Associations of air PM2.5 level with gut microbiota in Chinese Han preschoolers and effect modification by oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism

Ying Sun; Guozhe Deng; Jinhui Fan; Fulin Feng; Qinyu Ge; Yuan Song; Xuejun Kang

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.114123

Associations of air PM_2.5 level with gut microbiota in Chinese Han preschoolers and effect modification by oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism

Environ Res. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 4):114123. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114123. Epub 2022 Aug 19.

Authors

Ying Sun¹, Guozhe Deng¹, Jinhui Fan¹, Fulin Feng¹, Qinyu Ge², Yuan Song³, Xuejun Kang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science, Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
³ Division of Child Care, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, 215000, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science, Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China. Electronic address: xjkang64@163.com.

PMID: 35995218
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114123

Abstract

Variations in the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the oxytocin receptors (OXTR) indicate individual differences in stress response, social behavior, and psychopathology, but very few paper mentioned OXTR as part of the mechanism linking exposure to air pollution and poor social interactions. The authors investigated the moderating role of Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) rs53576 polymorphism in the relationship between PM_2.5 level and gut microbiota in children, in an attempt to provide some reference for the evidence linking biological and environmental factors to children brain development. The study included 86 healthy Chinese preschoolers (50 males, 36 females) from two campuses of a kindergarten with different air PM_2.5 levels. Atmospheric PM_2.5 values released by air quality monitoring stations where the two campuses are located were collected for 30 days. The genotypes of OXTR rs53576 were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The gut microbiota situation was evaluated by determining urinary concentrations of short-chain fatty acids. Urinary levels of cortisone and cortisol were determined to assess the impact of air pollution on the HPA axis. Urinary 2'-Deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine were measured to evaluate the oxidative stress state. The genotype distribution frequency of rs53576 polymorphism was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The average urinary concentrations of cortisone, cortisol and 8-OHdG in high pollution campus preschoolers were significantly higher than those in low pollution campus preschoolers, while situations were opposite for acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid and valeric acid. The interaction between OXTR rs53576 and air pollution had a significant effect on urinary acetic acid. Allele G of rs53576 may be a risk factor for gut microbiota disorder caused by air pollution, and children with GA/GG genotype may be more susceptible than those with AA genotype.

Keywords: Gene-environment interaction; Gut microbiota; Oxytocin receptor; PM(2.5); Preschoolers; Short-chain fatty acids.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Child, Preschool
China
Cortisone
Female
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Genotype
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
Male
Oxytocin
Particulate Matter*
Pituitary-Adrenal System
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Receptors, Oxytocin* / genetics

Substances

OXTR protein, human
Particulate Matter
Receptors, Oxytocin
Oxytocin
Cortisone
Hydrocortisone