Toxic metals in amniotic fluid and altered gene expression in cell‐free fetal RNA. (29th December 2017) - Smeester, Lisa
Abstract: Both exposures to toxic metals, as well as deficiencies in essential metals, during pregnancy has been linked to a variety of negative reproductive outcomes. The exact etiologies of such outcomes and the effects of fetal exposure to these metals are largely unknown. Therefore, the ability to assess levels of these elements is critical to determining the underlying causes of such conditions and the effects that both essential and nonessential metals have on fetal development. Thus, using cell‐free fetal RNA from amniotic fluid, we set out to measure the association between amniotic fluid levels of toxic and essential metals and fetal gene expression. We find that arsenic was associated with increased expression of 3 genes known to play roles in both birth‐related and reproductive effects. The results highlight the potential for detrimental health effects of prenatal metals exposure and the potential to identify biomarkers of environmental exposure during this critical developmental period. Abstract : What's already known about this topic? Prenatal toxic metal exposure has been linked to negative reproductive outcomes. Effects of in utero exposure to these metals on fetal gene expression is largely unknown. What does this study add? This is the first study to show that in utero arsenic exposure may alter cell‐free fetal RNA assessed in amniotic fluid. Differential fetal gene expression of OR4S2, PLCB1, and PGR is associated with amniotic fluid arsenic levels.