Bridging exposure and disease: serum hormones as potential mediators between PBDEs and preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are associated with the development and function of the placenta, oxidative stress, and hormones vital for the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). However, studies on the effects of PBDEs exposure on PE or the mediating effects of hormones are limited.

METHODS

This study involved 376 pregnant women from Dongguan, China. Maternal serum was analyzed for four PBDE congeners using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Notably, 19 hormones were detected using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

RESULTS

BDE-138 exhibited the highest serum level (245.50 ng/g lipid). High levels of BDE-138 exposure may increase risk of PE (odds ratio [OR] = 2.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22, 6.18), whereas BDE-47 in a certain concentration range may reduce risk of PE (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.83). Bayesian kernel machine regression showed that an elevated mixture exposure of PBDEs within a specific range was a risk factor for PE, and BDE-209 was positively associated with risk of PE. Further, 17 α-hydroxypregnenolone and human chorionic gonadotropin were associated with an increased risk of PE (OR = 10.50, 95% CI: 2.80, 39.32 and OR = 4.22, 95% CI: 1.26, 14.12, respectively), whereas corticosterone (CORT) and aldosterone (ADS) were associated with a decreased risk of PE (OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.43 and OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.96, respectively). CORT levels were negatively associated with BDE-85 and BDE-138, whereas ADS levels were positively associated with them. Bayesian mediation analysis showed a potential indirect effect of BDE-85 and BDE-138 on PE mediated through CORT and ADS.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal PBDEs exposure may be associated with risk of PE, and the development of PE may be linked to a variety of hormones. Hormones may also mediate the relationship between PBDEs and PE.