Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of Vietnam

We investigated the impact of perinatal dioxin exposure (indicated by dioxin levels in maternal breast milk) on clock gene mRNA expression in buccal cells of 9-year-old children from the Da Nang birth cohort in Vietnam using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Of the 56 boys and 34 girl...

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Main Authors: Thao Ngoc Pham, Hoa Thi Vu, Takafumi Tasaki, Tai Pham-The, Nghi Ngoc Tran, Muneko Nishijo, Tien Viet Tran, Hai Anh Tran, Tomoya Takiguchi, Yoshikazu Nishino
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/191
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author Thao Ngoc Pham
Hoa Thi Vu
Takafumi Tasaki
Tai Pham-The
Nghi Ngoc Tran
Muneko Nishijo
Tien Viet Tran
Hai Anh Tran
Tomoya Takiguchi
Yoshikazu Nishino
author_facet Thao Ngoc Pham
Hoa Thi Vu
Takafumi Tasaki
Tai Pham-The
Nghi Ngoc Tran
Muneko Nishijo
Tien Viet Tran
Hai Anh Tran
Tomoya Takiguchi
Yoshikazu Nishino
author_sort Thao Ngoc Pham
collection DOAJ
description We investigated the impact of perinatal dioxin exposure (indicated by dioxin levels in maternal breast milk) on clock gene mRNA expression in buccal cells of 9-year-old children from the Da Nang birth cohort in Vietnam using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Of the 56 boys and 34 girls (67% detection rate) in whom <i>PER1</i> was detected, <i>BMAL1</i> was detected in only 16 boys and 15 girls. Dioxin levels were significantly higher in girls with <i>BMAL1</i> detection than in girls without detection. In girls, higher relative <i>BMAL1</i> expression levels were associated with greater levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and toxic equivalents of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. Moreover, <i>BMAL1</i> expression levels were correlated with shorter night sleep duration on weekdays, greater sleep duration on holidays, and higher hyperactivity scores. After adjusting for maternal parity, relative <i>PER1</i> expression levels were higher in boys with higher toxic equivalents of polychlorinated dibenzofuran than those in girls. Although higher <i>PER1</i> expression levels were correlated with greater verbal aggression and hostility scores in girls, no such associations were found in boys. These findings suggest the possible existence of sex-specific effects of perinatal dioxin exposure on circadian rhythms regulated by clock genes, particularly <i>BMAL1</i>, leading to sleep and behavioral problems in later life.
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spelling doaj-art-d29b8dc699e24bc98d245552b19605802025-08-20T02:43:04ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-03-0113319110.3390/toxics13030191Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of VietnamThao Ngoc Pham0Hoa Thi Vu1Takafumi Tasaki2Tai Pham-The3Nghi Ngoc Tran4Muneko Nishijo5Tien Viet Tran6Hai Anh Tran7Tomoya Takiguchi8Yoshikazu Nishino9Department of Functional Diagnosis, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamDepartment of Military Hygiene, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamDepartment of Life Science, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, JapanBiomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamMinistry of Health, Vietnamese Government, Hanoi 10060, VietnamEpidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, JapanDepartment of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamDepartment of Physiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamEpidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, JapanEpidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, JapanWe investigated the impact of perinatal dioxin exposure (indicated by dioxin levels in maternal breast milk) on clock gene mRNA expression in buccal cells of 9-year-old children from the Da Nang birth cohort in Vietnam using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Of the 56 boys and 34 girls (67% detection rate) in whom <i>PER1</i> was detected, <i>BMAL1</i> was detected in only 16 boys and 15 girls. Dioxin levels were significantly higher in girls with <i>BMAL1</i> detection than in girls without detection. In girls, higher relative <i>BMAL1</i> expression levels were associated with greater levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and toxic equivalents of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. Moreover, <i>BMAL1</i> expression levels were correlated with shorter night sleep duration on weekdays, greater sleep duration on holidays, and higher hyperactivity scores. After adjusting for maternal parity, relative <i>PER1</i> expression levels were higher in boys with higher toxic equivalents of polychlorinated dibenzofuran than those in girls. Although higher <i>PER1</i> expression levels were correlated with greater verbal aggression and hostility scores in girls, no such associations were found in boys. These findings suggest the possible existence of sex-specific effects of perinatal dioxin exposure on circadian rhythms regulated by clock genes, particularly <i>BMAL1</i>, leading to sleep and behavioral problems in later life.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/191dioxinclock genecircadian rhythmbehavior problemsVietnam
spellingShingle Thao Ngoc Pham
Hoa Thi Vu
Takafumi Tasaki
Tai Pham-The
Nghi Ngoc Tran
Muneko Nishijo
Tien Viet Tran
Hai Anh Tran
Tomoya Takiguchi
Yoshikazu Nishino
Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of Vietnam
Toxics
dioxin
clock gene
circadian rhythm
behavior problems
Vietnam
title Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of Vietnam
title_full Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of Vietnam
title_fullStr Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of Vietnam
title_full_unstemmed Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of Vietnam
title_short Associations Between Perinatal Dioxin Exposure and Circadian Clock Gene mRNA Expression in Children in Dioxin-Contaminated Areas of Vietnam
title_sort associations between perinatal dioxin exposure and circadian clock gene mrna expression in children in dioxin contaminated areas of vietnam
topic dioxin
clock gene
circadian rhythm
behavior problems
Vietnam
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/191
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