A Comprehensive Assessment of Associations between Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and the Placental Transcriptomic Landscape
Alison G. Paquette, James W. MacDonald, Samantha Lapehn, Theo K. Bammler, Laken Kruger, Drew B. Day, Nathan D. Price, Christine T. Loftus, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Carmen J. Marsit, W. Alex Mason, Nicole R. Bush, Kaja Z. LeWinn, Daniel A. Enquobahrie, Bhagwat Prasad, Catherine J. Karr, Sheela Sathyanarayana, on behalf of program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Phthalates are commonly used endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are ubiquitous in the general population. Prenatal phthalate exposure may alter placental physiology and fetal development, leading to adverse perinatal and childhood health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We examined associations between prenatal phthalate exposure in the second and third trimesters and the placental transcriptome at birth, including genes and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), to gain insight into potential mechanisms of action during fetal development. METHODS: . RESULTS: was associated with multiple phthalate metabolites. Third-trimester MCIOP and mono-isobutyl phthalate concentrations were significantly associated with placental expression of 18 genes and two genes, respectively. Expression of genes within 27 biological pathways was associated with mono-methyl phthalate, MCIOP, and monoethyl phthalate concentrations. DISCUSSION: by phthalate exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8973.