Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on pregnancy, placenta, and placental trophoblasts

Yifeng Dai; Xijin Xu; Xia Huo; Marijke M Faas

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115314

Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on pregnancy, placenta, and placental trophoblasts

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Aug 1:262:115314. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115314. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yifeng Dai¹, Xijin Xu², Xia Huo³, Marijke M Faas⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Medical Biology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: y.dai@umcg.nl.
² Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Rd, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
³ Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China.
⁴ Division of Medical Biology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands.

PMID: 37536008
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115314

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, endocrine-toxic, and immunotoxic. PAHs can be found in maternal and fetal blood and in the placenta during pregnancy. They may thus affect placental and fetal development. Therefore, the exposure levels and toxic effects of PAHs in the placenta deserve further study and discussion. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the effects of PAHs and their metabolites on pregnancy and birth outcomes and on placental trophoblast cells. A growing number of epidemiological studies detected PAH-DNA adducts as well as the 16 high-priority PAHs in the human placenta and showed that placental PAH exposure is associated with adverse fetal outcomes. Trophoblasts are important cells in the placenta and are involved in placental development and function. In vitro studies have shown that exposure to either PAH mixtures, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) or BaP metabolite benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) affected trophoblast cell viability, differentiation, migration, and invasion through various signaling pathways. Furthermore, similar effects of BPDE on trophoblast cells could also be observed in BaP-treated mouse models and were related to miscarriage. Although the current data show that PAHs may affect placental trophoblast cells and pregnancy outcomes, further studies (population studies, in vitro studies, and animal studies) are necessary to show the specific effects of different PAHs on placental trophoblasts and pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords: BPDE; BaP; Exposure; PAHs; Pregnancy; Toxicology.

Publication types

Review