Immunological Sexual Dimorphism in Placenta and Its Response to Benzene Exposure
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ABSTRACT: There is increasing concern regarding the adverse effects of air pollution on human health, and benzene is a major toxic compound in air pollution. Maternal benzene exposure has been associated with reproductive complications, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and immunological and neurological complications in the offspring. However, it is poorly understood how benzene induces these complications. Our objective was to establish a full body inhalation mouse model for maternal benzene exposure that mimics clinical phenotypes observed in human populations, and characterize the maternal immune activation and placental response in our model. Here, we report that maternal immune activation triggered by benzene exposure during pregnancy leads to increased resorptions, abnormal placenta development and low birth weight of fetus. More importantly, there is a sexual dimorphic response to benzene exposure in female and male placentas. In the male placenta, the transcriptome changes reveal a more immunologically relevant profile, while females have a metabolically related profile. Furthermore, we discover the sexual dimorphic response could be a consequence of the sexual dimorphism of placenta at baseline, which indicates the significant difference between sexes in terms of the immunological processes in the placenta, both in human and mouse. Therefore, our findings established a benzene exposure mouse model and indicated the sexual dimorphism of placenta, which provides valuable reference for the future pregnancy studies.
INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Fusion Lumos
ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)
TISSUE(S): Diploid Cell
DISEASE(S): Disease Free
SUBMITTER: Paul Stemmer
LAB HEAD: Gil G. Mor
PROVIDER: PXD035085 | Pride | 2023-07-20
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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