Maternal exposure to airborne particulate matter during pregnancy and lactation induces kidney injury in rat dams and their male offspring: the role of vitamin D in pregnancy and beyond

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the transgenerational effects of maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) on offspring kidney health. This study investigated the effect of maternal administration of PM 2.5 or PM 2.5 with vitamin D during pregnancy and lactation on renal injury in rat dams and their offspring. Methods: Nine pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received oral administration of normal saline, airborne PM 2.5 , or PM 2.5 with vitamin D from gestational day 11 to postpartum day 21. Kidneys of rat dams (n = 3 for each group) and their male offspring (n = 5 for each group) were taken for analysis on postpartum or postnatal day 21. Results: Maternal PM 2.5 exposure increased glomerular damage, tubulointerstitial injury, and cortical macrophage infiltration in both dams and pups; all increases were attenuated by vitamin D administration. In dam kidneys, PM 2.5 increased the protein expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR), klotho, and tumor necrosis factor-α; vitamin D lessened these changes. The expressions of renin, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p50 decreased in rat dams exposed to PM 2.5 . In offspring kidneys, exposure to maternal PM 2.5 reduced the expression of VDR, renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), Nrf2, and NF-κB p50, but increased cytochrome P450 24A1 expression. Maternal vitamin D administration with PM 2.5 enhanced VDR, ACE, and NF-κB p50 activities in pup kidneys. Conclusion: PM 2.5 exposure during nephrogenesis may exert transgenerational renal impairment, and maternal vitamin D intake could attenuate PM 2.5 -induced kidney damage in mothers and their offspring.