title: Maternal cadmium, placental PCDHAC1, and fetal development.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant implicated as a developmental toxicant, yet the underlying mechanisms that confer this toxicity are unknown. Mother-infant pairs from a Rhode Island birth cohort were investigated for the potential effects of maternal Cd exposure on fetal growth, and the possible role of the PCDHAC1 gene on this association. Mothers with higher toenail Cd concentrations were at increased odds of giving birth to an infant that was small for gestational age or with a decreased head circumference. These associations were strongest amongst those with low levels of DNA methylation in the promoter region of placental PCDHAC1. Further, we found placental PCDHAC1 expression to be inversely associated with maternal Cd, and PCDHAC1 expression positively associated with fetal growth. Our findings suggest that maternal Cd affects fetal growth even at very low concentrations, and some of these effects may be due to the differential expression of PCDHAC1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Everson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Karagas
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA. Electronic address: Todd.M.Everson@Emory.edu.
authors.forename: Carmen J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Marsit
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D004247:DNA
keywords: Expression; Fetal growth; Maternal cadmium; Methylation; PCDH; PCDHAC1; Placenta; Small for gestational age