Mediation Effects of Placental Inflammatory Transcriptional Biomarkers on the Sex-Dependent Associations between Maternal Phthalate Exposure and Infant Allergic Rhinitis: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Jian Qing Wang; Zhi Juan LI; Hui Gao; Jie Sheng; Chun Mei Liang; Ya Bin HU; Xun Xia; Kun Huang; Su Fang Wang; Peng Zhu; Jia Hu Hao; Fang Biao Tao

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Mediation Effects of Placental Inflammatory Transcriptional Biomarkers on the Sex-Dependent Associations between Maternal Phthalate Exposure and Infant Allergic Rhinitis: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Author: Jian Qing WANG ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

4
,

5} ; Zhi Juan LI ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Hui GAO ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

4
,

7} ; Jie SHENG ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Chun Mei LIANG ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Ya Bin HU ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Xun XIA ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

4
,

7} ; Kun HUANG ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Su Fang WANG ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Peng ZHU ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Jia Hu HAO ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6} ; Fang Biao TAO ^{1
,

2
,

3
,

6}
Author Information

1. Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
2. MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health across Life Cycle, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
3. NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
4. Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
5. The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China.
6. Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
7. Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Infants; Inflammation; Phthalate; Sex difference
MeSH: Biomarkers; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Diethylhexyl Phthalate/analogs & derivatives*; Female; Humans; Interleukin-4/pharmacology*; Male; Maternal Exposure/adverse effects*; Phthalic Acids/adverse effects*; Placenta; Pregnancy; Rhinitis, Allergic/epidemiology*
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2022;35(8):711-721
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:Prenatal phthalate exposure has been associated with placental inflammatory factors and infant allergic rhinitis (AR). However, the results are inconclusive. We designed a population-based cohort study to examine the effects of placental inflammatory biomarkers on the sex-dependent associations between maternal phthalate exposure and infant AR.
METHODS:A total of 2,348 pregnant women from Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, China, who were screened before antenatal visits and met the inclusion criteria, were included in the present study. We assessed AR in their offspring aged 36 months with a questionnaire. Quantitative PCR was performed to measure placental inflammatory factor mRNAs. The independent samples t-test and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the associations between infant AR and maternal phthalates.
RESULTS:Childhood AR may be related to education and family monthly income ( P = 0.01). The phthalate metabolites, mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyl) phthalate (MEHHP), in pregnant women were associated with a significantly increased risk for infant AR in males [ P < 0.05; odds ratio ( OR): 1.285; 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.037-1.591, and OR: 1.232, 95% CI: 1.008-1.507, respectively], but not females. Additionally, irritably-increased expression levels of HO-1 and IL-4 were associated with AR in male infants ( OR: 1.175; 95% CI: 1.038-1.329 and OR: 1.181; 95% CI: 1.056-1.322, respectively). The association between maternal urinary MEHHP and placental HO-1 was marginally significant according to mediation analysis.
CONCLUSION:The associations of maternal MEHHP and MEOHP levels with fetal AR in males were significant. Placental HO-1 was a fractional mediator in the associations between MEHHP and AR. Thus, the placenta should be further investigated as a potential mediator of maternal exposure-induced disease risk in children.