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Transcriptomic evaluation of metals detected in placenta
Ozgur Kuzukiran1, Begum Yurdakok-Dikmen2, Recep Uyar3
1Cankiri Karatekin University, Eldivan Vocational School of Health Sciences, Veterinary Department, Cankiri, Turkey.
Chemosphere
|July 24, 2024
Summary
Environmental metal exposure, including aluminum, lead, and cadmium, significantly alters human placental gene expression, affecting protein synthesis and immune responses, potentially impacting fetal health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Genomics
Background:
- Human and canine placentas from Ankara, Turkey were analyzed for metal concentrations.
- Previous research indicates potential links between environmental metals and adverse health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess metal concentrations in human and canine placentas.
- To investigate the influence of detected metal levels on placental gene expression in humans.
Main Methods:
- Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) for metal analysis.
- Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for transcriptomic analysis.
- Bioinformatic analyses including Principal Component Analysis (PCA).
Main Results:
- Significant alterations in placental gene expression were observed in women exposed to aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd).
- Affected pathways include protein synthesis, immune responses, and cellular structure.
- Upregulation of immune-related pathways suggests a response to metal toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Metal exposure significantly impacts human placental gene expression.
- Observed changes may compromise placental function and fetal health.
- Monitoring and mitigating environmental metal exposure during pregnancy is crucial.
