Positive association between concentration of phthalate metabolites in urine and microparticles in adolescents and young adults.
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been used worldwide in various products for many years. In vitro studies have shown that exposure to DEHP and its metabolite mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) induces endothelial cell apoptosis. Moreover, exposure to DEHP had been linked to cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases in epidemiological studies. Circulating microparticles have been known to be indicators of vascular injury. However, whether DEHP or its metabolites are independently associated with microparticles in humans remains unknown. From 2006 to 2008, we recruited 793 subjects (12-30years) from a population-based sample to participate in this cardiovascular disease prevention examination. Each participant was subjected to interviews and biological sample collection to determine the relationship between concentrations of DEHP metabolites MEHP, mono(ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, and mono(2-ethly-5-oxoheyl) phthalate in urine and concentrations of endothelial microparticles (CD62E and CD31+/CD42a-), platelet microparticles (CD62P and CD31+/CD42a+), and CD14 in serum. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that an ln-unit increase in MEHP concentration in urine was positively associated with an increase in serum microparticle counts/μL of 0.132 (±0.016) in CD31+/CD42a- (endothelial apoptosis marker), 0.117 (±0.023) in CD31+/CD42a+ (platelet apoptosis marker), and 0.026 (±0.007) in CD14 (monocyte, macrophage, and neutrophil activation marker). There was no association between DEHP metabolite concentration and CD62E or CD62P. In conclusion, a higher MEHP concentration in urine was associated with an increase in endothelial and platelet microparticles in this cohort of adolescents and young adults. Further studies are warranted to clarify the causal relationship between exposure to DEHP and atherosclerosis.
Department of Internal Medicine, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City 237, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
Chien-Yu
CY
Lin
Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualian County 970, Taiwan.
Chia-Jung
CJ
Hsieh
Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Shyh-Chyi
SC
Lo
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
Pau-Chung
PC
Chen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
Pao-Ling
PL
Torng
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University, Hualian County 970, Taiwan.
Anren
A
Hu
Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Fung-Chang
FC
Sung
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan. Electronic address: tachensu@ntu.edu.tw.
Ta-Chen
TC
Su
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019040:E-Selectin; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C546936:SELE protein, human; C032279:phthalic acid; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate
CD14; CD31; CD42a; DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate); MEHP (mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate); Microparticles