Journal List > Immune Netw > v.19(6) > 1148270

Kim, Kim, Woo, Chung, Hong, Oh, Choi, Oh, Kim, Shin, Won, Lee, Kim, Kwon, Lee, Hong, and Ahn: Prenatal Exposure to Lead and Chromium is Associated with IL-13 Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood and Severity of Atopic Dermatitis: COCOA Study

Abstract

There have been few studies investigating the association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and prenatal exposure to heavy metals. We aimed to evaluate whether prenatal exposure to heavy metals is associated with the development or severity of AD in a birth cohort study. A total of 331 subjects were followed from birth for a median duration of 60.0 months. The presence and severity of AD were evaluated at ages 6 and 12 months, and regularly once a year thereafter. The concentrations of lead, mercury, chromium, and cadmium in umbilical cord blood were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) were isolated and stimulated for analysis of cytokine production using ELISA. Heavy metal levels in cord blood were not associated with the development of AD until 24 months of age. However, a positive correlation was observed between the duration of AD and lead levels in cord blood (p=0.002). AD severity was also positively associated with chromium concentrations in cord blood (p=0.037), while cord blood levels of lead, mercury, and cadmium were not significantly associated with AD severity (p=0.562, p=0.054, and p=0.055, respectively). Interleukin-13 production in CBMCs was positively related with lead and chromium levels in cord blood (p=0.021 and p=0.015, respectively). Prenatal exposure to lead and chromium is associated with the persistence and severity of AD, and the immune reaction toward a Th2 polarization.

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Figure 1.
Correlation between lead levels in cord blood and the duration of AD in 103 children whose skin symptoms lasted for more than 6 months. Statistical analysis was done using partial Spearman's correlation analysis after adjustment for gender, presence of siblings, season of birth, and antibiotic treatment during the first 6 months of life (ρ=0.308, p=0.002).
in-19-e42f1.tif
Figure 2.
Association between mercury levels in cord blood and SCORAD in children with AD. Mixed model was applied after adjustment for season of birth (p=0.004).
in-19-e42f2.tif
Figure 3.
Relationship between heavy metal levels and IL-13 in umbilical cord blood. Mixed model was applied to analyze the association of IL-13 with (A) lead (Pb, µg/dl), (B) mercury (Hg, µg/l), (C) chromium (Cr, µg/l), and (D) cadmium (Cd, µg/l). IL-13 levels in cord blood was positively correlated with only lead levels in cord blood (p=0.028).
in-19-e42f3.tif
Table 1.
Characteristics of subjects (n=331)
Characteristic No. of subjects (%)
Total (n=331) AD (n=137) Non-AD (n=194)
Male 142 (42.9) 51 (37.2) 91 (46.9)
Delivery method      
   Vaginal delivery 225 (68.0) 92 (67.2) 133 (68.6)
   Cesarean section 106 (32.0) 45 (32.8) 61 (31.4)
Season of birth      
   Spring 82 (24.8) 35 (25.6) 47 (24.2)
   Summer 73 (22.1) 25 (18.2) 48 (24.7)
   Autumn 99 (29.9) 45 (32.8) 54 (27.8)
   Winter 77 (23.3) 32 (23.4) 45 (23.2)
Maternal history of allergic diseases 95 (28.7) 41 (29.9) 54 (27.8)
Presence of older siblings 162 (48.9) 70 (51.1) 92 (47.4)
Pet ownership during pregnancy 20 (6.0) 9 (6.6) 11 (5.7)
Exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 106 (32.0) 43 (31.4) 63 (32.5)
months      
Antibiotic treatment during the first 6 months 129 (39.0) 60 (43.8) 69 (35.6)
Cord blood measurements*      
   Total IgE (IU/ml) 0.3 (0–100.0) 0.2 (0–10.2) 0.3 (0–100.0)
   Eosinophils (%) 3.0 (0–14.0) 2.9 (0–14.0) 3.0 (0–13.0)
   IL-13 (pg/ml) 1,271.4 (20.1–6,574.6) 1,044.5 (26.3–5,955.7) 1,513.0 (20.1–6,574.6)
   IFN-γ (pg/ml) 294.3 (0–2,923.7) 233.4 (0–2,923.7) 324.4 (0–2,450.8)

* Values are presented as median (range).

Table 2.
Univariable and multivariable analyses for factors influencing the development of AD
Variables Univariable analysis Multivariable analysis
HR 95% CI HR 95% CI
Lead* 0.995 0.626–1.580 0.956 0.598–1.529
Mercury* 0.972 0.730–1.294 0.981 0.726–1.324
Chromium* 1.455 0.889–2.380 1.449 0.883–2.376
Cadmium 3.503 0.250–49.083 2.525 0.197–32.419

Multivariable analysis was performed after adjustment for gender and parental history of allergic diseases. CI, confidence interval; HR, hazard ratio.* The values were log-transformed;

The levels were transformed to log e(log e(Cd×10)+10).

Table 3.
Relationship between heavy metal levels in umbilical cord blood and SCORAD* index in children with AD
Variables Univariable analysis Multivariable analysis
Beta coefficient p value Beta coefficient p value
Lead* 0.003 0.123 1.113 0.562
Mercury* 0.115 0.072 2.179 0.054
Chromium* 0.260 0.135 0.277 0.037
Cadmium 1.524 0.855 25.258 0.055

Multivariable analysis was performed after adjustment for maternal history of allergic diseases, maternal education level, exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life, and season of birth.* The values were log-transformed;

The levels were transformed to log e(log e(Cd×10)+10).

Table 4.
Relationship between IL-13 and heavy metal levels in umbilical cord blood
Variables Univariable analysis Multivariable analysis
Beta coefficient p value Beta coefficient p value
Lead* 0.676 0.028 0.692 0.021
Mercury* 0.067 0.726 0.102 0.585
Chromium* 0.530 0.075 0.713 0.015
Cadmium −1.139 0.520 −0.388 0.824

Multivariable analysis was performed after adjustment for gender, presence of siblings, and season of birth.* The values were log-transformed;

The levels were transformed to log e(log e(Cd×10)+10).

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