title: Differential proteomic expression of human placenta and fetal development following e-waste lead and cadmium exposure in utero.
abstract: Prenatal exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) has been associated with a series of physiological problems resulting in fetal growth restriction. We aimed to investigate the effects of Pb and Cd exposure on placental function and the potential mechanisms involved in fetal development. Placental specimens and questionnaires were collected from an e-waste area and a reference area in China. Two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with MALDI-TOF-MS/MS and molecular network relationship were performed to analyze differentially expressed proteins using a compositing sample pool. Compared with the reference group, the exposed group exhibited significantly higher levels of placental Pb and Cd (p<0.01), shorter body length and higher gestational age (p<0.01). After bivariate adjustment in a linear regression model, decreases of 205.05g in weight and 0.44cm in body length were associated with a 10ng/g wt increase in placental Cd. Pb showed a negative trend but lacked statistical significance. Proteomic analysis showed 32 differentially-expressed proteins and were predominantly involved in protein translocation, cytoskeletal structure, and energy metabolism. Fumarate hydratase was down-regulated in the exposed placenta tissues and validated by ELISA. Alterations in placental proteome suggest that imbalances in placental mitochondria respiration might be a vital pathway targeting fetal growth restriction induced by exposure to Cd.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Epigenetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China.
authors.forename: Andy T Y
authors.initials: ATY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, PR China. Electronic address: xuxj@stu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xijin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D059029:Electronic Waste; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism*; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D020543:Proteome; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead
keywords: Cadmium; Differential proteomics; Fetal development; Lead; Placental tissue