Maternal and early postnatal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure in relation to total serum immunoglobulin concentrations in 6-month-old infants

Abstract

Animal data indicate that developmental tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure alters immune function; however, the potential immunotoxicity of dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the developing infant is an understudied area. The aim of the current study is to examine the association between maternal and early postnatal PCB concentrations in relation to total infant serum immunoglobulin concentrations determined at 6-months-of-age. We selected 384 mother-infant pairs participating in a birth cohort study in Eastern Slovakia. PCB concentrations of several congeners were determined in maternal and cord serum samples and in infant serum samples collected at 6-months-of-age using gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Total immunoglobulin (Ig) G, A, and M concentrations were determined by nephelometry, and IgE concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Linear regression models with adjustment for potential confounding factors were used to estimate the associations between maternal, cord, and 6-month infant PCB concentrations and total serum immunoglobulins. The median maternal serum concentration of PCB-153 was 140 ng/g lipid, ≈10-fold higher than concentrations in childbearing-age women in the United States during the same period. Maternal, cord, or 6-month infant PCB concentrations were not associated with total serum immunoglobulin levels at 6 months, regardless of the timing of PCB exposure, PCB congener, or specific immunoglobulin. In this population, which has high PCB concentrations relative to most populations in the world today, we did not observe any association between maternal and early postnatal PCB concentrations and total immunoglobulin measures of IgG, IgA, IgM, or IgE.

Environmental exposure to organochlorine pesticides and deficits in cochlear status in children

“…The Michalovce area was polluted by PCBs which were produced at the chemical plant Chemko Strážske and at the same time by OCPs due to misuse of agrochemicals during the era of socialism. The characteristics of infants and mothers participating in the study were described earlier (Jusko et al 2012; Jusko et al 2011; Jusko et al 2010; Park et al 2010; Sonneborn et al 2008a, 2008b). …”

Duration of breastfeeding and serum PCB 153 concentrations in children

“…The extent of pollution can be illustrated by comparing the median serum concentration for the same time period in 1009 adult subjects for congener PCB 153 of 578 ng/g of lipid in the Michalovce district (Petrik et al, 2006) with the median serum concentration in 415 nonpregnant women for congener PCB 153 of 8.3 ng/g of lipid in USA (Woodruff et al, 2011). The characteristics of infants and mothers participating in the study were described earlier (Jusko et al, 2012; Jusko et al, 2011; Jusko et al, 2010; Park et al, 2010; Sonneborn et al, 2008a, 2008b). The study protocol was approved by Institutional Review Boards at the University of California, Davis and the Slovak Medical University.…”

The kinetics of cell surface receptor expression in children perinatally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls

“…The mean maternal serum levels of the sum of six PCBs (∑ PCB ) were 7.5 and (718.5 ng/g lipid) in Michalovce and 3.6 ng/ml (373.7 ng/g lipid) in Svidnik/Stropkov (Sonneborn et al, 2008). Descriptive data for the PCB concentrations in maternal, cord, and infant serum was reported previously (Jusko et al, 2010(Jusko et al, , 2011 …”

“…Jusko et al (2010) observed little evidence for an association between PCB exposures measured during the pre-natal and early post-natal period and post-vaccination specific antibody responses to anti-haemophilus influenzae Type b, tetanus toxoid, and diphtheria toxoid at 6-months-of-age in the same population of Michalovce and Svidnik/Stropkov districts. In addition, in utero and early post-natal PCB exposures are not associated with total serum immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM, or IgE) in infants at 6-months-of-age, regardless of the timing of PCB exposure (Jusko et al, 2011). Future research of environmental exposures will be required to detect associations in children during later childhood when immunoglobulin measures are less variable, and further determine whether relatively modest effects of PCB exposure on surface marker expression are related to total serum immunoglobulins and/or differences in the incidence of infections.…”