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Frye RE, Cakir J, Rose S, Delhey L, Bennuri SC, Tippett M, Melnyk S, James SJ, Palmer RF, Austin C, Curtin P, Arora M. Prenatal air pollution influences neurodevelopment and behavior in autism spectrum disorder by modulating mitochondrial physiology. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1561-1577. [PMID: 32963337 PMCID: PMC8159748 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00885-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the role of the mitochondrion, an organelle highly sensitive to environmental agents, in the influence of prenatal air pollution exposure on neurodevelopment and behavior in 96 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [45 with neurodevelopmental regression (NDR); 76% Male; mean (SD) age 10 y 9 m (3 y 9 m)]. Mitochondrial function was assessed using the Seahorse XFe96 in fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Second and third trimester average and maximal daily exposure to fine air particulate matter of diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System. Neurodevelopment was measured using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale 2nd edition and behavior was assessed using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and Social Responsiveness Scale. Prenatal PM2.5 exposure influenced mitochondrial respiration during childhood, but this relationship was different for those with (r = 0.25-0.40) and without (r = -0.07 to -0.19) NDR. Mediation analysis found that mitochondrial respiration linked to energy production accounted for 25% (SD = 2%) and 10% (SD = 2%) of the effect of average prenatal PM2.5 exposure on neurodevelopment and behavioral symptoms, respectively. Structural equation models estimated that PM2.5 and mitochondrial respiration accounted for 34% (SD = 4%) and 36% (SD = 3%) of the effect on neurodevelopment, respectively, and that behavior was indirectly influenced by mitochondrial respiration through neurodevelopment but directly influenced by prenatal PM2.5. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to PM2.5 disrupts neurodevelopment and behavior through complex mechanisms, including long-term changes in mitochondrial respiration and that patterns of early development need to be considered when studying the influence of environmental agents on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Frye
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Janet Cakir
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Shannon Rose
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Leanna Delhey
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
- College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Sirish C Bennuri
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Marie Tippett
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Stepan Melnyk
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - S Jill James
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Raymond F Palmer
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Christine Austin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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