@article {330, title = {Contribution of trace element exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus through disturbing the gut microbiome.}, journal = {Environ Int}, volume = {153}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 08}, pages = {106520}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: A healthy gut microbiome is critical for glucose metabolism during pregnancy. In vivo studies indicate that trace element affects the composition and function of the gut microbiome and potentially leads to metabolic disorders but their relationships are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate whether the gut microbiome plays a role in the relationship between trace element exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, serum levels of 22 trace elements and the fecal gut microbiome composition were assessed in 837 pregnant women in the second trimester between 22 and 24\ weeks of pregnancy prior to GDM diagnosis. Regression and mediation analysis were used to explore the link between element exposure, the gut microbiome, and GDM.

RESULTS: 128 pregnant women (15.3\%) were diagnosed with GDM. No individual trace elements were found significantly associated with GDM. In contrast, the composition of the gut microbiome was dramatically altered in women later diagnosed with GDM and characterized by lower alpha diversity and lower abundance of co-abundance groups (CAGs) composed of genera belonging to Ruminococcaceae, Coriobacteriales, and Lachnospiraceae. Rubidium (Rb) was positively associated with alpha diversity indices while mercury (Hg) and vanadium (V) showed negative associations. Elements including rubidium (Rb), thallium (Tl), arsenic (As), and antimony (Sb) were significantly correlated with GDM-related CAGs and mediation analysis revealed that Rb and Sb were inversely related to GDM risk by altering abundance levels of CAGs enriched for Lachnospiraceae, Coriobacteriales, and Ruminococcaceae.

CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that trace element exposure is associated with specific gut microbiome features that may contribute to GDM development, which could provide a new avenue for intervening in environmental exposure-related GDM.

}, keywords = {Diabetes, Gestational, Feces, Female, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Trace Elements}, issn = {1873-6750}, doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2021.106520}, author = {Zhang, Yuqing and Chen, Ting and Zhang, Yiyun and Hu, Qi and Wang, Xu and Chang, Hang and Mao, Jian-Hua and Snijders, Antoine M and Xia, Yankai} } @article {328, title = {Thirdhand cigarette smoke leads to age-dependent and persistent alterations in the cecal microbiome of mice.}, journal = {Microbiologyopen}, volume = {10}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 06}, pages = {e1198}, abstract = {

The gut microbiome composition is influenced by many factors including environmental exposures. Here, we investigated the effect of thirdhand cigarette smoke (THS) and exposure age on gut microbiome diversity. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to THS at human exposure relevant levels for three weeks during three different life stages: postnatal (0-3\ weeks of age), pubescent (4-7\ weeks of age), and adult (9-12\ weeks of age), respectively. Cecal microbiome profiles were assessed at 17\ weeks of age by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found that age at THS exposure strongly influenced the cecal microbiome composition. Although postnatal THS exposure significantly influenced the microbial composition, pubescent and adulthood exposures only had minor effects. The microbiome of postnatally THS-exposed mice significantly increased several degradation pathways that regulate glycolysis and pyruvate decarboxylation, and significantly decreased coenzyme A biosynthesis and pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside salvage. Our results indicate that mouse postnatal development is particularly susceptible to persistent THS exposure effects on the gut microbiome.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Animals, Bacteria, Cecum, Environmental Exposure, Female, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Humans, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Smoke, Tobacco, Tobacco Smoke Pollution}, issn = {2045-8827}, doi = {10.1002/mbo3.1198}, author = {He, Li and Zhou, Yan-Xia and Zhang, Yuqing and Hang, Bo and Chang, Hang and Schick, Suzaynn F and Celniker, Susan E and Xia, Yankai and Snijders, Antoine M and Mao, Jian-Hua} }