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Cosemans C, Alfano R, Sleurs H, Martens DS, Nawrot TS, Plusquin M. Exploring mitochondrial heteroplasmy in neonates: implications for growth patterns and overweight in the first years of life. Int J Obes (Lond) 2024:10.1038/s41366-024-01537-z. [PMID: 38802661 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01537-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondrial heteroplasmy reflects genetic diversity within individuals due to the presence of varying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences, possibly affecting mitochondrial function and energy production in cells. Rapid growth during early childhood is a critical development with long-term implications for health and well-being. In this study, we investigated if cord blood mtDNA heteroplasmy is associated with rapid growth at 6 and 12 months and overweight in childhood at 4-6 years. METHODS This study included 200 mother-child pairs of the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort. Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing was performed to determine mtDNA heteroplasmy levels (in variant allele frequency; VAF) in cord blood. Rapid growth was defined for each child as the difference between WHO-SD scores of predicted weight at either 6 or 12 months and birth weight. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association of mitochondrial heteroplasmy with rapid growth and childhood overweight. Determinants of relevant cord blood mitochondrial heteroplasmies were identified using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS One % increase in VAF of cord blood MT-D-Loop16362T > C heteroplasmy was associated with rapid growth at 6 months (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05; p = 0.001) and 12 months (OR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.03; p = 0.02). Furthermore, this variant was associated with childhood overweight at 4-6 years (OR = 1.01; 95% CI 1.00-1.02; p = 0.05). Additionally, rapid growth at 6 months (OR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.49-6.14; p = 0.002) and 12 months (OR = 4.05; 95% CI: 2.06-8.49; p < 0.001) was also associated with childhood overweight at 4-6 years. Furthermore, we identified maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal education, parity, and gestational age as determinants of cord blood MT-D-Loop16362T > C heteroplasmy. CONCLUSIONS Our findings, based on mitochondrial DNA genotyping, offer insights into the molecular machinery leading to rapid growth in early life, potentially explaining a working mechanism of the development toward childhood overweight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Cosemans
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Rossella Alfano
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Hanne Sleurs
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- School of Public Health, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Leuven University, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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Cosemans C, Bongaerts E, Vanbrabant K, Reimann B, Silva AI, Tommelein E, Poma G, Ameloot M, Nawrot TS, Plusquin M. Black carbon particles in human breast milk: assessing infant's exposure. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1333969. [PMID: 38298262 PMCID: PMC10828029 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1333969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim Human breast milk is the recommended source of nutrition for infants due to its complex composition and numerous benefits, including a decline in infection rates in childhood and a lower risk of obesity. Hence, it is crucial that environmental pollutants in human breast milk are minimized. Exposure to black carbon (BC) particles has adverse effects on health; therefore, this pilot study investigates the presence of these particles in human breast milk. Methods BC particles from ambient exposure were measured in eight human breast milk samples using a white light generation under femtosecond illumination. The carbonaceous nature of the particles was confirmed with BC fingerprinting. Ambient air pollution exposures (PM2.5, PM10, and NO2) were estimated using a spatial interpolation model based on the maternal residential address. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were obtained to assess the association between human breast milk's BC load and ambient air pollution exposure. Results BC particles were found in all human breast milk samples. BC loads in human breast milk were strongly and positively correlated with recent (i.e., 1 week) maternal residential NO2 (r = 0.79; p = 0.02) exposure and medium-term (i.e., 1 month) PM2.5 (r = 0.83; p = 0.02) and PM10 (r = 0.93; p = 0.002) exposure. Conclusion For the first time, we showed the presence of BC particles in human breast milk and found a robust association with ambient air pollution concentrations. Our findings present a pioneering insight into a novel pathway through which combustion-derived air pollution particles can permeate the delicate system of infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Cosemans
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Eva Bongaerts
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Kenneth Vanbrabant
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Brigitte Reimann
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Ana Inês Silva
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Eline Tommelein
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Experimental Pharmacology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Marcel Ameloot
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S. Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- School of Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
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LE G, M P, MA M, KE B, MP V, JM R, C B, S E, PD W. Prospective association between maternal allostatic load during pregnancy and child mitochondrial content and bioenergetic capacity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 144:105868. [PMID: 35853381 PMCID: PMC9706402 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondria are multifunctional energy-producing and signaling organelles that support life and contribute to stress adaptation. There is a growing understanding of the dynamic relationship between stress exposure and mitochondrial biology; however, the influence of stress on key domains of mitochondrial biology during early-life, particularly the earliest phases of intra-uterine/prenatal period remains largely unknown. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine the impact of fetal exposure to stress (modeled as the biological construct allostatic load) upon mitochondrial biology in early childhood. METHODS In n = 30 children (range: 3.5-6 years, 53% male), we quantified mitochondrial content via citrate synthase (CS) activity and mtDNA copy number (mtDNAcn), and measured mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity via respiratory chain enzyme activities (complexes I (CI), II (CII), and IV (CIV)) in platelet-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In a cohort of healthy pregnant women, maternal allostatic load was operationalized as a latent variable (sum of z-scores) representing an aggregation of early-, mid- and late-gestation measures of neuroendocrine (cortisol), immune (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein), metabolic (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, free fatty acids), and cardiovascular (aggregate systolic and diastolic blood pressure) systems, as well as an anthropometric indicator (pre-pregnancy body mass index [BMI]). RESULTS An interquartile increase in maternal allostatic load during pregnancy was associated with higher mitochondrial content (24% and 15% higher CS and mtDNAcn), and a higher mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity (16%, 23%, and 25% higher CI, CII and CIV enzymatic activities) in child leukocytes. The positive association between maternal allostatic load during pregnancy and child mitochondrial content and bioenergetic capacity remained significant after accounting for the effects of key pre- and post-natal maternal and child covariates (p's < 0.05, except CI p = 0.073). CONCLUSION We report evidence that prenatal biological stress exposure, modeled as allostatic load, was associated with elevated child mitochondrial content and bioenergetic capacity in early childhood. This higher mitochondrial content and bioenergetic capacity (per leukocyte) may reflect increased energetic demands at the immune or organism level, and thus contribute to wear-and-tear and pathophysiology, and/or programmed pro-inflammatory phenotypes. These findings provide potential mechanistic insight into the cellular processes underlying developmental programming, and support the potential role that changes in mitochondrial content and bioenergetic functional capacity may play in altering life-long susceptibility for health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyllenhammer LE
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Picard M
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Behavioral Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA,Department of Neurology, Merritt Center, Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - McGill MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Behavioral Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Boyle KE
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Vawter MP
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Rasmussen JM
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Buss C
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Entringer S
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wadhwa PD
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Epidemiology, University of California, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
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