title: Arsenic exposure increases maternal but not cord serum IgG in Bangladesh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thousands of pregnant women are exposed to arsenic (As), which has been shown to lead to a higher risk of maternal and infant morbidity. We hypothesized that As-induced modifications to the humoral immune system may be partly responsible, and examined the relationship between As and immunoglobulin G (IgG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women were recruited in As-contaminated rural areas in Bangladesh. Blood and urine samples, and questionnaire data were collected. We analyzed data from 202 pregnant women and a subset of 121 mother-infant pairs. Urinary As was measured on inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and adjusted with specific gravity (U-AsSG ). Maternal (IgGmat ) and cord (IgGcord ) serum total IgG were measured using immunoturbidity assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The geometric mean U-AsSG (n = 202) was 69 μg/L (range, 3.1-1356 μg/L). Urinary-AsSG was significantly associated with IgGmat (n = 202; (r = 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.36; P < 0.001) and remained so after the inclusion of maternal-associated variables in a multiple-regression model (β = 1.26; 95%CI: 0.47-2.05; P < 0.01). U-AsSG , however, was not significantly associated with IgGcord (n = 121), while IgGmat and IgGcord were also not associated with each other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal As exposure was positively associated with IgGmat but not IgGcord . Elevated IgGmat may have implications as regards maternal morbidity and the placental transfer of specific IgGs. Further studies are required to better understand how As may affect maternal and child health by modifying the humoral immune system.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ping Han
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ser
authors.forename: Bilkis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.forename: Fatema
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jebunnesa
authors.forename: Kaneez
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fatema
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosy
authors.forename: Rabeya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yasmin
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: Liaquat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Sk Akhtar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Chiho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D015994:Incidence; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: arsenic; immune system; immunoglobulin; infant; maternal exposure