Association of Cytokine/Chemokine Profiles and House Dust Phthalate Concentrations among Children with and Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the CHARGE Study.

Abstract

Association of Cytokine/Chemokine Profiles and House Dust Phthalate Concentrations among Children with and Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the CHARGE Study.Abstract Number:2052 Melissa Rose*, Marjannie Eloi Akintunde, Paula Krakowiak, Claire Philippat, Rebecca Moran, Deborah Bennett, Judy Van de Water, and Irva Hertz-Picciotto Melissa Rose* University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Marjannie Eloi Akintunde University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Paula Krakowiak University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Claire Philippat University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Rebecca Moran University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Deborah Bennett University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Judy Van de Water University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and Irva Hertz-Picciotto University of California, Davis, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractBackground: Phthalates (PAE) are ubiquitous chemicals that may influence immune function. Studies have linked PAE exposure with increased risk for allergic diseases such as asthma and eczema. Further, there is evidence that children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, have immune dysregulation compared to typical controls. Aim: To examine associations between house dust PAE concentrations and cytokine profiles in children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders.Methods: Participants were 51 children from the CHARGE study seen at UC Davis for developmental and medical evaluations and blood collection. Five PAEs were measured in dust collected by HVS3 sampler from carpet in the child’s home. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and 17 cytokines were measured in media and stimulated PBMCs using Luminex technology. We used Spearman correlation and non-parametric tests to determine associations between PAE concentrations and cytokine production.Results: In unstimulated cells, PAEs correlated with both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Associations were observed more frequently in cases than controls. Generally, cytokine production in unstimulated cells correlated positively with butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) concentrations with the exception of IL12p40, which decreased with higher DEP levels. In stimulated cells, cytokine production was inversely correlated with PAEs. Anti-inflammatory receptor antagonists IL1ra and sIL2ra were significantly reduced in the presence of higher BBP and DEP concentrations, and this relationship was only observed in cases. Conversely, IL4 correlated positively with dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and DEP (rs =0.52, p<0.01 and rs =0.51, p<0.01).Conclusion: Our results support evidence suggesting that PAEs influence immune function in a pediatric population, and indicate that children with neurodevelopmental disorders may be differentially sensitive to PAE exposure.