Environmental Nanoparticles Reach Human Fetal Brains

Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas, Ángel Augusto Pérez-Calatayud, Angélica González-Maciel, Rafael Reynoso-Robles, Héctor G. Silva-Pereyra, Andrea Ramos-Morales, Ricardo Torres-Jardón, Candelario de Jesús Soberanes-Cerino, Raúl Carrillo-Esper, Jesús Carlos Briones-Garduño, Yazmín Del Socorro Conde-Gutiérrez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anthropogenic ultrafine particulate matter (UFPM) and industrial and natural nanopar-ticles (NPs) are ubiquitous. Normal term, preeclamptic, and postconceptional weeks(PCW) 8–15 human placentas and brains from polluted Mexican cities were analyzed by TEM and energy-dis-persive X-ray spectroscopy. We documented NPs in maternal erythrocytes, early syncytiotropho-blast, Hofbauer cells, and fetal endothelium (ECs). Fetal ECs exhibited caveolar NP activity and widespread erythroblast contact. Brain ECs displayed micropodial extensions reaching luminal NP-loaded erythroblasts. Neurons and primitive glia displayed nuclear, organelle, and cytoplasmic NPs in both singles and conglomerates. Nanoscale Fe, Ti, and Al alloys, Hg, Cu, Ca, Sn, and Si were detected in placentas and fetal brains. Preeclamptic fetal blood NP vesicles are prospective neonate UFPM exposure biomarkers. NPs are reaching brain tissues at the early developmental PCW 8–15 stage, and NPs in maternal and fetal placental tissue compartments strongly suggests the placental barrier is not limiting the access of environmental NPs. Erythroblasts are the main early NP carriers to fetal tissues. The passage of UFPM/NPs from mothers to fetuses is documented and fingerprint-ing placental single particle composition could be useful for postnatal risk assessments. Fetal brain combustion and industrial NPs raise medical concerns about prenatal and postnatal health, including neurological and neurodegenerative lifelong consequences.

Original languageEnglish
Article number410
JournalBiomedicines
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

Keywords

  • Environmental medicine
  • Erythroblasts
  • Fetal brains
  • NPs extracellular vesicles
  • Nanoparticles
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Petrochemical pollu-tion
  • Placental impairment
  • Preeclampsia
  • Tabasco
  • Villahermosa

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