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Vitamin D receptor haplotypes affect lead levels during pregnancy
Vania B Rezende1, Jefferson H Amaral, Silvana M Quintana
1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, 13081-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
The Science of the Total Environment
|August 10, 2010
Summary
Certain vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene variations, specifically a haplotype, are linked to lower lead (Pb) levels in pregnant women. This genetic factor may influence susceptibility to lead toxicity during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Human Genetics
- Toxicology
Background:
- Pregnant women face increased risk from lead (Pb) exposure due to bone mobilization of stored lead, leading to fetal contamination.
- Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are known to influence bone mineralization and lead biomarkers, but their impact on lead levels in pregnant women remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of specific VDR gene polymorphisms (FokI, BsmI, ApaI) and their haplotypes on lead levels in pregnant women.
- To assess whether maternal VDR genotypes influence lead levels in umbilical cord blood.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed blood (Pb-B) and serum (Pb-S) lead concentrations in 256 pregnant women and their umbilical cords using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
- Determined VDR gene polymorphisms (FokI, BsmI, ApaI) and haplotypes using PCR and restriction fragment length digestion.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between individual VDR polymorphisms and Pb-B, Pb-S, or the Pb-S/Pb-B ratio.
- A specific VDR haplotype (f-a-b alleles for FokI, ApaI, BsmI) was significantly associated with lower Pb-S and a lower %Pb-S/Pb-B ratio (P<0.05).
- Maternal VDR haplotypes did not affect lead levels in umbilical cord samples.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to demonstrate that a common VDR gene haplotype influences serum lead levels and the serum/blood lead ratio in pregnant women.
- These findings suggest that certain VDR genetic profiles may confer a reduced susceptibility to lead toxicity during pregnancy, potentially aiding in risk prediction.
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