Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Integrating Environmental Influences

Maternal preconceptional and prenatal exposure to El Niño Southern Oscillation levels and child mortality: a multi-country study

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been shown to relate to the epidemiology of childhood infectious diseases, but evidence for whether they increase child deaths is limited. Here, we investigate the impact of mothers' ENSO exposure during and prior to delivery on child mortality by constructing a retrospective cohort study in 38 low- and middle-income countries. We find that high levels of ENSO indices cumulated over 0-12 lagged months before delivery are associated with significant increases in risks of under-five mortality; with the hazard ratio ranging from 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26, 1.40) to 1.89 (95% CI, 1.78, 2.00). Child mortality risks are particularly related to maternal exposure to El Niño-like conditions in the 0th-1st and 6th-12th lagged months. The El Niño effects are larger in rural populations and those with unsafe sources of drinking water and less education. Thus, preventive interventions are particularly warranted for the socio-economically disadvantaged.

Prenatal endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure and impact on offspring neurodevelopment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Considering that endocrine disruptors have certain effects on fetal growth, we conducted a systematic review of epidemiological literature to elucidate the correlation between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals during pregnancy and the neurodevelopment of offspring.

METHOD

We systematically explored PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases from inception to April 4, 2023. References from pertinent studies were reviewed, and data regarding the link between maternal prenatal EDC exposure and offspring neurological development were compiled. A domain-based approach was used to evaluate studies of neurodevelopmental effects in children ≤3 years old by two reviewers, including cognition, motor, behavior, language, and non-verbal ability.

RESULTS

A comprehensive search yielded 45,373 articles, from which 48 articles, involving 26,005 mother-child pairs, met the criteria and were subsequently included in our analysis. The results revealed that EDC exposure during pregnancy had a significant impact on offspring neurobehavior development, especially in cognition, motor, and language. Our findings indicated adverse associations between prenatal exposure to metals and offspring cognition (before 12 months: β coefficient: -0.28; 95 % CI, -0.50 to -0.06; 1-3 years old: β coefficient: -0.55; 95 % CI: -1.08 to -0.02). Furthermore, metals (β coefficient: -0.71; 95 % CI: -1.23 to -0.19) and phthalates (β coefficient: -0.69; 95 % CI: -1.05 to -0.33) exposure exhibited detrimental effects on motor development from1-3 years old, while poly-fluoroalkyl substances were linked to the disruption of offspring language development (β coefficient: -1.01; 95 % CI: -1.90 to -0.11) within this timeframe. Additionally, exposure to EDCs during pregnancy had a negative impact on cognition development among girls from 12 to 36 months of age (β coefficient: -0.53; 95 % CI: -1.01 to -0.06).

CONCLUSION

Prenatal exposure to EDCs, especially metals, phthalates and, poly-fluoroalkyl substances, was associated with disrupting the development of offspring neurobehavior in the short and long term. Additionally, cognitive development showed gender differences due to prenatal endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure.

Prenatal exposure to environmental phenols and fetal growth across pregnancy in the LIFECODES fetal growth study

INTRODUCTION

Environmental phenols are endocrine disrupting chemicals hypothesized to affect early life development. Previous research examining the effects of phenols on fetal growth has focused primarily on associations with measures of size at delivery. Few have included ultrasound measures to examine growth across pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate associations between prenatal exposure to phenols and ultrasound and delivery measures of fetal growth.

METHODS

Using the LIFECODES Fetal Growth Study (n = 900), a case-cohort including 248 small-for-gestational-age, 240 large-for-gestational age, and 412 appropriate-for-gestational-age births, we estimated prenatal exposure to 12 phenols using three urine samples collected during pregnancy (median 10, 24, and 35 weeks gestation). We abstracted ultrasound and delivery measures of fetal growth from medical records. We estimated associations between pregnancy-average phenol biomarker concentrations and repeated ultrasound measures of fetal growth using linear mixed effects models and associations with birthweight using linear regression models. We also used logistic regression models to estimate associations with having a small- or large-for-gestational birth.

RESULTS

We observed positive associations between 2,4-dichlorophenol, benzophenone-3, and triclosan (TCS) and multiple ultrasound measures of fetal growth. For example, TCS was associated with a 0.09 (95 % CI: 0.01, 0.18) higher estimated fetal weight z-score longitudinally across pregnancy. This effect size corresponds to a 21 g increase in estimated fetal weight at 30 weeks gestation. Associations with delivery measures of growth were attenuated, but TCS remained positively associated with birthweight z-scores (mean difference: 0.13, 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.25). Conversely, methylparaben was associated with higher odds of a small-for-gestational age birth (odds ratio: 1.45, 95 % CI: 1.06, 1.98).

DISCUSSION

We observed associations between some biomarkers of phenol exposure and ultrasound measures of fetal growth, though associations at the time of delivery were attenuated. These findings are consistent with hypotheses that phenols have the potential to affect growth during the prenatal period.

Carcinogenic health outcomes associated with endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure in humans: A wide-scope analysis

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are persistent and pervasive compounds that pose serious risks. Numerous studies have explored the effects of EDCs on human health, among which tumors have been the primary focus. However, because of study design flaws, lack of effective exposure levels of EDCs, and inconsistent population data and findings, it is challenging to draw clear conclusions on the effect of these compounds on tumor-related outcomes. Our study is the first to systematically integrate observational studies and randomized controlled trials from over 20 years and summarize over 300 subgroup associations. We found that most EDCs promote tumor development, and that exposure to residential environmental pollutants may be a major source of pesticide exposure. Furthermore, we found that phytoestrogens exhibit antitumor effects. The findings of this study can aid in the development of global EDCs regulatory health policies and alleviate the severe risks associated with EDCs exposure.

Gestational intermittent hypoxia reduces mandibular growth with decreased Sox9 expression and increased Hif1a expression in male offspring rats

Introduction

Maternal obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during pregnancy is the risk factor for impaired fetal growth with low birth weight in the offspring. However, it is unclear whether gestational intermittent hypoxia (IH, a hallmark of maternal OSA) has long-term detrimental consequences on the skeletal development of offspring. This study aimed to investigate postnatal maxillofacial bone growth and cartilage metabolism in male and female offspring that were exposed to gestational IH.

Methods

Mother rats underwent IH at 20 cycles/h (nadir, 4% O2; peak, 21% O2; 0% CO2) for 8 h per day during gestational days (GD) 7-20, and their male and female offspring were analyzed postnatally at 5 and 10 weeks of age. All male and female offspring were born and raised under normoxic conditions.

Results

There was no significant difference in whole-body weight and tibial length between the IH male/female offspring and their control counterparts. In contrast, the mandibular condylar length was significantly shorter in the IH male offspring than in the control male offspring at 5 and 10 weeks of age, while there was no significant difference in the female offspring. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that gestational IH significantly downregulated the mRNA level of SOX9 (a chondrogenesis marker) and upregulated the mRNA level of HIF-1α (a hypoxia-inducible factor marker) in the mandibular condylar cartilage of male offspring, but not in female offspring.

Conclusion

Gestational IH induced underdeveloped mandibular ramus/condyles and reduced mRNA expression of SOX9, while enhancing mRNA expression of HIF-1α in a sex-dependent manner.

Review: myogenic and muscle toxicity targets of environmental methylmercury exposure

A number of environmental toxicants are noted for their activity that leads to declined motor function. However, the role of muscle as a proximal toxicity target organ for environmental agents has received considerably less attention than the toxicity targets in the nervous system. Nonetheless, the effects of conventional neurotoxicants on processes of myogenesis and muscle maintenance are beginning to resolve a concerted role of muscle as a susceptible toxicity target. A large body of evidence from epidemiological, animal, and in vitro studies has established that methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent developmental toxicant, with the nervous system being a preferred target. Despite its well-recognized status as a neurotoxicant, there is accumulating evidence that MeHg also targets muscle and neuromuscular development as well as contributes to the etiology of motor defects with prenatal MeHg exposure. Here, we summarize evidence for targets of MeHg in the morphogenesis and maintenance of skeletal muscle that reveal effects on MeHg distribution, myogenesis, myotube formation, myotendinous junction formation, neuromuscular junction formation, and satellite cell-mediated muscle repair. We briefly recapitulate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle development and highlight the pragmatic role of alternative model organisms, Drosophila and zebrafish, in delineating the molecular underpinnings of muscle development and MeHg-mediated myotoxicity. Finally, we discuss how toxicity targets in muscle development may inform the developmental origins of health and disease theory to explain the etiology of environmentally induced adult motor deficits and accelerated decline in muscle fitness with aging.

Nutrigenetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms of Maternal Nutrition-Induced Glucolipid Metabolism Changes in the Offspring

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy regulates the offspring's metabolic homeostasis, including insulin sensitivity and the metabolism of glucose and lipids. The fetus undergoes a crucial period of plasticity in the uterus; metabolic changes in the fetus during pregnancy caused by maternal nutrition not only influence fetal growth and development but also have a long-term or even life-long impact for the offspring. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs, play important roles in intergenerational and transgenerational effects. In this context, this narrative review comprehensively summarizes and analyzes the molecular mechanisms underlying how maternal nutrition, including a high-fat diet, polyunsaturated fatty acid diet, methyl donor nutrient supplementation, feed restriction, and protein restriction during pregnancy, impacts the genes involved in glucolipid metabolism in the liver, adipose tissue, hypothalamus, muscle, and oocytes of the offspring in terms of the epigenetic modifications. This will provide a foundation for the further exploration of nutrigenetic and epigenetic mechanisms for integrative mother-child nutrition and promotion of the offspring's health through the regulation of maternal nutrition during pregnancy. Note: This paper is part of the Nutrition Reviews Special Collection on Precision Nutrition.

Insights into the early-life chemical exposome of Nigerian infants and potential correlations with the developing gut microbiome

Early-life exposure to natural and synthetic chemicals can impact acute and chronic health conditions. Here, a suspect screening workflow anchored on high-resolution mass spectrometry was applied to elucidate xenobiotics in breast milk and matching stool samples collected from Nigerian mother-infant pairs (n = 11) at three time points. Potential correlations between xenobiotic exposure and the developing gut microbiome, as determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, were subsequently explored. Overall, 12,192 and 16,461 features were acquired in the breast milk and stool samples, respectively. Following quality control and suspect screening, 562 and 864 features remained, respectively, with 149 of these features present in both matrices. Taking advantage of 242 authentic reference standards measured for confirmatory purposes of food bio-actives and toxicants, 34 features in breast milk and 68 features in stool were identified and semi-quantified. Moreover, 51 and 78 features were annotated with spectral library matching, as well as 416 and 652 by in silico fragmentation tools in breast milk and stool, respectively. The analytical workflow proved its versatility to simultaneously determine a diverse panel of chemical classes including mycotoxins, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), antibiotics, plasticizers, perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), and pesticides, although it was originally optimized for polyphenols. Spearman rank correlation of the identified features revealed significant correlations between chemicals of the same classification such as polyphenols. One-way ANOVA and differential abundance analysis of the data obtained from stool samples revealed that molecules of plant-based origin elevated as complementary foods were introduced to the infants' diets. Annotated compounds in the stool, such as tricetin, positively correlated with the genus Blautia. Moreover, vulgaxanthin negatively correlated with Escherichia-Shigella. Despite the limited sample size, this exploratory study provides high-quality exposure data of matched biospecimens obtained from mother-infant pairs in sub-Saharan Africa and shows potential correlations between the chemical exposome and the gut microbiome.

Prenatal exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and high-fat diet synergistically disrupts gonadal function in male mice†

Prenatal exposure to Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) impairs the reproductive system and causes fertility defects in male offspring. Additionally, high-fat (HF) diet is a risk factor for reproductive disorders in males. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to a physiologically relevant dose of DEHP in conjunction with HF diet synergistically impacts reproductive function and fertility in male offspring. Female mice were fed a control or HF diet 7 days prior to mating and until their litters were weaned on postnatal day 21. Pregnant dams were exposed to DEHP or vehicle from gestational day 10.5 until birth. The male offspring's gross phenotype, sperm quality, serum hormonal levels, testicular histopathology, and testicular gene expression pattern were analyzed. Male mice born to dams exposed to DEHP + HF had smaller testes, epididymides, and shorter anogenital distance compared with those exposed to HF or DEHP alone. DEHP + HF mice had lower sperm concentration and motility compared with DEHP mice. Moreover, DEHP + HF mice had more apoptotic germ cells, fewer Leydig cells, and lower serum testosterone levels than DEHP mice. Furthermore, testicular mRNA expression of Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a was two to eight-fold higher than in DEHP mice by qPCR, suggesting that maternal HF diet and prenatal DEHP exposure additively impact gonadal function by altering the degree of DNA methylation in the testis. These results suggest that the combined exposure to DEHP and high-fat synergistically impairs reproductive function in male offspring, greater than exposure to DEHP or HF diet alone.

Maternal Preeclampsia and a Preterm Neonate With Small Bowel Stenosis, Volvulus, and Severe Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Preeclampsia is a human-specific hypertensive disorder of gestation. It is associated with short-term adverse effects in the fetus and long-term complications in the neonate, mainly due to disrupted blood flow during critical periods of intrauterine development. An ischemic event in the uterus can affect many systems of the fetus, including a small bowel involvement. We present a case of a preterm, small for gestational age neonate with severe intrauterine growth restriction, small bowel stenosis, and volvulus without malrotation, born to a mother with severe preeclampsia.

Effects of different maternal diets on adipose tissue inflammation and liver tissue oxidative stress in dams and their female offspring

Pregnancy and lactation are important stages of fetal development. Therefore, this study investigated how different maternal diets offered during gestation and lactation periods affect adipose tissue inflammation and liver tissue oxidative stress of dams and their female offspring. Female BALB/c albino mice (60 days old) were randomized into three groups receiving a standard (CONT), hypercaloric (HD), or restricted (RD) diet during the pregnancy. After birth, female offspring weaned at 21 days were divided into two groups that received a standard or restricted diet (CONT/CONT, CONT/RD, RD/CONT, RD/RD, HD/CONT, and HD/RD) until 100 days old. Histological, oxidative parameters and inflammatory infiltrate of dams' and offspring's liver and adipose tissue were evaluated. HD dams presented non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) diagnosis and an increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations when compared to the RD and CONT dams, indicating a pro-inflammatory state. High concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and catalase (CAT) activity in HD when compared to the CONT in the liver. SOD activity decreased in RD mice compared to CONT, and the SOD/CAT ratio was decreased in the RD and HD in comparison to the CONT. The maternal diet leads to an increase in SOD in RD/RD compared to HD/RD. RD-fed dams showed an increase in inflammatory infiltrates compared to CONT, evidencing changes caused by a restrictive diet. In the HD/CONT offspring, we verified an increase in inflammatory infiltrates in relation to the offspring fed a standard diet. In conclusion, HD, and RD, during pregnancy and lactation, altered the liver and adipose tissues of mothers. Furthermore, the maternal diet negatively impacts the offspring's adipose tissue but does not cause liver damage in these animals in adult life.

A plausibility database summarizing the level of evidence regarding the hazards induced by the exposome on children health

Childhood diseases correspond to major public health issues. A large number of studies using different approaches provide evidence regarding effects of environmental exposures, encompassed in the exposome, on children's health. We aimed to summarize the overall level of evidence (LoE) from all streams of evidence regarding exposome effects on child health. For 88 selected chemical and urban factors, we retrieved the conclusions of agency reports or literature reviews published between 2015 and 2021 regarding effects on child health, including cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodevelopmental, respiratory and other health outcomes. Adapted versions of PRISMA flowchart and AMSTAR-2 tool were used to select and assess the quality of the systematic reviews retrieved from PubMed and SCOPUS databases. For each factor-outcome pair, conclusions in three streams of evidence (epidemiological, toxicological and mechanistic, the latter corresponding to in vitro and in silico approaches) were translated into stream-specific LoEs and then combined into an overall LoE ranging from "very unlikely" to "very likely". The 88 environmental factors were implied in 611 factor-outcome pairs. Forty-four pairs (7%), corresponding to 16 factors, had a very likely overall LoE (≥80%); 127 pairs (21%), corresponding to 49 factors, had a likely or more overall LoE (≥60%). For 81 pairs (13%), no evidence was available in agency reports or published reviews, while for 275 pairs (45%), corresponding to 68 factors, the overall LoE was very unlikely (<20%). Exposure factors with the greatest number of associated health outcomes with a high overall LoE were HCB, PCBs, temperature (8 outcomes), PFOA (7 outcomes), PFOS, cotinine (6 outcomes), arsenic, lead (5 outcomes), bisphenols A and S, PFNA and PM2.5 (4 outcomes), DDT, DDE and DDD, PFHxA, PFDA, green space, UV radiation (3 outcomes). We developed an approach to extract and summarize the existing evidence about effects of environmental factors on health. The plausibility database built for children's health can be used to identify research gaps, conduct quantitative risk assessment studies. It could be expanded to consider a larger fraction of the exposome and other age groups and should be updated on a regular basis.

Polyphenol exposure of mothers and infants assessed by LC-MS/MS based biomonitoring in breast milk

Exposure to polyphenols is relevant throughout critical windows of infant development, including the breastfeeding phase. However, the quantitative assessment of polyphenols in human breast milk has received limited attention so far, though polyphenols may positively influence infant health. Therefore, a targeted LC-MS/MS assay was developed to investigate 86 analytes representing different polyphenol classes in human breast milk. The sample preparation consisted of liquid extraction, salting out, freeze-out, and a dilution step. Overall, nearly 70% of the chemically diverse polyphenols fulfilled all strict validation criteria for full quantitative assessment. The remaining analytes did not fulfill all criteria at every concentration level, but can still provide useful semi-quantitative insights into nutritional and biomedical research questions. The limits of detection for all analyzed polyphenols were in the range of 0.0041-87 ng*mL-1, with a median of 0.17 ng*mL-1. Moreover, the mean recovery was determined to be 82% and the mean signal suppression and enhancement effect was 117%. The developed assay was applied in a proof-of-principle study to investigate polyphenols in breast milk samples provided by twelve Nigerian mothers at three distinct time points post-delivery. In total, 50 polyphenol analytes were detected with almost half being phenolic acids. Phase II metabolites, including genistein-7-β-D-glucuronide, genistein-7-sulfate, and daidzein-7-β-D-glucuronide, were also detected in several samples. In conclusion, the developed method was demonstrated to be fit-for-purpose to simultaneously (semi-) quantify a wide variety of polyphenols in breast milk. It also demonstrated that various polyphenols including their biotransformation products were present in breast milk and therefore likely transferred to infants where they might impact microbiome development and infant health.

Accelerated Early Childhood Growth Is Associated With the Development of Earlier Adrenarche and Puberty

Context

Small birth size and increased postnatal growth have been associated with earlier timing of adrenarche and puberty, but it is not well known whether these factors alone or together lead to earlier maturation.

Objective

This work aimed to search for different growth trajectories using a clustering approach to analyze the effects of birth size and postnatal growth on adrenarchal and pubertal development.

Methods

Altogether 351 children (48% girls) were examined prospectively at ages 6 to 9 and 9 to 11 years. Birth and early-growth data were collected retrospectively. Main outcome measures included clinical signs of adrenarche and puberty, and serum androgen concentrations (dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, testosterone).

Results

We detected 4 clusters with different birth sizes and postnatal growth trajectories: 1) children with average birth size and increased postnatal growth (AI), 2) children with small birth size and increased postnatal growth (SI), 3) children with average birth size and postnatal growth (AA), and 4) children with small birth size and average postnatal growth (SA). Thelarche at age 9 to 11 was most common and serum androgens at ages 6 to 9 and 9 to 11 years were highest in girls belonging to the AI and SI groups. Similar patterns in the onset of puberty and in androgen levels were not seen in the SA group.

Conclusion

Increased early growth and weight gain predict higher serum androgen concentrations and earlier onset of puberty in girls. Adrenarche and puberty do not appear to be shifted earlier in children with small birth size who do not have catch-up growth.

Deregulation of ABCG1 early in life contributes to prostate carcinogenesis in maternally malnourished offspring rats

AIMS

The developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept has provided the framework to assess how early life experiences can shape health and disease throughout the life course. Using a model of maternal exposure to a low protein diet (LPD; 6% protein) during the gestational and lactational periods, we demonstrated changes in the ventral prostate (VP) transcriptomic landscape in young rats exposed to maternal malnutrition. Male offspring Sprague Dawley rats were submitted to maternal malnutrition during gestation and lactation, and they were weighed, and distance anogenital was measured, followed were euthanized by an overdose of anesthesia at 21 postnatal days. Next, the blood and the ventral prostate (VP) were collected and processed by morphological analysis, biochemical and molecular analyses. RNA-seq analysis identified 411 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the VP of maternally malnourished offspring compared to the control group. The molecular pathways enriched by these DEGs are related to cellular development, differentiation, and tissue morphogenesis, all of them involved in both normal prostate development and carcinogenesis. Abcg1 was commonly deregulated in young and old maternally malnourished offspring rats, as well in rodent models of prostate cancer (PCa) and in PCa patients. Our results described ABCG1 as a potential DOHaD gene associated with perturbation of prostate developmental biology with long-lasting effects on carcinogenesis in old offspring rats. A better understanding of these mechanisms may help with the discussion of preventive strategies against early life origins of non-communicable chronic diseases.

Effects of perinatal exposures to a TAML catalyst on the mammary gland and hormone-sensitive outcomes in male mice

Estrogenic chemicals are common pollutants in wastewater and current effluent treatment processes are not typically effective in removing these compounds. Tetra-amido macrocyclic ligands (TAMLs) are catalysts that mimic endogenous peroxidases that may provide a solution to remove environmental pollutants including low concentrations of estrogenic compounds. Yet relatively little is known about the toxicity of TAMLs, and few studies have evaluated whether they may have endocrine disrupting properties. We administered one of three doses of a TAML, NT7, to mice via drinking water throughout pregnancy and lactation. Two pharmacologically active compounds, ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and flutamide were also included to give comparator data for estrogen receptor agonist and androgen receptor antagonist activities. Male pups were evaluated for several outcomes at weaning, puberty, and early adulthood. We found that EE2 exposures during gestation and the perinatal period induced numerous effects that were observed across the three ages including changes to spleen and testis weight and drastic effects on the morphology of the mammary gland. Flutamide had fewer effects but altered anogenital distance at weaning as well as spleen, liver, and kidney weight. In contrast, relatively few effects of NT7 were observed, but included alterations to spleen weight and modest changes to adult testis weight and morphology of the mammary gland at weaning. Collectively, these results provide some of the first evidence suggesting that NT7 may alter some hormone-sensitive outcomes, but that the effects were distinct from either EE2 or flutamide. Additional studies are needed to characterize the biological activity of this and other TAML catalysts.

RISING STARS: Mechanistic insights into maternal-fetal cross talk and islet beta-cell development

The metabolic health trajectory of an individual is shaped as early as prepregnancy, during pregnancy, and lactation period. Both maternal nutrition and metabolic health status are critical factors in the programming of offspring toward an increased propensity to developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Pancreatic beta-cells, part of the endocrine islets, which are nutrient-sensitive tissues important for glucose metabolism, are primed early in life (the first 1000 days in humans) with limited plasticity later in life. This suggests the high importance of the developmental window of programming in utero and early in life. This review will focus on how changes to the maternal milieu increase offspring's susceptibility to diabetes through changes in pancreatic beta-cell mass and function and discuss potential mechanisms by which placental-driven nutrient availability, hormones, exosomes, and immune alterations that may impact beta-cell development in utero, thereby affecting susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

Bioaccessibility data of potentially toxic elements in complementary foods for infants: A review

The introduction of complementary foods (CFs) is a critical step in an infant's transition to solid foods, providing essential nutrients beyond breast milk. However, CFs may contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as arsenic and cadmium that pose health risks to infants. In this context, understanding the bioaccessibility of PTEs is vital as it determines the fraction of a contaminant released from the food matrix and available for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Efforts have been made to standardize the assessment methodology for bioaccessibility, ensuring consistent and reliable data. Moreover, regulatory agencies have established guidelines for PTEs levels in food. However, important gaps still exist, which motivates many research opportunities on this topic.

From gestational chronodisruption to noncommunicable diseases: Pathophysiological mechanisms of programming of adult diseases, and the potential therapeutic role of melatonin

During gestation, the developing fetus relies on precise maternal circadian signals for optimal growth and preparation for extrauterine life. These signals regulate the daily delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other biophysical factors while synchronizing fetal rhythms with the external photoperiod. However, modern lifestyle factors such as light pollution and shift work can induce gestational chronodisruption, leading to the desynchronization of maternal and fetal circadian rhythms. Such disruptions have been associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular, neurodevelopmental, metabolic, and endocrine functions in the fetus, increasing the susceptibility to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in adult life. This aligns with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease theory, suggesting that early-life exposures can significantly influence health outcomes later in life. The consequences of gestational chronodisruption also extend into adulthood. Environmental factors like diet and stress can exacerbate the adverse effects of these disruptions, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm across the lifespan to prevent NCDs and mitigate the impact of gestational chronodisruption on aging. Research efforts are currently aimed at identifying potential interventions to prevent or mitigate the effects of gestational chronodisruption. Melatonin supplementation during pregnancy emerges as a promising intervention, although further investigation is required to fully understand the precise mechanisms involved and to develop effective strategies for promoting health and preventing NCDs in individuals affected by gestational chronodisruption.

A Drosophila model of gestational antimony exposure uncovers growth and developmental disorders caused by disrupting oxidative stress homeostasis

The toxic heavy metal antimony (Sb) is ubiquitous in our daily lives. Various models have shown that Sb induces neuronal and reproductive toxicity. However, little is known about the developmental toxicity of Sb exposure during gestation and the underlying mechanisms. To study its effects on growth and development, Drosophila stages from eggs to pupae were exposed to different Sb concentrations (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 mg/mL Sb); RNA sequencing was used to identify the underlying mechanism. The model revealed that prenatal Sb exposure significantly reduced larval body size and weight, the pupation and eclosion rates, and the number of flies at all stages. With 1.2 mg/mL Sb exposure in 3rd instar larvae, 484 genes were upregulated and 694 downregulated compared to controls. Biological analysis showed that the disrupted transcripts were related to the oxidative stress pathway, as verified by reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) intervention experiments. Sb exposure induced oxidative stress imbalance could be rectified by chelation and antioxidant effects of NAC/GSH. The Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) model further demonstrated that NAC and GSH greatly ameliorated cell death induced by Sb exposure. In conclusion, gestational Sb exposure disrupted oxidative stress homeostasis, thereby impairing growth and development.

Development of a novel Guinea Pig model producing transgenerational endothelial transcriptional changes driven by maternal food restriction and a second metabolic insult of high fat diet

Developmental programming of chronic adverse cardiovascular health outcomes has been studied both using numerous human populations and an array of animal models. However, the mechanisms that produce transgenerational effects have been difficult to study due to a lack of developmentally relevant models. As such, how increased disease risk is carried to the second generation has been poorly studied. We hypothesized that the endothelium which mediates many acute and chronic vascular inflammatory responses is a key player in these effects, and epidemiological studies implicate transgenerational nutritional effects on endothelial health. To study the mutigenerational effects of maternal undernutrition on offspring endothelial health, we developed a model of transgenerational nutritional stress in guinea pigs, a translationally relevant precocial species with a relatively short lifespan. First- and second-generation offspring were subjected to a high fat diet in adolescence to exacerbate negative cardiovascular health. To assess transcriptional changes, we performed bulk RNA-sequencing in carotid artery endothelial cells, with groups stratified as prenatal control or food restricted, and postnatal control or high fat diet. We detected statistically significant gene alterations for each dietary permutation, some of which were unique to treatments and other transcriptional signatures shared by multiple or all conditions. These findings highlight a core group of genes altered by high fat diet that is shared by all cohorts and a divergence of transgenerational effects between the prenatal ad libitum and dietary restriction groups. This study establishes the groundwork for this model to be used to better understand the interplay of prenatal stress and genetic reprogramming.

A Critical Review on the Opportunity to Use Placenta and Innovative Biomonitoring Methods to Characterize the Prenatal Chemical Exposome

Adverse effects associated with chemical exposures during pregnancy include several developmental and reproductive disorders. However, considering the tens of thousands of chemicals present on the market, the effects of chemical mixtures on the developing fetus is still likely underestimated. In this critical review, we discuss the potential to apply innovative biomonitoring methods using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) on placenta to improve the monitoring of chemical exposure during pregnancy. The physiology of the placenta and its relevance as a matrix for monitoring chemical exposures and their effects on fetal health is first outlined. We then identify several key parameters that require further investigations before placenta can be used for large-scale monitoring in a robust manner. Most critical is the need for standardization of placental sampling. Placenta is a highly heterogeneous organ, and knowledge of the intraplacenta variability of chemical composition is required to ensure unbiased and robust interindividual comparisons. Other important variables include the time of collection, the sex of the fetus, and mode of delivery. Finally, we discuss the first applications of HRMS methods on the placenta to decipher the chemical exposome and describe how the use of placenta can complement biofluids collected on the mother or the fetus.

Sex differences in paternal arsenic-induced intergenerational metabolic effects are mediated by estrogen

BACKGROUND

Gene-environment interactions contribute to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and dyslipidemia. In addition to affecting metabolic homeostasis directly, drugs and environmental chemicals can cause persistent alterations in metabolic portfolios across generations in a sex-specific manner. Here, we use inorganic arsenic (iAs) as a prototype drug and chemical to dissect such sex differences.

METHODS

After weaning, C57BL/6 WT male mice were treated with 250 ppb iAs in drinking water (iAsF0) or normal water (conF0) for 6 weeks and then bred with 15-week-old, non-exposed females for 3 days in cages with only normal water (without iAs), to generate iAsF1 or conF1 mice, respectively. F0 females and all F1 mice drank normal water without iAs all the time.

RESULTS

We find that exposure of male mice to 250 ppb iAs leads to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in F1 female offspring (iAsF1-F), with almost no change in blood lipid profiles. In contrast, F1 males (iAsF1-M) show lower liver and blood triglyceride levels than non-exposed control, with improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The liver of F1 offspring shows sex-specific transcriptomic changes, with hepatocyte-autonomous alternations of metabolic fluxes in line with the sex-specific phenotypes. The iAsF1-F mice show altered levels of circulating estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormone. Ovariectomy or liver-specific knockout of estrogen receptor α/β made F1 females resemble F1 males in their metabolic responses to paternal iAs exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that disrupted reproductive hormone secretion in alliance with hepatic estrogen signaling accounts for the sex-specific intergenerational effects of paternal iAs exposure, which shed light on the sex disparities in long-term gene-environment interactions.

TGFβ signaling links early life endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure to suppression of nucleotide excision repair in rat myometrial stem cells

Environmental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is linked to the development of uterine fibroids (UFs) in women. UFs, non-cancerous tumors, are thought to originate from abnormal myometrial stem cells (MMSCs). Defective DNA repair capacity may contribute to the emergence of mutations that promote tumor growth. The multifunctional cytokine TGFβ1 is associated with UF progression and DNA damage repair pathways. To investigate the impact of EDC exposure on TGFβ1 and nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways, we isolated MMSCs from 5-month-old Eker rats exposed neonatally to diethylstilbestrol (DES), an EDC, or to vehicle (VEH). EDC-MMSCs exhibited overactivated TGFβ1 signaling and reduced mRNA and protein levels of NER pathway components compared to VEH-MMSCs. EDC-MMSCs also demonstrated impaired NER capacity. Exposing VEH-MMSCs to TGFβ1 decreased NER capacity while inhibiting TGFβ signaling in EDC-MMSCs restored it. RNA-seq analysis and further validation revealed decreased expression of Uvrag, a tumor suppressor gene involved in DNA damage recognition, in VEH-MMSCs treated with TGFβ1, but increased expression in EDC-MMSCs after TGFβ signaling inhibition. Overall, we demonstrated that the overactivation of the TGFβ pathway links early life exposure to EDCs with impaired NER capacity, which would lead to increased genetic instability, arise of mutations, and fibroid tumorigenesis. We demonstrated that the overactivation of the TGFβ pathway links early life exposure to EDCs with impaired NER capacity, which would lead to increased fibroid incidence.

Effects of Maternal Cigarette Smoking on Trace Element Levels and Steroidogenesis in the Maternal-Placental-Fetal Unit

This study evaluates the interaction of toxic elements cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) due to exposure from cigarette smoking, essential elements, and steroidogenesis in the maternal-placental-fetal unit. In a cohort of 155 healthy, postpartum women with vaginal term deliveries in clinical hospitals in Zagreb, Croatia, samples of maternal blood/serum and urine, placental tissue, and umbilical cord blood/serum were collected at childbirth. The biomarkers determined were concentrations of Cd, Pb, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and selenium (Se), and steroid hormones progesterone and estradiol in maternal and umbilical cord blood and the placenta. Three study groups were designated based on self-reported data on cigarette smoking habits and confirmed by urine cotinine levels: never smokers (n = 71), former smokers (n = 48), and active smokers (n = 36). Metal(loid)s, steroid hormones, urine cotinine, and creatinine levels were analyzed by ICP-MS, ELISA, GC-MS, and spectrophotometry. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy was associated with increased Cd levels in maternal, placental, and fetal compartments, Pb in the placenta, and with decreased Fe in the placenta. In active smokers, decreased progesterone and estradiol concentrations in cord blood serum were found, while sex steroid hormones did not change in either maternal serum or placenta. This study provides further evidence regarding toxic and essential metal(loid) interactions during prenatal life, and new data on sex steroid disruption in cord serum related to cigarette smoking. The results indicate that umbilical cord sex steroid levels may be a putative early marker of developmental origins of the future burden of disease related to harmful prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke.

Potential Epigenetic Effects of Human Milk on Infants' Neurodevelopment

The advantages of human milk feeding, especially in preterm babies, are well recognized. Infants' feeding with breast milk lowers the likelihood of developing a diverse range of non-communicable diseases later in life and it is also associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes. Although the precise mechanisms through which human milk feeding is linked with infants' neurodevelopment are still unknown, potential epigenetic effects of breast milk through its bioactive components, including non-coding RNAs, stem cells and microbiome, could at least partly explain this association. Micro- and long-non-coding RNAs, enclosed in milk exosomes, as well as breast milk stem cells, survive digestion, reach the circulation and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Certain non-coding RNAs potentially regulate genes implicated in brain development and function, whereas nestin-positive stem cells can possibly differentiate into neural cells or/and act as epigenetic regulators in the brain. Furthermore, breast milk microbiota contributes to the establishment of infant's gut microbiome, which is implicated in brain development via epigenetic modifications and key molecules' regulation. This narrative review provides an updated analysis of the relationship between breast milk feeding and infants' neurodevelopment via epigenetics, pointing out how breast milk's bioactive components could have an impact on the neurodevelopment of both full-term and preterm babies.

Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action

Adverse environmental exposures in utero and early childhood are known to programme long-term health. Climate change, by contributing to severe heatwaves, wildfires, and other natural disasters, is plausibly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and an increase in the future burden of chronic diseases in both mothers and their babies. In this Personal View, we highlight the limitations of existing evidence, specifically on the effects of severe heatwave and wildfire events, and compounding syndemic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on the short-term and long-term physical and mental health of pregnant women and their babies, taking into account the interactions with individual and community vulnerabilities. We highlight a need for an international, interdisciplinary collaborative effort to systematically study the effects of severe climate-related environmental crises on maternal and child health. This will enable informed changes to public health policy and clinical practice necessary to safeguard the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.

Paternal low-dose benzo(a)pyrene exposure in rats impairs sexual development and fertility of the paternal lineage in F2 generation: A transgenerational study

The field of Paternal Origins of Health and Disease (POHaD) is highly relevant but remains under-explored. The F2 generation from males indirectly exposed (F1 - via germ cells) to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), named PF2, was investigated in this study under parameters of sexual development and reproductive performance of male and female rats. Male Wistar rats (F0) were exposed to BaP (0.1µg/kg/day) for 31 consecutive days (gavage) during prepuberty. The F0 rats were mated with untreated females to produce male offspring (F1), which were exposed to BaP via germ cells. The F1 males were later mated with untreated females to obtain the PF2 generation, which was the focus of our investigation. Our findings showed that PF2 males exhibited a decrease in anogenital distance, fertility potential, testosterone levels, and type A sperm. Meanwhile, PF2 females had an earlier vaginal opening, lower lordosis scores, and decreased fertility. Furthermore, changes in the histomorphology of the testis/epididymis and ovary/uterus were observed. The repercussions of the PF2 generation indicate that these animals showed losses in both sexual development and fertility potential, and we can conclude that this damage remained due to paternal transgenerational inheritance caused by a low dose of BaP.

Developmental exposures to common environmental contaminants, DEHP and lead, alter adult brain and blood hydroxymethylation in mice

Introduction: The developing epigenome changes rapidly, potentially making it more sensitive to toxicant exposures. DNA modifications, including methylation and hydroxymethylation, are important parts of the epigenome that may be affected by environmental exposures. However, most studies do not differentiate between these two DNA modifications, possibly masking significant effects. Methods: To investigate the relationship between DNA hydroxymethylation and developmental exposure to common contaminants, a collaborative, NIEHS-sponsored consortium, TaRGET II, initiated longitudinal mouse studies of developmental exposure to human-relevant levels of the phthalate plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and the metal lead (Pb). Exposures to 25 mg DEHP/kg of food (approximately 5 mg DEHP/kg body weight) or 32 ppm Pb-acetate in drinking water were administered to nulliparous adult female mice. Exposure began 2 weeks before breeding and continued throughout pregnancy and lactation, until offspring were 21 days old. At 5 months, perinatally exposed offspring blood and cortex tissue were collected, for a total of 25 male mice and 17 female mice (n = 5-7 per tissue and exposure). DNA was extracted and hydroxymethylation was measured using hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (hMeDIP-seq). Differential peak and pathway analysis was conducted comparing across exposure groups, tissue types, and animal sex, using an FDR cutoff of 0.15. Results: DEHP-exposed females had two genomic regions with lower hydroxymethylation in blood and no differences in cortex hydroxymethylation. For DEHP-exposed males, ten regions in blood (six higher and four lower) and 246 regions (242 higher and four lower) and four pathways in cortex were identified. Pb-exposed females had no statistically significant differences in blood or cortex hydroxymethylation compared to controls. Pb-exposed males, however, had 385 regions (all higher) and six pathways altered in cortex, but no differential hydroxymethylation was identified in blood. Discussion: Overall, perinatal exposure to human-relevant levels of two common toxicants showed differences in adult DNA hydroxymethylation that was specific to sex, exposure type, and tissue, but male cortex was most susceptible to hydroxymethylation differences by exposure. Future assessments should focus on understanding if these findings indicate potential biomarkers of exposure or are related to functional long-term health effects.

The relationship between extreme ambient temperature and small for gestational age: A cohort study of 1,436,480 singleton term births in China

Studies have shown that exposure to extreme ambient temperature can contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes, however, results across studies have been inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate the relationships between trimester-specific extreme temperature exposures and fetal growth restriction indicated by small for gestational age (SGA) in term pregnancies, and to assess whether and to what extent this relationship varies between different geographic regions. We linked 1,436,480 singleton term newborns (2014-2016) in Hubei Province, China, with a sub-district-level temperature exposures estimated by a generalized additive spatio-temporal model. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were employed to estimate the effects of extreme cold (temperature ≤5th percentile) and heat exposures (temperature >95th percentile) on term SGA in three different geographic regions, while adjusting for the effects of maternal age, infant sex, the frequency of health checks, parity, educational level, season of birth, area-level income, and PM_2.5 exposure. We also stratified our analyses by infant sex, maternal age, urban‒rural type, income categories and PM_2.5 exposure for robustness analyses. We found that both cold (OR:1.32, 95% CI: 1.25-1.39) and heat (OR:1.17, 95% CI: 1.13-1.22) exposures during the third trimester significantly increased the risk of SGA in the East region. Only extreme heat exposure (OR:1.29, 95% CI: 1.21-1.37) during the third trimester was significantly related to SGA in the Middle region. Our findings suggest that extreme ambient temperature exposure during pregnancy can lead to fetal growth restriction. Governments and public health institutions should pay more attention to environmental stresses during gestation, especially in the late stage of the pregnancy.

360-Degree Perspectives on Obesity

Alarming statistics show that the number of people affected by excessive weight has surpassed 2 billion, representing approximately 30% of the world's population. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of one of the most serious public health problems, considering that obesity requires an integrative approach that takes into account its complex etiology, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Only an understanding of the connections between the many contributors to obesity and the synergy between treatment interventions can ensure satisfactory outcomes in reducing obesity. Mechanisms such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of obesity and its associated complications. Compounding factors such as the deleterious effects of stress, the novel challenge posed by the obesogenic digital (food) environment, and the stigma associated with obesity should not be overlooked. Preclinical research in animal models has been instrumental in elucidating these mechanisms, and translation into clinical practice has provided promising therapeutic options, including epigenetic approaches, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. However, more studies are necessary to discover new compounds that target key metabolic pathways, innovative ways to deliver the drugs, the optimal combinations of lifestyle interventions with allopathic treatments, and, last but not least, emerging biological markers for effective monitoring. With each passing day, the obesity crisis tightens its grip, threatening not only individual lives but also burdening healthcare systems and societies at large. It is high time we took action as we confront the urgent imperative to address this escalating global health challenge head-on.

TGFβ signaling links early-life endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure to suppression of nucleotide excision repair in rat myometrial stem cells

Environmental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is linked to the development of uterine fibroids (UFs) in women. UFs, non-cancerous tumors, are thought to originate from abnormal myometrial stem cells (MMSCs). Defective DNA repair capacity may contribute to the emergence of mutations that promote tumor growth. The multifunctional cytokine TGFβ1 is associated with UF progression and DNA damage repair pathways. To investigate the impact of EDC exposure on TGFβ1 and nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways, we isolated MMSCs from 5-months old Eker rats exposed neonatally to Diethylstilbestrol (DES), an EDC, or to vehicle (VEH). EDC-MMSCs exhibited overactivated TGFβ1 signaling and reduced mRNA and protein levels of NER pathway components compared to VEH-MMSCs. EDC-MMSCs also demonstrated impaired NER capacity. Exposing VEH-MMSCs to TGFβ1 decreased NER capacity while inhibiting TGFβ signaling in EDC-MMSCs restored it. RNA-seq analysis and further validation revealed decreased expression of Uvrag, a tumor suppressor gene involved in DNA damage recognition, in VEH-MMSCs treated with TGFβ1, but increased expression in EDC-MMSCs after TGFβ signaling inhibition. Overall, we demonstrated that the overactivation of the TGFβ pathway links early-life exposure to EDCs with impaired NER capacity, which would lead to increased genetic instability, arise of mutations, and fibroid tumorigenesis. We demonstrated that the overactivation of the TGFβ pathway links early-life exposure to EDCs with impaired NER capacity, which would lead to increased fibroid incidence.

Nutrition paves the way to environmental toxicants and influences fetal development during pregnancy

Nutrition plays a major role in the healthy pregnancy and development of the fetus. In addition, nutrition can expose humans to a wide range of potentially hazardous environmental constituents, such as organic pollutants and heavy metals from marine or agricultural food products while processing, producing, and packaging. Humans constantly face these constituents through air, water, soil, food, and domestic products. During pregnancy, the rate of cellular division and differentiation is higher; exposure to any of these environmental toxicants can lead to developmental defects as they cross the placental barrier and, in some cases, can harm the successive generation too, as some contaminants can act on the reproductive cells of the fetus (Diethylstilbestrol). Pregnant women are considered a vulnerable population to food contaminant exposure and require a proper dietary chart and conscious food choices. Food is a source of both essential nutrients and environmental toxicants. Here, we have researched the possible toxicants of the food industry and their influence on the fetus's in-utero development, along with the importance of dietary interventions and the need to balance a healthy diet to overcome the harms. The cumulative exposure to environmental toxicants can influence the mother's prenatal environment and affect the fetus's development.

Iodine Deficiency, Maternal Hypothyroxinemia and Endocrine Disrupters Affecting Fetal Brain Development: A Scoping Review

This scoping review critically discusses the publications of the last 30 years on the impact of mild to moderate iodine deficiency and the additional impact of endocrine disrupters during pregnancy on embryonal/fetal brain development. An asymptomatic mild to moderate iodine deficiency and/or isolated maternal hypothyroxinemia might affect the development of the embryonal/fetal brain. There is sufficient evidence underlining the importance of an adequate iodine supply for all women of childbearing age in order to prevent negative mental and social consequences for their children. An additional threat to the thyroid hormone system is the ubiquitous exposure to endocrine disrupters, which might exacerbate the effects of iodine deficiency in pregnant women on the neurocognitive development of their offspring. Ensuring adequate iodine intake is therefore essential not only for healthy fetal and neonatal development in general, but it might also extenuate the effects of endocrine disruptors. Individual iodine supplementation of women of childbearing age living in areas with mild to moderate iodine deficiency is mandatory as long as worldwide universal salt iodization does not guarantee an adequate iodine supply. There is an urgent need for detailed strategies to identify and reduce exposure to endocrine disrupters according to the "precautional principle".

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastic gestational exposure on mice

Airborne plastic particles have received increasing attention due to their ubiquity in the atmosphere and potential human health risks. Previous studies have demonstrated that early-life exposure to environmental toxicants is associated with abnormal metabolic function. However, the impact of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) through inhalation on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mothers and offspring remains unknown. In the present study, mice were gestationally exposed to PSNPs at different doses (0, 1, 5, and 25 μg μl^-1) through inhalation to investigate health hazards to the dam at weaning and to adult offspring. Gestational exposure to PSNPs at high doses significantly induced hepatic steatosis in the dam and upregulated genes involved in de novo lipogenesis, fatty acids (FAs) uptake, and triacylglycerol (TG) synthesis in the monoacylglycerol acyltransferase pathway. Gestational exposure to high doses of PSNPs led to hepatic steatosis in adult female offspring but not male offspring, and expression levels of genes related to FAs uptake and TG synthesis in the glycerol 3-phosphate pathway were significantly elevated. Collectively, our data demonstrate that gestational exposure to airborne PSNPs induced different development processes of NAFLD in the dam and offspring, providing vital data about plastic particulate toxicology.

Two-generation exposure to a high-fat diet induces the change of salty taste preference in rats

High-fat diet (HFD) leads to multiple complications, including taste alteration. This study observed the effect of a two-generation exposure to an HFD on the peripheral taste system in offspring. Ten pregnant Wistar rats were assigned a standard diet (SD) (n = 5) or HFD (n = 5) from day 7 of pregnancy through the lactation. Thirty-six male and female 3-week-old offspring were measured for body weight and blood glucose level, and the circumvallate papillae were collected. The other twenty-four 3-week-old offspring were weaned on the same diet as their mothers and raised individually. The taste preference behaviors were studied using the two-bottle taste preference test and analyzed five basic tastes (sweet, bitter, umami, sour, and salty). The expressions of epithelial sodium channel alpha subunit (ENaCα) and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) in the circumvallate papilla were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We found increased body weight and salty taste preference of offspring from the HFD group in both sexes. Correspondingly, the AT1 level of the taste bud cells significantly increased in 3-week-old female offspring from the HFD group. An increase in AT1 levels may be a risk factor for changes in salty taste preference.

Treatment with topiramate in rats during childhood causes testicular structural impairment at adulthood

Topiramate (TOP) is a psychotropic drug prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy in children older than 2 years of age and for migraine prophylaxis in adolescents. There is evidence that TOP promotes negative effects on the reproductive system of male rats. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and late treatment effects of TOP during childhood and adolescence on the male rat reproductive system. Two experimental groups received 41 mg/kg of TOP daily, by gavage, from postnatal day (PND) 16 to 28 (TOPc group) or from PND 28 to 50 (TOPa group). Control groups (CTRc group or CTRa group) received water daily. Half of the anim-als were evaluated 24 h after the end of treatment (PND 29 and PND 51, respectively) and the remainder were evaluated in adulthood (PND120). The following parameters were determined: anogenital distance, sperm evaluation, testis' histomorphometry and plasma testosterone concentration. At PND 120, the volume (CTRc:62.58 ± 2.13; TOPc: 54.54 ± 2.10*%, p = 0.018) and total length (CTRc: 25.48 ± 1.61; TOPc: 18.94 ± 2.41*, p = 0.035) of seminiferous tubules were decreased and the volume of interstitial tissue (CTRc:37.41 ± 2.13; TOPc: 45.45 ± 2.09*%, p = 0.018) and number of Leydig cells/testis (CTRc: 277.00 ± 36.70; TOPc: 400.20 ± 13.23*, p = 0.013) were increased in the TOPc group. The other parameters remained similar between the groups. Therefore, the present study contributes to our understanding that childhood treatment with TOP has an impact on the rat reproductive system in adulthood, suggesting that this period is more sensitive to TOP exposure than adolescence.

Pesticides as endocrine disruptors: programming for obesity and diabetes

PURPOSE

Exposure to pesticides has been associated with obesity and diabetes in humans and experimental models mainly due to endocrine disruptor effects. First contact with environmental pesticides occurs during critical phases of life, such as gestation and lactation, which can lead to damage in central and peripheral tissues and subsequently programming disorders early and later in life.

METHODS

We reviewed epidemiological and experimental studies that associated pesticide exposure during gestation and lactation with programming obesity and diabetes in progeny.

RESULTS

Maternal exposure to organochlorine, organophosphate and neonicotinoids, which represent important pesticide groups, is related to reproductive and behavioral dysfunctions in offspring; however, few studies have focused on glucose metabolism and obesity as outcomes.

CONCLUSION

We provide an update regarding the use and metabolic impact of early pesticide exposure. Considering their bioaccumulation in soil, water, and food and through the food chain, pesticides should be considered a great risk factor for several diseases. Thus, it is urgent to reformulate regulatory actions to reduce the impact of pesticides on the health of future generations.

[Reliability and validity of the Acquired healthy lifestyle assessment scale (E-VEVSA) in adults from Albacete and Murcia (Spain)]

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle is a theoretical construct that is formed by the life habits of a subject. The analysis and objective quantification of lifestyle can have a great impact on people's health, as well as on the evolution of its status over the years. The objective of this research has been the validation of the Acquired Healthy Lifestyle Assessment Scale (E-VEVSA) in Spanish adults.

METHOD

On an initial sample for the exploratory tests of 248 subjects and a final sample for the confirmatory tests of 780 subjects, aged between 22 and 72 years of age. Exploratory and confirmatory psychometric tests were carried out based on the Cronbach's alpha statistic (reliability) and exploratory factorial analysis with oblique rotation (oblimin) and confirmatory with varimax rotation (construct validity), which resulted in an instrument made up of 52 items and structured in 7 dimensions: individual responsibility in health care (9 items), habits of physical-sports practice (6 items), health habits in social relationships (10 items), habit of tobacco and alcohol consumption (9 items), habit of healthy eating (7 items), psychological health habits (6 items) and daily rest and sleep habits (5 items).

RESULTS

All the items explained a total variance of 66.87% and a Cronbach's alpha of .894, with the partial alpha of each dimension or factor being above .700.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show psychometric tests that confirm the validity of the E-VEVSA scale as a useful instrument to measure the healthy lifestyle acquired among adults.

Periconceptional maternal diet quality influences blood heavy metal concentrations and their effect on low birth weight: the Japan Environment and Children's Study

BACKGROUND

Both poor maternal nutrition and toxic heavy metal exposure influence foetal growth and development. However, whether consumption of a variety of healthy foods modifies the association between prenatal heavy metal exposure and foetal growth is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether long-term maternal diet quality in periconception modifies the associations between maternal circulating concentrations of heavy metals and foetal growth.

DESIGN

Data of 72,317 Japanese women who delivered singleton infants was extracted from the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Maternal diet over a 1-year before the first trimester of pregnancy was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and overall diet quality was determined using the balanced diet score based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. Maternal whole-blood concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were measured during the second/third trimester of pregnancy. Bayesian inference of multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between maternal diet quality and the blood concentrations of heavy metals; Bayesian logistic regression was used to analyse the risk of low birth weight (LBW; <2,500 g).

RESULTS

After controlling for confounders, a high maternal balanced diet score was associated with low concentrations of blood Pb and Cd and high Hg. While all heavy metals assessed were positively associated with LBW risk, a higher maternal balanced diet score was negatively associated with LBW risk. A high-quality maternal diet attenuated the effect of Pb on LBW, an effect that was more marked at high blood Pb concentrations.

CONCLUSION

A high-quality, 'well-balanced' diet prior to conception may reduce exposure to some heavy metals and mitigate the elevated risk of LBW associated with prenatal Pb exposure in Japanese mother-child pairs.

Multi- and Transgenerational Developmental Impairments Are Induced by Decabromodiphenyl Ethane (DBDPE) in Zebrafish Larvae

A novel brominated flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) has become a ubiquitous emerging pollutant; hence, the knowledge of its long-term toxic effects and underlying mechanism would be critical for further health risk assessment. In the present study, the multi- and transgenerational toxicity of DBDPE was investigated in zebrafish upon a life cycle exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations. The significantly increased malformation rate and declined survival rate specifically occurred in unexposed F2 larvae suggested transgenerational development toxicity by DBDPE. The changing profiles revealed by transcriptome and DNA methylome confirmed an increased susceptibility in F2 larvae and figured out potential disruptions of glycolipid metabolism, mitochondrial energy metabolism, and neurodevelopment. The changes of biochemical indicators such as ATP production confirmed a disturbance in the energy metabolism, whereas the alterations of neurotransmitter contents and light-dark stimulated behavior provided further evidence for multi- and transgenerational neurotoxicity in zebrafish. Our findings also highlighted the necessity for considering the long-term impacts when evaluating the health of wild animals as well as human beings by emerging pollutants.

Maternal exposure to 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide during pregnancy induces subfertility and birth defects of offspring in mice

4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), widely used in industry, is a hazardous compound that can cause premature ovarian failure, but whether maternal VCD exposure affects the health and reproduction of offspring is unknown. Here we focused on the effects of VCD on fertility and physical health of F1 and F2 offspring in mice. The pregnant mice were injected intraperitoneally with different dosages of VCD once every day from 6.5 to 18.5 days post-coitus (dpc). We showed that maternal exposure to VCD during pregnancy significantly reduced the litter size and ovarian reserve, while increasing microtia occurrences of F1 mice. The cytospread staining showed a significant inhibition of meiotic prophase I progression from the zygotene stage to the pachytene stage. Mechanistically, the expression level of DNA damage marker (γ-H2AX) and BAX/BCL2 ratios were significantly increased, and RAD51 and DMC1 were extensively recruited to DNA double strand breaks sites in the oocytes of offspring from VCD-exposed mothers. Overall, our results provide solid evidence showing that maternal exposure to VCD during pregnancy has intergenerational deleterious effects on the offspring.

Short-term trivalent arsenic and hexavalent chromium exposures induce gut dysbiosis and transcriptional alteration in adipose tissue of mice

BACKGROUND

Inorganic arsenic [As(III)] and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] can potentially affect metabolic functions. These heavy metal(s)/metalloids can also affect the gut microbial architecture which affects metabolic health. Here, we assessed the effects of short-term exposure of As(III) and Cr(VI) on key transcription factors in adipose tissues and on selected gut microbial abundances to understand the possible modulatory role of these toxicants on host metabolic health.

METHODS AND RESULTS

qRT-PCR based relative bacterial abundance studies in cecal samples, gene expression analysis for gut wall integrity in ileum and colon and adipogenesis, lipolysis, and thermogenic genes in gonadal white and brown adipose tissue (gWAT and BAT), along with tissue oxidative stress parameters have been performed. As(III) and Cr(VI) exposure reduced beneficial Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, Akkermansia, Lachenospiraceae, Fecalibacterium, Eubacterium, and clostridium coccoid group while increasing lipopolysaccharides producing Enterobacteriaceae abundances. It also impaired structural features and expression of key tight junction and mucin production genes in ileum and colon (Cld-2, Cld-4, ZO-1, ZO-2, MUC-2 and - 4). In gWAT it inhibited adipogenesis (PPARγ, FASN, SREBP1a), lipolysis (HSL, ACOX-1), and thermogenesis (UCP-1, PGC1a, PRDM-16, PPARa) related genes expression, whereas in BAT, it enhanced adipogenesis and reduced thermogenesis. These exposures also reduces the endogenous antioxidants levels in these tissues and promote pro-inflammatory cytokines genes expression (TLRs, IL-6, MCP-1). The combinatorial exposure appears to have more deleterious effects.

CONCLUSION

These effects of As(III) and Cr(VI) may not directly be linked to their known toxicological effects, instead, more intriguing crosstalk with gut microbial ecosystem hold the key.

The Pediatrician's Role in Protecting Children from Environmental Hazards

Children suffer disproportionately from disease and disability due to environmental hazards, for reasons rooted in their biology. The contribution is substantial and increasingly recognized, particularly due to ever-increasing awareness of endocrine disruption. Regulatory actions can be traced directly to reductions in toxic exposures, with tangible benefits to society. Deep flaws remain in the policy framework in industrialized countries, failing to offer sufficient protection, but are even more limited in industrializing nations where the majority of chemical production and use will occur by 2030. Evidence-based steps for reducing chemical exposures associated with adverse health outcomes exist and should be incorporated into anticipatory guidance.

Metabolic dysregulation and decreased capillarization in skeletal muscles of male adolescent offspring rats exposed to gestational intermittent hypoxia

Gestational intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a hallmark of obstructive sleep apnea that occurs frequently during pregnancy, and effects caused by this environmental change during pregnancy may be transmitted to the offspring. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of IH in pregnant rats on the skeletal muscle of adolescent offspring rats. Mother rats underwent IH from gestation day 7-21, and their 5-weeks-old male offspring were analyzed. All male offspring rats were born and raised under normoxia conditions. Although no general growth retardation was observed, we found that exposure to gestational IH reduces endurance running capacity of adolescent offspring rats. Both a respiratory muscle (diaphragm; DIA) and a limb muscle (tibialis anterior; TA) showed no histological abnormalities, including fiber size and fiber type distribution. To identify the possible mechanism underlying the reduced running capacity, regulatory factors associated with energy metabolism were analyzed in different parts of skeletal muscles. Compared with rats born under conditions of gestational normoxia, gestational IH offspring rats showed significantly lower expression of genes associated with glucose and lipid metabolism, and lower protein levels of phosphorylated AMPK and AKT. Furthermore, gene expression of adiponectin receptors one and two was significantly decreased in the DIA and TA muscles. In addition, the DIA muscle from adolescent rats had significantly decreased capillary density as a result of gestational IH. However, these changes were not observed in a sucking muscle (geniohyoid) and a masticating muscle (masseter) of these rats. These results suggest that respiratory and limb muscles are vulnerable to gestational IH, which induces altered energy metabolism with decreased aerobic motor function. These changes were partially owing to the decreased expression of adiponectin receptors and decreased capillary density in adolescent offspring rats.

Health-related lifestyle assessment among Spanish adults from 22 to 72 years

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this paper has focused on assessing the level of health-related lifestyle acquired in Spanish adults in the Spanish cities of Albacete and Murcia, and analyzing the existing differences according to sex and age.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

On a sample of 788 subjects aged between 22 and 72, the Health-related Lifestyle Assessment Scale was applied, consisting of 52 items and structured in 7 dimensions that explained a total variance of 66.87% and a Cronbach's alpha of 0.894.

RESULTS

A percentage of 12 of the adults surveyed have a healthy lifestyle, 53% show a trend to health and 35% poor or unhealthy. Pearson's χ² tests show a positive and significant association of women with health and a trend of significant improvement in lifestyle with age. The inferential data (t-Student tests and one-factor ANOVA) confirm these differences according to gender and age.

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to promote preventive programs to improve health in the habits of the population, especially in the 35% that show a poor or unhealthy level of lifestyle.

Consumption of Non-Nutritive Sweetener during Pregnancy and Weight Gain in Offspring: Evidence from Human Studies

The relationship between the consumption of maternal non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) during pregnancy and the risk of obesity in offspring remains inconsistent. We aimed to systematically evaluate and clarify the relationship between NNS intake during pregnancy and weight gain in offspring based on evidence from population and clinical research. Databases including PubMed (via Medline), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for eligible human studies. The primary outcome was the differences in body mass index (BMI) z-scores between offspring at 1 year of age who were with and without NNS intake during pregnancy or between offspring with different NNS intake levels during pregnancy. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted for data synthesis to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD). A total of six prospective cohort studies were eligible for inclusion, among which three were used for pooled analysis of the BMI z-score. A significant increase was found in an offspring's weight at 1 year of age in the NNS group when compared with the control group: WMD in BMI z-score = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.31), p-value = 0.002. Results from the dose-response analysis showed a linear relationship between NNS intake during pregnancy and WMD at 1 year of age: beta = 0.02 (95% CI: 0.001, 0.04) for per serving/week increase in NNS consumption. The whole body of evidence for the review was rated as low quality. In summary, maternal NNS intake during pregnancy was found to be associated with increased weight gain in offspring based on evidence from human studies. Further well-designed and adequately powered studies are needed to confirm this relationship.

Anxiety-related behavior and associated brain transcriptome and epigenome alterations in adult female zebrafish exposed to atrazine during embryogenesis

Atrazine often contaminates drinking water sources, exceeding the maximum contaminant level established by the US Environmental Protection Agency at 3 parts per billion (ppb; μg/L). Atrazine is linked to endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer, with delayed health effects observed after developmental exposure in line with the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis. To test the hypothesis that embryonic atrazine exposure induces delayed neurotoxicity in adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio), embryos were exposed to 0, 0.3, 3, or 30 ppb atrazine during embryogenesis (1-72 h post fertilization (hpf)) and raised to adults with no additional atrazine exposure. Behavioral outcomes were tested through a novel tank test, light-dark box, and open field test and indicated female zebrafish had more anxious phenotypes at 9 months post fertilization (mpf). Female brain transcriptomic analysis at 9 mpf found altered gene expression pathways related to organismal injury and cancer with beta-estradiol and estrogen receptor as top upstream regulators. These results were compared to 9 mpf male and 6 mpf female groups with the same atrazine embryonic exposures and showed differences in specific genes that were altered, but similarities in top molecular pathways. Molecular pathways associated with behavior were observed only in the 6 mpf transcriptomic profiles, suggesting prediction of observed behavioral outcomes at 9 mpf. The expression of genes associated with serotonin neurotransmission was also evaluated at 14 mpf to determine persistence; however, no significant changes were observed. Brain global methylation in 12 mpf zebrafish observed an increased percent 5 mC in females with embryonic 0.3 ppb atrazine exposure. Finally, the body length, body weight, and brain weight were determined at 14 mpf and were altered in all treatment groups. These results indicate that embryonic atrazine exposure does cause delayed neurotoxicity within the DOHaD framework, which is significant given atrazine's presence and persistence in the environment.

Association between residential greenspace and health-related quality of life in children aged 0-12 years

INTRODUCTION

Greenspaces generate several perceived health benefits, including an overall improvement in the quality of life. However, little is known about the effects of greenspaces through pregnancy and early childhood in promoting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among children.

METHOD

Participants were from the Mothers and their Children's Health Study (MatCH), a 2016/17 sub-study of a national prospective study since 1996 known as the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). Mothers (n=3,048) self-reported on their three youngest children aged under 13 years (n=5,799, mean=7.0 years, s.d=3.2 years) using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) to measure their HRQoL. Since 1996, annual exposure to green and non-green vegetation was measured using two remote sensing indicators: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and fractional cover of non-photosynthetic vegetation (fNPV), respectively, for 100 m and 500 m buffer zone around maternal residential address. Multiple exposure windows were calculated including during pregnancy, the first year of life and child's lifetime exposure. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) models, adjusting for potential confounders, were used for analyses.

RESULTS

A 1 standard deviation increase in NDVI greenness within 500 m buffer around the home at early life and during childhood was positively associated with higher HRQoL in the total scores and psychological health summary scores in the crude model only. No association was found between fNPV (non-green vegetation) at 100 m and 500 m circular buffers and children's HRQoL. The overall findings from our models remained consistent based on a series of sensitivity analyses, including the impact of maternal residential mobility status and geocoding method on the effect estimates.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that surrounding residential greenspace was not associated with children's HRQoL. Further longitudinal studies are required to better understand the influence of greenspace at different periods of exposure on the health and wellbeing of children.

Boston Birth Cohort Profile: Rationale and Study Design

In 1998, the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC) was initiated at Boston Medical Center (BMC) in response to persistently high rates of preterm birth (PTB, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation) in the US population and the longstanding profound PTB disparity among Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). The BBC encompasses two linked study protocols: The Preterm Birth Study serves as the baseline recruitment in the BBC. It aims to address fundamental questions about the causes and consequences of PTB. The study oversamples preterm babies using a case/control study design, in which cases are defined as mothers who deliver a preterm and/or low birthweight baby (<2500 grams regardless of gestational age). Controls are enrolled at a 2:1 control/case ratio and matched by maternal age (±5 years), self-reported race and ethnicity, and date of delivery (± 7 days for case delivery). From inception, it was designed as a comprehensive gene-environmental study of PTB. As a natural extension, the Children's Health Study, under a separate but linked IRB protocol, is a longitudinal follow-up study of the participants who were recruited at birth in the Preterm Birth Study and who continue pediatric care at BMC. This linked model allows for investigation of early life origins of pediatric and chronic disease in a prospective cohort design. The BBC is one of the largest and longest NIH-funded prospective birth cohort studies in the US, consisting of 8733 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Preterm Birth Study at birth, and of those, 3,592 children have been enrolled in the Children's Health Study, with a median follow-up of 14.5 years. The BBC mirrors the urban, under-resourced and underrepresented BIPOC population served by BMC. A high proportion of BBC children were born prematurely and had chronic health conditions (e.g., asthma, obesity and elevated blood pressure) in childhood. The BBC's long-term goal has been to build a large, comprehensive database (epidemiological, clinical, multi-omics) and biospecimen repository to elucidate early life origins of pediatric and chronic diseases and identify modifiable upstream factors (e.g., psychosocial, environmental, nutritional) to improve health across the life course for BIPOC mothers and children.