| 1. |
- Alavian-Ghavanini, Ali, et al.
(författare)
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Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure is Linked to Epigenetic Changes in Glutamate Receptor Subunit Gene Grin2b in Female Rats and Humans
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders and to effects on epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, at genes involved in brain function. High doses of BPA have been shown to change expression and regulation of one such gene, Grin2b, in mice. Yet, if such changes occur at relevant doses in animals and humans has not been addressed. We investigated if low-dose developmental BPA exposure affects DNA methylation and expression of Grin2b in brains of adult rats. Furthermore, we assessed associations between prenatal BPA exposure and Grin2b methylation in 7-year old children. We found that Grin2b mRNA expression was increased and DNA methylation decreased in female, but not in male rats. In humans, prenatal BPA exposure was associated with increased methylation levels in girls. Additionally, Iow APGAR scores, a predictor for increased risk for neurodevelopmental diseases, were associated with higher Grin2b methylation levels in girls. Thus, we could link developmental BPA exposure and Iow APGAR scores to changes in the epigenetic regulation of Grin2b, a gene important for neuronal function, in a sexual dimorphic fashion. Discrepancies in exact locations and directions of the DNA methylation change might reflect differences between species, analysed tissues, exposure level and/or timing.
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| 2. |
- Bergman, Åke, et al.
(författare)
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Science and policy on endocrine disrupters must not be mixed : a reply to a "common sense" intervention by toxicology journal editors
- 2013
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Ingår i: Environmental Health. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1476-069X. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The "common sense" intervention by toxicology journal editors regarding proposed European Union endocrine disrupter regulations ignores scientific evidence and well-established principles of chemical risk assessment. In this commentary, endocrine disrupter experts express their concerns about a recently published, and is in our considered opinion inaccurate and factually incorrect, editorial that has appeared in several journals in toxicology. Some of the shortcomings of the editorial are discussed in detail. We call for a better founded scientific debate which may help to overcome a polarisation of views detrimental to reaching a consensus about scientific foundations for endocrine disrupter regulation in the EU.
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| 3. |
- Caporale, N., et al.
(författare)
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From cohorts to molecules: Adverse impacts of endocrine disrupting mixtures
- 2022
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 375:6582
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Convergent evidence associates exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with major human diseases, even at regulation-compliant concentrations. This might be because humans are exposed to EDC mixtures, whereas chemical regulation is based on a risk assessment of individual compounds. Here, we developed a mixture-centered risk assessment strategy that integrates epidemiological and experimental evidence. We identified that exposure to an EDC mixture in early pregnancy is associated with language delay in offspring. At human-relevant concentrations, this mixture disrupted hormone-regulated and disease-relevant regulatory networks in human brain organoids and in the model organisms Xenopus leavis and Danio rerio, as well as behavioral responses. Reinterrogating epidemiological data, we found that up to 54% of the children had prenatal exposures above experimentally derived levels of concern, reaching, for the upper decile compared with the lowest decile of exposure, a 3.3 times higher risk of language delay. © 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All rights reserved.
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| 4. |
- Deng, Qihong, et al.
(författare)
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Early life exposure to ambient air pollution and childhood asthma in China
- 2015
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Ingår i: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 143, s. 83-92
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Early life is suggested to be a critical time in determining subsequent asthma development, but the extent to which the effect of early-life exposure to ambient air pollution on childhood asthma is unclear. Objectives: We investigated doctor-diagnosed asthma in preschool children due to exposure to ambient air pollution in utero and during the first year of life. Methods: In total 2490 children aged 3-6 years participated in a questionnaire study regarding doctor-diagnosed asthma between September 2011 and January 2012 in China. Children's exposure to critical air pollutants, sulfur dioxide (SO2) as proxy of industrial air pollution, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as proxy of traffic pollution, and particulate matter <= 10 mu m in diameter (PM10) as a mixture, was estimated from the concentrations measured at the ambient air quality monitoring stations by using an inverse distance weighted (IDW) method. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the relationship between early-life exposure and childhood asthma in terms of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Association between early-life exposure to air pollutants and childhood asthma was observed. SO2 and NO2 had significant associations with adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.45 (1.02-2.07) and 1.74 (1.15-2.62) in utero and 1.62 (1.01-2.60) and 1.90 (1.20-3.00) during the first year for per 50 mu g/m(3) and 15 mu g/m(3) increase respectively. Exposure to the combined high level of SO2 and NO2 in China significantly elevated the asthmatic risk with adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.76 (1.18-2.64) in utero and 1.85 (1.22-2.79) during the first year compared to the low level exposure. The associations were higher for males and the younger children aged 3-4 than females and the older children aged 5-6. Conclusions: Early-life exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with childhood asthma during which the level and source of air pollution play important roles. The high level and nature of combined industrial and traffic air pollution in China may contribute to the recent rapid increase of childhood asthma. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Di Criscio, Michela, et al.
(författare)
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A human-relevant mixture of endocrine disrupting chemicals induces changes in hippocampal DNA methylation correlating with hyperactive behavior in male mice
- 2023
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 313
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Humans are ubiquitously exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), substances that interfere with endogenous hormonal signaling. Exposure during early development is of particular concern due to the programming role of hormones during this period. A previous epidemiological study has shown association between prenatal co-exposure to 8 EDCs (Mixture N1) and language delay in children, suggesting an effect of this mixture on neurodevelopment. Furthermore, in utero exposure to Mixture N1 altered gene expression and behavior in adult mice. In this study, we investigated whether epigenetic mechanisms could underlie the long term effects of Mixture N1 on gene expression and behavior. To this end, we analyzed DNA methylation at regulatory regions of genes whose expression was affected by Mixture N1 in the hippocampus of in utero exposed mice using bisulfite-pyrosequencing. We show that Mixture N1 decreases DNA methylation in males at three genes that are part of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis: Nr3c1, Nr3c2, and Crhr1, coding for the glucocorticoid receptor, the mineralocorticoid receptor, and the corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1, respectively. Furthermore, we show that the decrease in Nr3c1 methylation correlates with increased gene expression, and that Nr3c1, Nr3c2, and Crhr1 methylation correlates with hyperactivity and reduction in social behavior. These findings indicate that an EDC mixture corresponding to a human exposure scenario induces epigenetic changes, and thus programming effects, on the HPA axis that are reflected in the behavioral phenotypes of the adult male offspring.
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| 6. |
- Engdahl, Elin, et al.
(författare)
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DNA methylation at GRIN2B partially mediates the association between prenatal bisphenol F exposure and cognitive functions in 7-year-old children in the SELMA study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 156
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that prenatal chemical exposure triggers epigenetic modifications that could influence health outcomes later in life. In this study, we investigated whether DNA methylation (DNAm) levels at the glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B (GRIN2B) gene underlies the association between prenatal exposure to an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), bisphenol F (BPF), and lower cognitive functions in 7-year-old children. Methods: Data from 799 children participating in the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal Mother and child Asthma and allergy (SELMA) pregnancy cohort was analyzed. Prenatal BPF exposure was assessed by measuring BPF levels in maternal urine. At age 7, DNAm of three CpG sites in a regulatory region of the GRIN2B gene was analyzed from buccal swabs using bisulfite-Pyrosequencing. Cognitive functions, including full-scale IQ and four subscales, were evaluated using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). Associations between prenatal BPF exposure and GRIN2B DNAm, as well as between GRIN2B DNAm and cognitive functions, were determined using regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Generalized structural equation models (gSEM) were used to evaluate if GRIN2B DNAm mediates the association between prenatal BPF exposure and cognitive functions at 7 years of age. Results: Prenatal BPF exposure was positively associated with GRIN2B DNAm levels at the third CpG site (CpG3), while CpG3 methylation was inversely associated with cognitive test scores. Mediation analyses showed that CpG3 methylation exerted 6–9% of the association between BPF exposure and full-scale IQ, as well as verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning in boys, while not significant in girls. Conclusions: This study is the first to identify locus-specific DNAm as a mediating factor underlying an epidemiological association between prenatal EDC exposure and cognitive functions in childhood. It also confirms previous findings, that GRIN2B DNAm is responsive to environmental exposures.
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| 7. |
- Gennings, Chris, et al.
(författare)
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Using Metrics of a Mixture Effect and Nutrition from an Observational Study for Consideration towards Causal Inference
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 19:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental exposures to a myriad of chemicals are associated with adverse health effects in humans, while good nutrition is associated with improved health. Single chemical in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate causal links between the chemicals and outcomes, but such studies do not represent human exposure to environmental mixtures. One way of summarizing the effect of the joint action of chemical mixtures is through an empirically weighted index using weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. My Nutrition Index (MNI) is a metric of overall dietary nutrition based on guideline values, including for pregnant women. Our objective is to demonstrate the use of an index as a metric for more causally linking human exposure to health outcomes using observational data. We use both a WQS index of 26 endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and MNI using data from the SELMA pregnancy cohort to conduct causal inference using g-computation with counterfactuals for assumed either reduced prenatal EDC exposures or improved prenatal nutrition. Reducing the EDC exposure using the WQS index as a metric or improving dietary nutrition using MNI as a metric, the counterfactuals in a causal inference with one SD change indicate significant improvement in cognitive function. Evaluation of such a strategy may support decision makers for risk management of EDCs and individual choices for improving dietary nutrition.
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| 8. |
- Hederos, Carl-Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of clinically diagnosed asthma with parental assessment of children's asthma in a questionnaire
- 2007
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Ingår i: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0905-6157 .- 1399-3038. ; 18:2, s. 135-141
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epidemiological evaluations of the prevalence of asthma are usually based on written questionnaires (WQs) in combination with validation by clinical investigation. In the present investigation, we compared parental assessment of asthma among their preschool children in response to a WQ with the corresponding medical records in the same region. An International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)-based WQ was answered by 75% of the parents of 6295 children aged 1–6 yr. Clinically diagnosed asthma, recorded in connection with admissions to the hospital or a visit to any of the outpatient clinics in the same region, were analysed in parallel. Finally, a complementary WQ was sent to the parents of children identified as asthmatic by either or both of this approaches. In response to the WQ 5.9% were claimed to suffer from asthma diagnosed by a doctor. According to the medical records, the prevalence of clinically diagnosed asthma was 4.9%. The estimated prevalence among children requiring treatment for their asthma was 4.4%. The sensitivity of the WQ was 77%, the specificity 97.5%. In the 1–2 yr age group the sensitivity was only 22%. This WQ was able to identify 54% of the children with a medical record of asthma. Forty percent of the children claimed by their parents to be asthmatic had no medical record of asthma. An ISAAC-based parentally completed WQ provided an acceptable estimation of the prevalence of asthma in children 2–6 yr of age, although only half of the individual patients identified in this manner are the same as those identified clinically.
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| 9. |
- Lizunkova, Polina, et al.
(författare)
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A Mixture of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Associated with Lower Birth Weight in Children Induces Adipogenesis and DNA Methylation Changes in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 23:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are man-made compounds that alter functions of the endocrine system. Environmental mixtures of EDCs might have adverse effects on human health, even though their individual concentrations are below regulatory levels of concerns. However, studies identifying and experimentally testing adverse effects of real-life mixtures are scarce. In this study, we aimed at evaluating an epidemiologically identified EDC mixture in an experimental setting to delineate its cellular and epigenetic effects. The mixture was established using data from the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal Mother and child Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study where it was associated with lower birth weight, an early marker for prenatal metabolic programming. This mixture was then tested for its ability to change metabolic programming of human mesenchymal stem cells. In these cells, we assessed if the mixture induced adipogenesis and genome-wide DNA methylation changes. The mixture increased lipid droplet accumulation already at concentrations corresponding to levels measured in the pregnant women of the SELMA study. Furthermore, we identified differentially methylated regions in genes important for adipogenesis and thermogenesis. This study shows that a mixture reflecting human real-life exposure can induce molecular and cellular changes during development that could underlie adverse outcomes.
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| 10. |
- Mentor, Anna, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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A suggested bisphenol A metabolite (MBP) interfered with reproductive organdevelopment in the chicken embryo while a human-relevant mixture ofphthalate monoesters had no such effects
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1528-7394 .- 1087-2620. ; 83:2, s. 66-81
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate diesters are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. While thesecompounds have been reported as reproductive toxicants, their effects may partially be attributedto metabolites. The aim of this study was to examine reproductive organ development in chickenembryos exposed to the BPA metabolite, 4-methyl-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pent-1-ene (MBP;100 μg/g egg) or a human-relevant mixture of 4 phthalate monoesters (85 μg/g egg). The mixturewas designed within the EU project EDC-MixRisk based upon a negative association with anogenitaldistance in boys at 21 months of age in a Swedish pregnancy cohort. Chicken embryoswere exposed in ovo from an initial stage of gonad differentiation (embryonic day 4) anddissected two days prior to anticipated hatching (embryonic day 19). No discernible effectswere noted on reproductive organs in embryos exposed to the mixture. MBP-treated malesexhibited retention of Müllerian ducts and feminization of the left testicle, while MBPadministeredfemales displayed a diminished the left ovary. In the left testicle of MBP-treatedmales, mRNA expression of female-associated genes was upregulated while the testicular markergene SOX9 was downregulated, corroborating a feminizing effect by MBP. Our results demonstratethat MBP, but not the phthalate monoester mixture, disrupts both male and femalereproductive organ development in an avian embryo model.
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