美國和泰國科學(xué)家近日研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，孕婦飲用被砷（Arsenic）污染的水會改變胎兒某幾種基因的活性水平,，這會增加他們后來一生中患癌癥的風(fēng)險,。這一發(fā)現(xiàn)再次提醒人們，特別是孕婦,，謹(jǐn)防飲用水被砷污染,。相關(guān)論文11月23日發(fā)表于《PLoS遺傳學(xué)》（PLoS Genetics）上,。
砷污染水源是個世界性的問題，主要來自自然沉積和工業(yè)活動,。世界衛(wèi)生組織（WHO）的飲用水砷含量標(biāo)準(zhǔn)為不超過0.01毫克／升,，但在有些地區(qū)，比如孟加拉國,，飲用水砷含量遠遠高于這一安全標(biāo)準(zhǔn),。過高的砷含量會導(dǎo)致一系列疾病，近來有研究表明,，孕婦飲用被砷污染的水會增加胎兒出生后患癌癥的風(fēng)險,，但其中的機制并沒有弄清。
在最新的研究中,，由泰國朱拉蓬研究所（Chulabhorn Research Institute）的環(huán)境毒物學(xué)家Panida Navasumrit領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的研究小組重點關(guān)注了泰國Ron Pibul地區(qū)的水源情況。該區(qū)域由于礦業(yè)的影響,，飲用水砷含量達到了世界衛(wèi)生組織標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的50倍之高,。研究人員采集了該地區(qū)新生兒和其母親的血液和指甲樣本，來自美國麻省理工學(xué)院的分子生物學(xué)家Leona Samson對這些樣本進行了分析,。通過與曼谷地區(qū)11個新生兒（這些新生兒的母親在懷孕期間未飲用被砷污染的水）樣本的比較,，Samson發(fā)現(xiàn)，有11種基因的表達水平在這兩種新生兒中存在顯著不同,。
Samson表示,，這些基因在細胞生長、凋亡及炎癥中都發(fā)揮著作用,。雖然尚不清楚砷導(dǎo)致癌癥的具體機制,，不過由于慢性炎癥與胃癌有關(guān)，所以有可能是砷誘導(dǎo)的炎癥反應(yīng)在其中起了作用,。
美國國立癌癥研究所與國立環(huán)境衛(wèi)生研究所的毒物學(xué)家Michael Waalkes說,，此次發(fā)現(xiàn)為研究環(huán)境污染物對胎兒的影響開辟了潛在的新方法。他同時表示,，基因的“預(yù)言”能力是微弱的,，而且由于此次實驗的特定設(shè)計，我們并不能說其它的污染物就不是問題,。（科學(xué)網(wǎng) 梅進/編譯）
原始出處:
Received: July 4, 2007; Accepted: October 4, 2007; Published: November 23, 2007
Activation of Inflammation/NF-κB Signaling in Infants Born to Arsenic-Exposed Mothers
Rebecca C. Fry1,2, Panida Navasumrit3, Chandni Valiathan1,2, J. Peter Svensson1,2, Bradley J. Hogan1,2, Manlin Luo1,2, Sanchita Bhattacharya1,2¤, Krittinee Kandjanapa3, Sumitra Soontararuks3, Sumontha Nookabkaew3, Chulabhorn Mahidol3, Mathuros Ruchirawat3*, Leona D. Samson1,2*
1 Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, 2 Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, 3 Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
The long-term health outcome of prenatal exposure to arsenic has been associated with increased mortality in human populations. In this study, the extent to which maternal arsenic exposure impacts gene expression in the newborn was addressed. We monitored gene expression profiles in a population of newborns whose mothers experienced varying levels of arsenic exposure during pregnancy. Through the application of machine learning–based two-class prediction algorithms, we identified expression signatures from babies born to arsenic-unexposed and -exposed mothers that were highly predictive of prenatal arsenic exposure in a subsequent test population. Furthermore, 11 transcripts were identified that captured the maximal predictive capacity to classify prenatal arsenic exposure. Network analysis of the arsenic-modulated transcripts identified the activation of extensive molecular networks that are indicative of stress, inflammation, metal exposure, and apoptosis in the newborn. Exposure to arsenic is an important health hazard both in the United States and around the world, and is associated with increased risk for several types of cancer and other chronic diseases. These studies clearly demonstrate the robust impact of a mother's arsenic consumption on fetal gene expression as evidenced by transcript levels in newborn cord blood.
全文鏈接：http://genetics.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.0030207
