Effects of prenatal exposure to air pollution on placental molecular hallmarks and black carbon load

BACKGROUND AND AIM There is a rising social concern regarding the effects of air pollution on fetal development, as increasing epidemiological evidence shows an association with several adverse birth outcomes. However, the specific mechanisms that drive these outcomes are still not comprehensively elucidated. To better understand the pathophysiology of prenatal exposure to air pollution through the placenta is precisely one of the aims of the Barcelona Life Study Cohort (BiSC). METHODS BiSC is a birth cohort of 1086 mother-child pairs residing in the Barcelona metropolitan area (Spain) that includes a comprehensive follow-up, both environmental (personal exposure to noise and air pollution) and clinical (3rd trimester comprehensive sonography and reproductive outcomes). Further post-natal follow-up is focused on neurocognitive development and includes a Bayley’s test (BSID-III) at 6 months. A specific work package in BiSC is focused on how the placenta responds to prenatal exposure to air pollution, as an intermediate organ between the environment and its effects on early-life development. Specific sections include: 1. To precisely evaluate the personal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and quantify the translocation of air pollution particles (black carbon) to placental tissue through advanced microscopy. 2. To evaluate placental function measuring maternal-fetal circulation through Doppler sonography, as well as molecular biomarkers (telomere length and mitochondrial DNA content through qPCR) to define both the degree of tissue aging and metabolic capacity. RESULTS Black carbon particle detection, telomere length and mitochondrial DNA content measures are currently being performed in placental samples from the BiSC cohort. Dose response associations between air pollution exposure, placental carbon load and markers of placental function (maternal-fetal circulation, placental telomere length and mitochondrial DNA content) will be investigated. CONCLUSIONS This study will help to understand underlying mechanisms of air pollution effects on early life. KEYWORDS Air pollution, DOHaD, placental function, fetal development