For the first time, French researchers have demonstrated a mechanism that can modify the expression of certain placental genes.
Numerous studies show that even before it is born, the fetus is vulnerable to the polluted air that its mother breathes. When inhaled, harmful suspended substances can reach the bloodstream of the pregnant woman, cross the placental barrier and come into contact with the unborn child. If the consequences of this prenatal exposure are well documented – increased risk of low birth weight, prematurity, growth retardation and even neurodevelopmental disorders – the mechanisms by which these air pollutants act remained unknown until now. .
By focusing on three common air pollutants, a team of researchers from Inserm, CNRS and Grenoble-Alpes University provides some answers. Scientists found that the placenta of mothers exposed to these compounds during pregnancy showed alterations in the expression of genes involved in various…
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