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Clark J, Bommarito P, Stýblo M, Rubio-Andrade M, García-Vargas GG, Gamble MV, Fry RC. Maternal serum concentrations of one-carbon metabolism factors modify the association between biomarkers of arsenic methylation efficiency and birth weight. Environ Health 2022; 21:68. [PMID: 35836250 PMCID: PMC9281096 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00875-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a ubiquitous metalloid and drinking water contaminant. Prenatal exposure is associated with birth outcomes across multiple studies. During metabolism, iAs is sequentially methylated to mono- and di-methylated arsenical species (MMAs and DMAs) to facilitate whole body clearance. Inefficient methylation (e.g., higher urinary % MMAs) is associated with increased risk of certain iAs-associated diseases. One-carbon metabolism factors influence iAs methylation, modifying toxicity in adults, and warrant further study during the prenatal period. The objective of this study was to evaluate folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine as modifiers of the relationship between biomarkers of iAs methylation efficiency and birth outcomes. METHODS Data from the Biomarkers of Exposure to ARsenic (BEAR) pregnancy cohort (2011-2012) with maternal urine and cord serum arsenic biomarkers and maternal serum folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine concentrations were utilized. One-carbon metabolism factors were dichotomized using clinical cutoffs and median splits. Multivariable linear regression models were fit to evaluate associations between each biomarker and birth outcome overall and within levels of one-carbon metabolism factors. Likelihood ratio tests of full and reduced models were used to test the significance of statistical interactions on the additive scale (α = 0.10). RESULTS Among urinary biomarkers, % U-MMAs was most strongly associated with birth weight (β = - 23.09, 95% CI: - 44.54, - 1.64). Larger, more negative mean differences in birth weight were observed among infants born to women who were B12 deficient (β = - 28.69, 95% CI: - 53.97, - 3.42) or experiencing hyperhomocysteinemia (β = - 63.29, 95% CI: - 154.77, 28.19). Generally, mean differences in birth weight were attenuated among infants born to mothers with higher serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 (or lower serum concentrations of homocysteine). Effect modification by vitamin B12 and homocysteine was significant on the additive scale for some associations. Results for gestational age were less compelling, with an approximate one-week mean difference associated with C-tAs (β = 0.87, 95% CI: 0, 1.74), but not meaningful otherwise. CONCLUSIONS Tissue distributions of iAs and its metabolites (e.g., % MMAs) may vary according to serum concentrations of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine during pregnancy. This represents a potential mechanism through which maternal diet may modify the harms of prenatal exposure to iAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeliyah Clark
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paige Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Miroslav Stýblo
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marisela Rubio-Andrade
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo G García-Vargas
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Mary V Gamble
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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Tomlinson MS, Bommarito P, George A, Yelton S, Cable P, Coyte R, Karr J, Vengosh A, Gray KM, Fry RC. Assessment of inorganic contamination of private wells and demonstration of effective filter-based reduction: A pilot-study in Stokes County, North Carolina. Environ Res 2019; 177:108618. [PMID: 31419714 PMCID: PMC6717535 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Well water is the primary drinking source for nearly a quarter of North Carolina residents. Many communities across the state have been concerned about their well water quality and inorganic contamination. The "Well Empowered" study worked alongside a community in Stokes County, North Carolina to measure toxic metals in their well water as well as provide and test ZeroWater® filter pitchers in homes with arsenic (As) or lead (Pb) contamination. Multiple water samples, including a First Draw sample from the kitchen tap and a sample taken directly from the well, were collected from 39 homes in Stokes County. The samples were analyzed for 17 different inorganic contaminants, including As, boron (B), Pb, and manganese (Mn), using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). High concentrations of Pb along with copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) were only found in the First Draw sample and therefore likely originate in the home plumbing system while As, iron (Fe), and Mn were consistent across all samples and therefore are present in the groundwater. The low concentrations of B (<100 parts per billion (ppb)) make it unlikely that the source of As and Mn contamination was coal ash-derived. Out of the 39 homes, four had As levels exceeding the federal standard of 10 ppb and an additional two exceeded the Pb standard of 15 ppb. These homes were provided with a ZeroWater® filter pitcher and a water sample was taken pre- and post-filtration. The ZeroWater® filter removed 99% of As and Pb from the water, dropping the levels well below the drinking water standard levels. These ZeroWater® filter pitchers, while not a permanent solution, are a low-cost option for homeowners experiencing As or Pb contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Scott Tomlinson
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Paige Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew George
- Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sarah Yelton
- Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Peter Cable
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rachel Coyte
- Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jonathan Karr
- Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kathleen M Gray
- Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Beck R, Bommarito P, Douillet C, Kanke M, Del Razo LM, García-Vargas G, Fry RC, Sethupathy P, Stýblo M. Circulating miRNAs Associated with Arsenic Exposure. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:14487-14495. [PMID: 30457847 PMCID: PMC7036137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid. Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a form of As commonly found in drinking water and in some foods. Overwhelming evidence suggests that people chronically exposed to iAs are at risk of developing cancer or cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic diseases. Although the mechanisms underlying iAs-associated illness remain poorly characterized, a growing body of literature raises the possibility that microRNAs (miRNAs), post-transcriptional gene suppressors, may serve as mediators and/or early indicators of the pathologies associated with iAs exposure. To characterize the circulating miRNA profiles of individuals chronically exposed to iAs, samples of plasma were collected from 109 healthy residents of the city of Zimapán and the Lagunera area in Mexico, the regions with historically high exposures to iAs in drinking water. These plasma samples were analyzed for small RNAs using high-throughput sequencing and for iAs and its methylated metabolites. Associations between plasma levels of arsenic species and miRNAs were evaluated. Six circulating miRNAs (miRs-423-5p, -142-5p -2, -423-5p +1, -320c-1, -320c-2, and -454-5p), two of which have been previously linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes (miRs-423-5p, -454-5p), were found to be significantly correlated with plasma MAs. No miRNAs were associated with plasma iAs or DMAs after correction for multiple testing. These miRNAs may represent mechanistic links between iAs exposure and disease or serve as markers of disease risks associated with this exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Beck
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Paige Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christelle Douillet
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Matt Kanke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Luz M Del Razo
- Department of Toxicology, Center of Investigation and of Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav-IPN), México City, Mexico
| | | | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Corresponding Authors: Praveen Sethupathy, ; Miroslav Styblo,
| | - Miroslav Stýblo
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Corresponding Authors: Praveen Sethupathy, ; Miroslav Styblo,
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Drobná Z, Martin E, Kim KS, Smeester L, Bommarito P, Rubio-Andrade M, García-Vargas GG, Stýblo M, Zou F, Fry RC. Analysis of maternal polymorphisms in arsenic (+3 oxidation state)-methyltransferase AS3MT and fetal sex in relation to arsenic metabolism and infant birth outcomes: Implications for risk analysis. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 61:28-38. [PMID: 26928318 PMCID: PMC4970429 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) is the key enzyme in the metabolism of inorganic arsenic (iAs). Polymorphisms of AS3MT influence adverse health effects in adults, but little is known about their role in iAs metabolism in pregnant women and infants. The relationships between seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in AS3MT and urinary concentrations of iAs and its methylated metabolites were assessed in mother-infant pairs of the Biomarkers of Exposure to ARsenic (BEAR) cohort. Maternal alleles for five of the seven SNPs (rs7085104, rs3740400, rs3740393, rs3740390, and rs1046778) were associated with urinary concentrations of iAs metabolites, and alleles for one SNP (rs3740393) were associated with birth outcomes/measures. These associations were strongly dependent upon the male sex of the fetus but independent of fetal genotype for AS3MT. These data highlight a potential sex-dependence of the relationships among maternal genotype, iAs metabolism and infant health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Drobná
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC 27695, United States
| | - Elizabeth Martin
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Kyung Su Kim
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Lisa Smeester
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Paige Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Marisela Rubio-Andrade
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo G García-Vargas
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Miroslav Stýblo
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
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Drobná Z, Martin E, Kim KS, Smeester L, Bommarito P, Rubio-Andrade M, García-Vargas GG, Stýblo M, Zou F, Fry RC. Analysis of maternal polymorphisms in arsenic (+3 oxidation state)-methyltransferase AS3MT and fetal sex in relation to arsenic metabolism and infant birth outcomes: Implications for risk analysis. Reprod Toxicol 2016. [PMID: 26928318 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.1002.1017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) is the key enzyme in the metabolism of inorganic arsenic (iAs). Polymorphisms of AS3MT influence adverse health effects in adults, but little is known about their role in iAs metabolism in pregnant women and infants. The relationships between seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in AS3MT and urinary concentrations of iAs and its methylated metabolites were assessed in mother-infant pairs of the Biomarkers of Exposure to ARsenic (BEAR) cohort. Maternal alleles for five of the seven SNPs (rs7085104, rs3740400, rs3740393, rs3740390, and rs1046778) were associated with urinary concentrations of iAs metabolites, and alleles for one SNP (rs3740393) were associated with birth outcomes/measures. These associations were strongly dependent upon the male sex of the fetus but independent of fetal genotype for AS3MT. These data highlight a potential sex-dependence of the relationships among maternal genotype, iAs metabolism and infant health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Drobná
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC 27695, United States
| | - Elizabeth Martin
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Kyung Su Kim
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Lisa Smeester
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Paige Bommarito
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Marisela Rubio-Andrade
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo G García-Vargas
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Miroslav Stýblo
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Fei Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
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Taylor VG, Kondrashkina E, Bommarito P, Lund G, Cierpicki T, Tesmer JJ. Structural Studies of G-Alpha-Q Signaling. Biophys J 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.11.1883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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