Prenatal Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution and the DNA Methylation in Cord Blood Cells: MOCEH Study

Abstract

Particulate matter with a diameter of ≤10 µm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) affect the DNA methylation in the fetus, but epigenetic studies regarding prenatal exposure to air pollution in Asia are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether there is any association between the ambient concentrations of PM10 and NO2 and CpG methylation in the cord blood DNA by using a Korean birth cohort. The concentrations of the air pollutants were incorporated into the final LUR model by using the maternal address data. The methylation level was determined using HumanMethylationEPIC BeadChip and a linear regression analysis model. A multipollutant model including both PM10 and NO2 and models with single pollutants were used for each trimester exposure. The number of differentially methylated positions was the largest for midpregnancy exposure in both the single pollutant models and the multipollutant regression analysis. Additionally, gene-set analysis regarding midpregnancy exposure revealed four gene ontology terms (cellular response to staurosporine, positive regulation of cytoskeleton organization, neurotransmitter transport, and execution phase of apoptosis). In conclusion, these findings show an association between prenatal PM10 and NO2 exposure and DNA methylation in several CpG sites in cord blood cells, especially for midpregnancy exposure.

Neurodevelopmental toxicity induced by airborne particulate matter

“…Studies have shown that babies born with altered placental DNA methylation patterns are at risk for neurobehavioral abnormalities, cancer, and atopic dermatitis, among other diseases (Ghazi et al, 2021). Prenatal exposure to TRAP can also alter the methylation status of certain CpG sites, resulting in significant effects on biological events (Park et al, 2022).…”

Lupus, DNA Methylation, and Air Pollution: A Malicious Triad

“…DMRs initially detected in cord blood showed consistent exposure-related changed in DNA methylation in the placenta; however, those initially detected in the placenta showed no DNA methylation differences in cord blood—appearing to be tissue-specific [ 141 ]. In a Korean birth cohort [ 142 ], DNA methylation in association with PM 10 and NO 2 exposure were investigated; most significantly, a CpG site in the caspase 7 ( CASP7 ) gene could be associated both when addressing the entire pregnancy and during the second trimester. Furthermore, CpG sites related to WD repeat domain 93 ( WDR93 ) and family with sequence similarity 176 member A ( FAM176A ) could be associated with PM 10 and NO 2 exposure [ 142 ].…”

“…In a Korean birth cohort [ 142 ], DNA methylation in association with PM 10 and NO 2 exposure were investigated; most significantly, a CpG site in the caspase 7 ( CASP7 ) gene could be associated both when addressing the entire pregnancy and during the second trimester. Furthermore, CpG sites related to WD repeat domain 93 ( WDR93 ) and family with sequence similarity 176 member A ( FAM176A ) could be associated with PM 10 and NO 2 exposure [ 142 ].…”

Persistent DNA methylation changes associated with prenatal NO2exposure in a Canadian prospective birth study

“…The RNF39 protein is part of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I, thus it is biologically plausible that altered RNF39 DNAm may be associated with changes in immune function 10 , including asthma. More recently, DNAm at CASP7 was associated with prenatal NO2 exposure across all trimesters in a Korean cohort 11 . The CASP7 gene is a critical mediator of mitochondria-induced apoptosis, thus this finding is consistent with previous observations of altered DNAm in mitochondrial oxidative stress pathways 8,12 .…”