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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

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Prenatal phthalate exposure, infant growth, and global DNA methylation of human placenta

Yan Zhao1, Hui-jing Shi, Chang-ming Xie

  • 1Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis
|October 21, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to phthalates may impact fetal growth. This study found placental DNA methylation changes, specifically LINE-1 methylation, might mediate the link between phthalate exposure and reduced fetal growth.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Epigenetics
  • Developmental Toxicology
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to phthalates is linked to adverse fetal growth outcomes.
  • Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, are potential molecular mechanisms mediating these effects.
  • Understanding these pathways is crucial for identifying interventions to improve fetal development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal phthalate exposure, global DNA methylation in the placenta, and infant growth.
  • To explore placental long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) methylation as a mediator of phthalate-induced effects on fetal growth.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified global DNA methylation (LINE-1 methylation) in placental samples from 119 subjects (55 fetal growth restriction cases, 64 controls) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction-pyrosequencing.
  • Measured maternal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations via high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
  • Analyzed associations between phthalate metabolites, LINE-1 methylation, and birth weight standard deviation scores.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher concentrations of specific phthalate metabolites (MEHHP, MEOHP, SumDEHP) were observed in fetal growth restriction cases compared to controls.
  • Placental LINE-1 methylation positively correlated with birth weight standard deviation scores.
  • LINE-1 methylation was negatively associated with urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations (MEHHP, SumDEHP).

Conclusions:

  • Placental LINE-1 methylation may act as a mediator in the pathway linking prenatal phthalate exposure to reduced fetal growth.
  • These findings highlight the role of epigenetic alterations in phthalate-induced developmental toxicity.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm these epigenetic mechanisms and inform public health strategies.

Keywords:
DNA methylationfetal growth restrictionlow birth weightphthalate exposure

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