Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a critical complication of pregnancy that affects 3% to 5% of all pregnancies and has been linked to aberrant placentation, causing severe maternal and fetal illness and death. Objectives: This systematic review aims to elucidate the association of in-utero endocrine...

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Main Authors: Balu Usha Rani, Ramasamy Vasantharekha, Winkins Santosh, Thangavelu Swarnalingam, Seetharaman Barathi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/493
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author Balu Usha Rani
Ramasamy Vasantharekha
Winkins Santosh
Thangavelu Swarnalingam
Seetharaman Barathi
author_facet Balu Usha Rani
Ramasamy Vasantharekha
Winkins Santosh
Thangavelu Swarnalingam
Seetharaman Barathi
author_sort Balu Usha Rani
collection DOAJ
description Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a critical complication of pregnancy that affects 3% to 5% of all pregnancies and has been linked to aberrant placentation, causing severe maternal and fetal illness and death. Objectives: This systematic review aims to elucidate the association of in-utero endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure and microRNAs and their imprinted genes from prenatal and maternal circulation of PE patients. Methods: Databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), ProQuest, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar were utilized to search for articles that investigate the relationships between selected EDCs and epigenetic events such as DNA methylation and microRNAs that are associated with PE. Results: A total of 29 studies were included in the database search. Altered expression of microRNAs (miR-15a-5p, miR-142-3p, and miR-185) in the placenta of PE patients was positively associated with the urinary concentration of phthalates and phenols in the development of the disease in the first trimester. EDCs such as phenols, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFOAs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine phosphates (OCPs) have been reported to be associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. miRNA-31, miRNA-144, miRNA-145, miRNA-210, placental specific clusters (C14MC, and C19MC) may be used as possible targets for PE because of their potential roles in the onset and progression of PE. Conclusions: Prenatal EDC exposure, including exposure to BPA, showed association with signaling pathways including estrogen, sFlt-1/PlGF, ErbB, MAPK/ERK, and cholesterol mechanisms with placental hemodynamics. Even low EDC exposures leave altered epigenetic marks throughout gestation, which might cause PE complications.
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spelling doaj-art-eb92b229bf004d25933529d4a33bd1902025-08-20T02:09:11ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-03-0114749310.3390/cells14070493Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic ReviewBalu Usha Rani0Ramasamy Vasantharekha1Winkins Santosh2Thangavelu Swarnalingam3Seetharaman Barathi4Endocrine Disruption and Reproductive Toxicology Laboratory (EDART), Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, IndiaEndocrine Disruption and Reproductive Toxicology Laboratory (EDART), Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, IndiaToxicology Research on Endocrine Disruptors (TRENDS) Laboratory, PG & Research Department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology, Government Arts College, Nandanam, Chennai 600035, IndiaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, IndiaEndocrine Disruption and Reproductive Toxicology Laboratory (EDART), Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, IndiaBackground: Preeclampsia (PE) is a critical complication of pregnancy that affects 3% to 5% of all pregnancies and has been linked to aberrant placentation, causing severe maternal and fetal illness and death. Objectives: This systematic review aims to elucidate the association of in-utero endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure and microRNAs and their imprinted genes from prenatal and maternal circulation of PE patients. Methods: Databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), ProQuest, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar were utilized to search for articles that investigate the relationships between selected EDCs and epigenetic events such as DNA methylation and microRNAs that are associated with PE. Results: A total of 29 studies were included in the database search. Altered expression of microRNAs (miR-15a-5p, miR-142-3p, and miR-185) in the placenta of PE patients was positively associated with the urinary concentration of phthalates and phenols in the development of the disease in the first trimester. EDCs such as phenols, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFOAs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine phosphates (OCPs) have been reported to be associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. miRNA-31, miRNA-144, miRNA-145, miRNA-210, placental specific clusters (C14MC, and C19MC) may be used as possible targets for PE because of their potential roles in the onset and progression of PE. Conclusions: Prenatal EDC exposure, including exposure to BPA, showed association with signaling pathways including estrogen, sFlt-1/PlGF, ErbB, MAPK/ERK, and cholesterol mechanisms with placental hemodynamics. Even low EDC exposures leave altered epigenetic marks throughout gestation, which might cause PE complications.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/493preeclampsiaplacentaendocrine-disrupting chemicalsphthalatesphenolsepigenomics
spellingShingle Balu Usha Rani
Ramasamy Vasantharekha
Winkins Santosh
Thangavelu Swarnalingam
Seetharaman Barathi
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review
Cells
preeclampsia
placenta
endocrine-disrupting chemicals
phthalates
phenols
epigenomics
title Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review
title_full Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review
title_short Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Effects of Distorted Epigenetics on Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review
title_sort endocrine disrupting chemicals and the effects of distorted epigenetics on preeclampsia a systematic review
topic preeclampsia
placenta
endocrine-disrupting chemicals
phthalates
phenols
epigenomics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/493
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AT thangaveluswarnalingam endocrinedisruptingchemicalsandtheeffectsofdistortedepigeneticsonpreeclampsiaasystematicreview
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