated by gestational nicotine. On the basis of their biological functions, these pathways can be classified into three categories: growth factor, death receptor, and kinase cascade. We employed a quantitative real-time PCR array to verify the findings by measuring the expression of 29 genes involved in cell death/survival-related pathways. Together, our findings indicate that gestational nicotine exposure has significant effects on gene expression in cell death/survival-related pathways in the brains of adolescent offspring. Such effects appear to be brain region-specific and are realized through regulation of the expression of growth factors and receptors, caspases, kinases, and transcription factors. On the basis of these findings, we offer a hypothetical model to explain how gestational nicotine exposure may affect cell death and survival in the brains of adolescent offspring by regulating the balance between growth-factor and death-receptor pathways.
Collapse
|