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- Alavian-Ghavanini, Ali, et al.
(author)
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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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In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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. |
- Cotgreave, Ian, et al.
(author)
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Pyriproxifen and microcephaly: an investigation of potential ties to the ongoing "Zika epidemic"
- 2016
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- As part of the Swetox mission to react to emerging concerns in chemical health and environmental safety, a preliminary litterature investigation was undertaken to gather all readily available scientific information on PPF with respect to safety assessment, in order to better understand potential links between chemical exposure and the devopment of microcephaly in affected areas. Therefore the contents of the report do not constitute an attempt at either questioning the use of existing regulatory data in the manner prescribed by international regulatory proceedures, or as a new risk assessment, based on the scientific information and concepts discussed. Here we report our findings, with particular emphasis on exisiting regulatory information, potential for lack of translation of results from regulatory animal testing to humans, lack of human exposure data and suggestions on plausible mode(s) of action of PPF in human neurodevelopmental adversities such as microcephaly.
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3. |
- Engdahl, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Childhood adversity increases methylation in the GRIN2B gene
- 2021
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In: Journal of Psychiatric Research. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-3956 .- 1879-1379. ; 132, s. 38-43
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Childhood adversity is an early life stressor associated with increased risk of several psychiatric disorders such as depression. Epigenetic changes, primarily DNA methylation, can be affected by early life stress, which in turn might contribute to altered disease susceptibility later in life. One plausible biomarker of early life stress is methylation of the ionotropic glutamate receptor NMDA type subunit 2B (GRIN2B) gene, which has been previously shown to be epigenetically affected by prenatal environmental stressors. Here, we set out to investigate if stress-inducing adversity during childhood is associated with changes in methylation of GRIN2B in adulthood. We studied 186 individuals from a Swedish naturalistic population-based cohort who had provided saliva samples (DNA) as well as information regarding both childhood adversity (CA) and depressive symptoms (dep) (nCA,dep = 41, nCA,no-dep = 56, nno-CA,dep = 40, Nno-CA,no-dep = 49). Methylation at four CpG sites in a regulatory region of GRIN2B was analysed using bisulfite pyrosequencing. Associations for methylation status to childhood adversity and to depression status were investigated using linear regression models. Our study shows that childhood adversity is associated with increased methylation levels of GRIN2B in adulthood, for three of the measured CpGs (p = 0.007, 0.006 and 5 × 10−14). This indicates that GRIN2B methylation is susceptible to early life stress, and that methylation at this gene is persistent over time. No association was found between GRIN2B methylation and depression status. Yet, this does not rule out a role for alterations in GRIN2B methylation for other neuropsychological outcomes not studied here.
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