The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study

The vaginal microbiota is proposed to be associated with reproductive health. Exposure to metals during pregnancy is a risk factor for premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PROM can lead to serious maternal complications, thus, identifying the cause and therapeutic targets for it is crucial. Howeve...

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Main Authors: Dongyang Zhang, Rui Dong, Tingting Jiang, Shiwei Ren, Xinyu Yue, Muxin Zhai, Siyu Jiang, Bingxia He, Ran Tang, Yujie Deng, Wenjie Lyu, Baojing Zhao, Fangbiao Tao, Yuanyuan Yang, Zongzhi Yin, Zhen Yu, Dongmei Ji, Chunmei Liang
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Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014969
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author Dongyang Zhang
Rui Dong
Tingting Jiang
Shiwei Ren
Xinyu Yue
Muxin Zhai
Siyu Jiang
Bingxia He
Ran Tang
Yujie Deng
Wenjie Lyu
Baojing Zhao
Fangbiao Tao
Yuanyuan Yang
Zongzhi Yin
Zhen Yu
Dongmei Ji
Chunmei Liang
author_facet Dongyang Zhang
Rui Dong
Tingting Jiang
Shiwei Ren
Xinyu Yue
Muxin Zhai
Siyu Jiang
Bingxia He
Ran Tang
Yujie Deng
Wenjie Lyu
Baojing Zhao
Fangbiao Tao
Yuanyuan Yang
Zongzhi Yin
Zhen Yu
Dongmei Ji
Chunmei Liang
author_sort Dongyang Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The vaginal microbiota is proposed to be associated with reproductive health. Exposure to metals during pregnancy is a risk factor for premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PROM can lead to serious maternal complications, thus, identifying the cause and therapeutic targets for it is crucial. However, the role of vaginal microbiota in the association between metals exposure and the risk of PROM are not clear. Based on a prospective birth cohort study including 668 pregnant women, maternal blood levels of 15 metals in the first trimester (n=668) and microbiota of vaginal secretions in the third trimester (n=244) were assessed. The metals that significantly associated with the risk of PROM were screened out via four statistical models, the top three were barium (Ba), chromium (Cr) and thallium (Tl) according to their weight indices. The results from the BKMR model showed a positive association of the mixture (Ba, Cr and Tl) with the risk of PROM. PROM and non-PROM were characterised by different beta diversities, moreover, the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium, Corynebacterium and Collinsella were statistically and negatively related to the risk of PROM [the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.06 (0.00, 0.82), 0.32 (0.14, 0.74) and 0.50 (0.30, 0.84), respectively]. On the other hand, women with different levels of Ba exposure were also characterised by different beta diversities (p value = 0.047); and blood Ba levels were also negatively associated with the relative abundances of Collinsella; additionally, Cr levels were positively associated with alpha diversity indices [Shannon index: β (95 % CI) = 0.25 (0.01, 0.50); Simpson index: β (95 % CI) = 0.08 (0.00, 0.17), respectively]. The results from mediation analysis showed the proportion of the relationship between Ba exposure and PROM risk mediated by the relative abundance of Collinsella was 26.4 %. Further verification analysis exploring the potential cause of the above phenomenon indicated that the neutrophil count, one of blood inflammation indicators for PROM, was higher in women with the absence of Collinsella (p value = 0.039), moreover, the cumulative hazard of PROM for women with the presence of Collinsella was also significantly lower than that of those without Collinsella (p value = 0.007). Collectively, the changes in the diversity and composition of the bacterial community, especially the reduction in Collinsella abundance caused by metal exposure, may be related to the occurrence of PROM, which provides a new microbiota-based perspective for intervention in metal exposure-related PROM. Confirming these relationships and determining the possible processes at play will require more investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-848d04eff51a4e699310574a77cae89e2025-01-23T05:25:28ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-01-01289117420The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort studyDongyang Zhang0Rui Dong1Tingting Jiang2Shiwei Ren3Xinyu Yue4Muxin Zhai5Siyu Jiang6Bingxia He7Ran Tang8Yujie Deng9Wenjie Lyu10Baojing Zhao11Fangbiao Tao12Yuanyuan Yang13Zongzhi Yin14Zhen Yu15Dongmei Ji16Chunmei Liang17School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, ChinaThe Second Clinical School of Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China.School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Correspondence to: Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.The vaginal microbiota is proposed to be associated with reproductive health. Exposure to metals during pregnancy is a risk factor for premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PROM can lead to serious maternal complications, thus, identifying the cause and therapeutic targets for it is crucial. However, the role of vaginal microbiota in the association between metals exposure and the risk of PROM are not clear. Based on a prospective birth cohort study including 668 pregnant women, maternal blood levels of 15 metals in the first trimester (n=668) and microbiota of vaginal secretions in the third trimester (n=244) were assessed. The metals that significantly associated with the risk of PROM were screened out via four statistical models, the top three were barium (Ba), chromium (Cr) and thallium (Tl) according to their weight indices. The results from the BKMR model showed a positive association of the mixture (Ba, Cr and Tl) with the risk of PROM. PROM and non-PROM were characterised by different beta diversities, moreover, the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium, Corynebacterium and Collinsella were statistically and negatively related to the risk of PROM [the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.06 (0.00, 0.82), 0.32 (0.14, 0.74) and 0.50 (0.30, 0.84), respectively]. On the other hand, women with different levels of Ba exposure were also characterised by different beta diversities (p value = 0.047); and blood Ba levels were also negatively associated with the relative abundances of Collinsella; additionally, Cr levels were positively associated with alpha diversity indices [Shannon index: β (95 % CI) = 0.25 (0.01, 0.50); Simpson index: β (95 % CI) = 0.08 (0.00, 0.17), respectively]. The results from mediation analysis showed the proportion of the relationship between Ba exposure and PROM risk mediated by the relative abundance of Collinsella was 26.4 %. Further verification analysis exploring the potential cause of the above phenomenon indicated that the neutrophil count, one of blood inflammation indicators for PROM, was higher in women with the absence of Collinsella (p value = 0.039), moreover, the cumulative hazard of PROM for women with the presence of Collinsella was also significantly lower than that of those without Collinsella (p value = 0.007). Collectively, the changes in the diversity and composition of the bacterial community, especially the reduction in Collinsella abundance caused by metal exposure, may be related to the occurrence of PROM, which provides a new microbiota-based perspective for intervention in metal exposure-related PROM. Confirming these relationships and determining the possible processes at play will require more investigation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014969Metal exposureVaginal microbiotaMediation analysisPremature rupture of fetal membranes
spellingShingle Dongyang Zhang
Rui Dong
Tingting Jiang
Shiwei Ren
Xinyu Yue
Muxin Zhai
Siyu Jiang
Bingxia He
Ran Tang
Yujie Deng
Wenjie Lyu
Baojing Zhao
Fangbiao Tao
Yuanyuan Yang
Zongzhi Yin
Zhen Yu
Dongmei Ji
Chunmei Liang
The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Metal exposure
Vaginal microbiota
Mediation analysis
Premature rupture of fetal membranes
title The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study
title_full The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study
title_fullStr The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study
title_full_unstemmed The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study
title_short The relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of PROM: Results from a birth cohort study
title_sort relationships of metals exposure and disturbance of the vaginal microbiota with the risk of prom results from a birth cohort study
topic Metal exposure
Vaginal microbiota
Mediation analysis
Premature rupture of fetal membranes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014969
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