Changes in maternal blood mitochondrial DNA copy number due to exposure to environmental chemicals and their effects on children

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17891
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 63030:Chemical substance influence on environment-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: FUKUNAGA Hisanori 北海道大学, 保健科学研究院, 准教授 (50781267)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ミトコンドリア / ミトコンドリアDNA / DNAコピー数 / DOHaD / 出生コホート

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mitochondria have their own cyclic multi-copy genome (mtDNA), but the physiological and pathological significance of this mtDNA copy number (mtDNAcn) throughout life, especially during the perinatal period, remains to be determined. In this study, we measured and analyzed mtDNAcn in peripheral or cord blood samples from a total of 1,041 individuals from 149 three-generation families (grandparents, parents, and newborns) to analyze how changes in maternal peripheral blood mtDNAcn due to environmental factors during pregnancy, including chemical exposure, affect postnatal development. No correlation was found among environmental factors, such as maternal smoking and second-hand smoking exposure, maternal and newborn mtDNAcn, and birth outcomes.

Free Research Field

分子疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々の知る限り、本研究は、mtDNAコピー数の遺伝的相関の解明のために、三世代家族1000人以上の臍帯血・末梢血mtDNAコピー数を測定した初めての分子疫学研究である。妊娠中の化学物質曝露影響は明らかにできなかったものの、周産期における母児のmtDNAコピー数が新生児アウトカムと相関しており、妊娠時の母親の生活習慣への介入、とくに葉酸摂取によってmtDNAコピー数と新生児アウトカムを修正できる可能性を明らかにすることができた。これらは周産期医療における精密医療への新しいアプローチを示唆する成果といえる。