Associations of cadmium, bisphenol A and polychlorinated biphenyl co-exposure in utero with placental gene expression and neonatal outcomes.
Xu. Xijin X; Chiung. Yin Mei YM; Lu. Fangfang F; Qiu. Shaoshan S; Ji. Minhui M; Huo. Xia X
Key Findings
- Co-exposure to cadmium, BPA, and PCBs raised placental KISS1 (kisspeptin) mRNA threefold.
- Higher KISS1 expression was positively correlated with all three toxicants.
- Lower birth weight was associated with cadmium and PCB levels, possibly mediated by increased KISS1.
- Leptin and its receptor were also higher, but only linked to BPA exposure.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the main takeaway is to minimize exposure to cadmium, BPA, and PCBs, as they can disrupt kisspeptin signaling and potentially affect growth and metabolism. While the findings are specific to fetal development, they suggest that environmental toxins may influence the kisspeptin system, so reducing these chemicals could be beneficial for overall hormonal health.
Summary
The study found that pregnant women exposed to cadmium, BPA, and PCBs had higher levels of the KISS1 gene (which makes the kisspeptin peptide) in their placentas, and this was linked to lower birth weight. The toxic chemicals also raised leptin signals, but only BPA was tied to those changes. In short, environmental pollutants can boost kisspeptin production in the womb, which may affect growth.
Abstract
In utero co-exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds can perturb fetal development. However, the effect of co-exposure on pivotal regulatory genes has seldom been investigated. We explored the effects of in utero co-exposure to cadmium (Cd), bisphenol A (BPA) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on master regulator genes. We recruited 284 healthy pregnant women, of whom 262 provided both cord blood and placenta samples, and 200 had all measurements taken. Placental Cd, cord blood BPA and total PCBs in the exposed group were higher than a reference group. KISS1 expression level in placental tissue was threefold higher in the exposed group than in the reference, and was positively associated with all toxicants. Leptin and leptin receptor expression were also significantly higher, but were only associated with BPA. From our findings, we conclude that lower birth weight is correlated with Cd and PCBs, and may result from the increased KISS1 mRNA expression.
Study Information
pubmed
2015
2015-02-14T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.02.004
60
51