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Dong Q, Fu H, Jiang H. The role of exosome-shuttled miRNAs in heavy metal-induced peripheral tissues and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116880. [PMID: 38850652 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116880] [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: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Heavy metal-induced neuroinflammation is a significant pathophysiologic mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. Multiple miRNAs are differentially expressed in peripheral tissues after heavy metal exposure, and increasing evidence suggests that they are involved in AD progression by regulating microglial homeostasis. Exosomes, which are capable of loading miRNAs and crossing the bloodbrain barrier, serve as mediators of communication between peripheral tissues and the brain. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the link between miRNAs in peripheral tissues and neuroinflammation in AD after heavy metal exposure and propose a role for miRNAs in the microglial neurodegenerative phenotype (MGnD) of AD. This study will help to elucidate the link between peripheral tissue damage and MGnD-mediated neuroinflammation in AD after heavy metal exposure. Additionally, we summarize the regulatory effects of natural compounds on peripheral tissue-derived miRNAs, which could be potential therapeutic targets for natural compounds to regulate peripheral tissue-derived exosomal miRNAs to ameliorate heavy metal-induced MGnD-mediated neuroinflammation in patients with AD after heavy metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Dong
- Department of Health Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China.
| | - Huanyong Fu
- Department of Health Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China.
| | - Hong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China; The Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province on Toxic and Biological Effects of Arsenic, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China; Department of Health Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China.
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2
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Xu J, Gui M, Li H, Nie L, Zhao W, Wang S, Yu R. Magnetic beads and GO-assisted enzyme-free signal amplification fluorescent biosensors for disease diagnosis. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1306:342581. [PMID: 38692785 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancer detection is still a major challenge in public health. Identification of oncogene is the first step toward solving this problem. Studies have revealed that various cancers are associated with miRNA expression. Therefore, the sensitive detection of miRNA is substantially important to solve the cancer problem. In this study, let-7a, a representative substance of miRNA, was selected as the detection target. With the assistance of magnetic beads commonly used in biosensors and self-synthesized graphene oxide materials, specificity and sensitivity detection of the target gene let-7a were achieved via protease-free signal amplification. The limit of detection (LOD) was as low as 15.015pM. The fluorescence signal intensity showed a good linear relationship with the logarithm of let-7a concentration. The biosensor could also detect let-7a in complex human serum samples. Overall, this fluorescent biosensor is not only simple to operate, but also strongly specificity to detect let-7a. Therefore, it has substantial potential for application in the early diagnosis of clinical medicine and biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, PR China
| | - Minfang Gui
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, PR China
| | - Hongbo Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, PR China; Key Laboratory of Energy Catalysis and Conversion of Nanchang, Nanchang, 330022, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China.
| | - Lanxin Nie
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, PR China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, PR China
| | - Suqin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, PR China
| | - Ruqin Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China
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3
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Zhao J, Xu Z, Wang X, Wan S, Chen W, Huang W, Wang M, Wang R, Zhang H. Environmental copper exposure, placental cuproptosis, and miscarriage. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123847. [PMID: 38552771 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Copper pollution has become global environmental concern. Widespread Cu pollution results in excessive Cu exposure in human. Epidemiological studies and animal experiments revealed that Cu exposure might have reproductive toxicity. Cuproptosis is a newly reported Cu-dependent and programmed cell death formTsvetkov et al., 2022. However, whether copper exposure at real environmental exposure dose might cause placental cuproptosis and induce miscarriage was completely unexplored. In this study, we found that Cu exposure during pregnancy induced miscarriage or complete pregnancy loss by inducing placenta cuproptosis in CuCl2-exposed pregnant mice. Notably, Cu exposure at 1.3 mg/kg/d (a real environmental exposure dose) was enough to cause placenta cuproptosis. CuCl2 exposure disrupts the TCA cycle, causes proteotoxic stress, increases Cu2+ ion import/decreases Cu2+ export, and results in the loss of Fe-S cluster proteins in mouse placenta, which induces placenta cuproptosis. Moreover, we also identified that Cu exposure down-regulates the expression levels of mmu-miR-3473b, which interacts with Dlst or Rtel1 mRNA and simultaneously positively regulates Dlst or Rtel1 expression, thereby disrupting the TCA cycle and resulting in the loss of Fe-S cluster proteins, and thus epigenetically regulates placental cuproptosis. Treatment with TTM (a cuproptosis inhibitor) suppressed placental cuproptosis and alleviated miscarriage in CuCl2-exposed mice. This work provides novel reproductive toxicity of Cu exposure in miscarriage or complete pregnancy loss by causing placental cuproptosis. This study also provides new ways for further studies on other toxicological effects of Cu and proposes a new approach for protection against Cu-induced reproductive diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Female Reproductive Health, West China School of Public Health & West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Zhongyan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Female Reproductive Health, West China School of Public Health & West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Shukun Wan
- Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Weina Chen
- Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Wenxin Huang
- Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Manli Wang
- Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Huidong Zhang
- Research Center for Environment and Female Reproductive Health, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
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Carazza-Kessler FG, Campos MS, Bittencourt RR, Rosa-Silva HTD, Brum PO, Silveira AK, Teixeira AA, Ribeiro CT, Peixoto DO, Santos L, Andrade G, Panzenhagen AC, Scheibel IM, Gelain DP, Fonseca Moreira JC. Transgenerational inheritance of methylmercury and vitamin A-induced toxicological effects in a Wistar rats environmental-based model. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141239. [PMID: 38272134 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and vitamin A (VitA) are two environmental factors with potential health impacts, especially during pregnancy and early childhood. Fish and seafood may present elevated levels of methylmercury (MeHg), the major Hg derivative, and VitA. This study aimed to evaluate the transgenerational effects of exposure to MeHg and/or VitA on epigenetic and toxicological parameters in a Wistar rat model. Our findings revealed persistent toxicological effects in generations F1 and F2 following low/mild doses of MeHg and/or VitA exposure during dams' (F0) gestation and breastfeeding. Toxicological effects observed in F2 included chronic DNA damage, bone marrow toxicity, altered microglial content, reduced neuronal signal, and diminished male longevity. Sex-specific patterns were also observed. Co-exposure to MeHg and VitA showed both synergistic and antagonistic effects. Additionally, the study demonstrated that MeHg and VitA affected histone methylation and caused consistent effects in F2. While MeHg exposure has been associated with transgenerational inheritance effects in other organisms, this study provides the first evidence of transgenerational inheritance of MeHg and VitA-induced toxicological effects in rodents. Although the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood, these findings suggest that MeHg and VitA may perpetuate their impacts across generations. The study highlights the need for remedial policies and interventions to mitigate the potential health problems faced by future generations exposed to MeHg or VitA. Further research is warranted to investigate the transgenerational effects beyond F2 and determine the matrilineal or patrilineal inheritance patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávio Gabriel Carazza-Kessler
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Marlene Soares Campos
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Reykla Ramon Bittencourt
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Helen Taís da Rosa-Silva
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Pedro Ozorio Brum
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Alexandre Kléber Silveira
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Alexsander Alves Teixeira
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Camila Tiefensee Ribeiro
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Daniel Oppermann Peixoto
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Santos
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Giovanni Andrade
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Alana Castro Panzenhagen
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Ingrid Matsubara Scheibel
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Daniel Pens Gelain
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - José Cláudio Fonseca Moreira
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo - Laboratório 32, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular - Instituto de Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 - Prédio Anexo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil.
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5
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Li Y, Baumert BO, Costello E, Chen JC, Rock S, Stratakis N, Goodrich JA, Zhao Y, Eckel SP, Walker DI, Valvi D, La Merrill MA, McConnell R, Cortessis VK, Aung M, Wu H, Baccarelli A, Conti D, Chatzi L. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers and dysregulation of MicroRNA expression in humans and animals-A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 244:117832. [PMID: 38056610 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals characterized by their environmental persistence. Evidence suggests that exposure to POPs, which is ubiquitous, is associated with microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation. miRNA are key regulators in many physiological processes. It is thus of public health concern to understand the relationships between POPs and miRNA as related to health outcomes. OBJECTIVES This systematic review evaluated the relationship between widely recognized, intentionally manufactured, POPs, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [DDT], dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE], hexachlorobenzene [HCB]), with miRNA expression in both human and animal studies. METHODS We used PubMed and Embase to systematically search the literature up to September 29th, 2023. Search results for human and animal studies were included if they incorporated at least one POP of interest in relation to at least one miRNA. Data were synthesized to determine the direction and significance of associations between POPs and miRNA. We utilized ingenuity pathway analysis to review disease pathways for miRNA that were associated with POPs. RESULTS Our search identified 38 eligible studies: 9 in humans and 29 in model organisms. PFAS were associated with decreased expression of miR-19, miR-193b, and miR-92b, as well as increased expression of miR-128, miR-199a-3p, and miR-26b across species. PCBs were associated with increased expression of miR-15a, miR-1537, miR-21, miR-22-3p, miR-223, miR-30b, and miR-34a, as well as decreased expression of miR-130a and let-7b in both humans and animals. Pathway analysis for POP-associated miRNA identified pathways related to carcinogenesis. DISCUSSION This is the first systematic review of the association of POPs with miRNA in humans and model organisms. Large-scale prospective human studies are warranted to examine the role of miRNA as mediators between POPs and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Li
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Brittney O Baumert
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Costello
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jiawen Carmen Chen
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Rock
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Jesse A Goodrich
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yinqi Zhao
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Douglas I Walker
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Damaskini Valvi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michele A La Merrill
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rob McConnell
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Victoria K Cortessis
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Max Aung
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Haotian Wu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Conti
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lida Chatzi
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Merrill AK, Sobolewski M, Susiarjo M. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals impacts immunological and metabolic status of women during pregnancy. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2023; 577:112031. [PMID: 37506868 PMCID: PMC10592265 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa K Merrill
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Marissa Sobolewski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Martha Susiarjo
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA.
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Drago G, Ruggieri S, Sprovieri M, Rizzo G, Colombo P, Giosuè C, Quinci E, Traina A, Gastaldelli A, Cibella F, Panunzi S. Exposure profiles in pregnant women from a birth cohort in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14815. [PMID: 37684286 PMCID: PMC10491776 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41865-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Protecting the health of pregnant women from environmental stressors is crucial for reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. In industrially contaminated sites, this action is particularly challenging due to the heterogeneous pollutant mixtures in environmental matrices. The aim of this study was to evaluate distribution patterns of mercury, hexachlorobenzene and polychlorobiphenyls in the serum of 161 pregnant women recruited in the framework of the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) cohort and living both inside and outside the National Priority Contaminated Site (NPCS) of Priolo. Food macro-categories were determined, and serum levels of contaminants were used to perform k-means cluster analysis and identify the role of food in pollutant transfer from the environment. Two groups of mothers with high and low measured pollutant levels were distinguished. Concentrations in mothers in the high-exposure cluster were at least twofold for all the evaluated pollutants (p < 0.0001) and included mothers living inside and outside NPCS, with a predominance of individuals from the NPCS (p = 0.045). Fish consumption was higher in the high-exposure cluster (p = 0.019). These findings suggest a link between contamination of environmental matrices such as sediment with maternal exposure, through the intake of local food. Such consideration appears poorly investigated in the context of contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaspare Drago
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Silvia Ruggieri
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Mario Sprovieri
- Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council of Italy, Arsenale-Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Giulia Rizzo
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Colombo
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cristina Giosuè
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council of Italy, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Enza Quinci
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council of Italy, Via del Mare 3, Torretta Granitola, 91021, Trapani, Italy
| | - Anna Traina
- Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council of Italy, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - Amalia Gastaldelli
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Cibella
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Panunzi
- Institute for System Analysis and Computer Science-BioMatLab, National Research Council of Italy, Via dei Taurini 19, 00168, Rome, Italy
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8
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Cediel-Ulloa A, Lindner S, Rüegg J, Broberg K. Epigenetics of methylmercury. Neurotoxicology 2023; 97:34-46. [PMID: 37164037 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Methylmercury (MeHg) is neurotoxic at high levels and particularly affects the developing brain. One proposed mechanism of MeHg neurotoxicity is alteration of the epigenetic programming. In this review, we summarise the experimental and epidemiological literature on MeHg-associated epigenetic changes. RECENT FINDINGS Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified changes in DNA methylation following in utero exposure to MeHg, and some of the changes appear to be persistent. A few studies have evaluated associations between MeHg-related changes in DNA methylation and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Experimental studies reveal changes in histone modifications after MeHg exposure, but we lack epidemiological studies supporting such changes in humans. Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified microRNA-related changes associated with MeHg; however, more research is needed to conclude if these changes lead to persistent and toxic effects. SUMMARY MeHg appears to interfere with epigenetic processes, potentially leading to persistent changes. However, observed associations of mercury with epigenetic changes are as of yet of unknown relevance to neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cediel-Ulloa
- Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sabrina Lindner
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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