biostudies-literature00660Everson TMthe National Institutes of HealthNIEHS NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSNCI NIH HHSUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyNIGMS NIH HHS263-271https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5226342biostudies-literatureUnknown65Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant implicated as a developmental toxicant, yet the underlying mechanisms that confer this toxicity are unknown. Mother-infant pairs from a Rhode Island birth cohort were investigated for the potential effects of maternal Cd exposure on fetal growth, and the possible role of the PCDHAC1 gene on this association. Mothers with higher toenail Cd concentrations were at increased odds of giving birth to an infant that was small for gestational age or with a decreased head circumference. These associations were strongest amongst those with low levels of DNA methylation in the promoter region of placental PCDHAC1. Further, we found placental PCDHAC1 expression to be inversely associated with maternal Cd, and PCDHAC1 expression positively associated with fetal growth. Our findings suggest that maternal Cd affects fetal growth even at very low concentrations, and some of these effects may be due to the differential expression of PCDHAC1.Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)Maternal cadmium, placental PCDHAC1, and fetal development.PMC5226342P30 CA023108R01 ES022223P42 ES007373P20 GM104416R01 MH094609R25 CA134286P01 ES022832Marsit CJArmstrong DAKaragas MRJackson BPGreen BBEverson TM66falseMaternal cadmium, placental PCDHAC1, and fetal development.Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant implicated as a developmental toxicant, yet the underlying mechanisms that confer this toxicity are unknown. Mother-infant pairs from a Rhode Island birth cohort were investigated for the potential effects of maternal Cd exposure on fetal growth, and the possible role of the PCDHAC1 gene on this association. Mothers with higher toenail Cd concentrations were at increased odds of giving birth to an infant that was small for gestational age or with a decreased head circumference. These associations were strongest amongst those with low levels of DNA methylation in the promoter region of placental PCDHAC1. Further, we found placental PCDHAC1 expression to be inversely associated with maternal Cd, and PCDHAC1 expression positively associated with fetal growth. Our findings suggest that maternal Cd affects fetal growth even at very low concentrations, and some of these effects may be due to the differential expression of PCDHAC1.2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Oct2024-11-13T12:59:55.226Z2019-03-27T02:33:53ZS-EPMC52263422754457010.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.011