American scientists from Harvard University found that exposure of pregnant women to mild air pollution caused by PM2.5 particles is associated with altered immune responses that can lead to adverse birth outcomes. The research was published in the scientific journal magazine Science Advances (SciAdv).
Previous studies have found links between PM2.5 exposure and maternal and child health complications, including preeclampsia, low birth weight, and developmental delays in early childhood.
To understand these connections at the cellular level, the team used federal air quality data to calculate the average PM2.5 exposure of pregnant and non-pregnant women.
Experts compared intracellular changes in histones, proteins that help control the release of cytokines. Cytokines are produced in response to inflammatory processes and may affect pregnancy.
The analysis found that exposure to PM2.5 can affect the histone profiles of pregnant women, disrupting the normal balance of cytokine genes and leading to increased inflammation in both women and fetuses. This increase in inflammation in pregnant women may correspond to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Source: Gazeta
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