COMBINED EFFECT OF ANTIBODIES TO BENZO[A]PYRENE, ESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE UPON SEX HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN BLOOD SERUM OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS OF FETUS

Abstract

Specific antibodies against environmental chemical gene toxicants and endogenous steroid hormones are shown to modulate concentrations of these compounds in blood serum and their biological effects in experimental models. However, probable hazards of such antibodies in human teratogenesis are still unknown. In particular, potential correlations between specific serum antibodies, sex hormone levels in pregnant women, and congenital malformations in newborns are not clear. The aim of this study was to identify possible associations between occurrence of antibodies to benzo[a]pyrene, estradiol and progesterone (Bp, Es and Pg, respectively), and congenital malformations, and effects of these antibodies upon Es and Pg concentrations in blood serum of pregnant women. We have included into the study 182 women with normal pregnancy and 101 females with congenital malformations of fetus. A non-competitive solid phase immunoassay was performed using Bp, Es and Pg conjugated to bovine serum albumin as antigens. Es and Pg serum concentrations were measured using immunoassay test-systems of “Immunotech” (Moscow). Results: strong positive correlations were revealed between the levels of studied antibodies in the both groups. High IgA-Bp/IgA-Es (> 3) and IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg ratios (> 3) were associated with congenital malformations (OR = 2.2, p = 0.013 and OR = 6.8, p < 0.0001). Positive correlations were revealed between Pg/Es and IgA-Bp/IgA-Es (rS = 0.62, p < 0.0001), and IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg ratios (rS = 0.77, p < 0.0001) in cases with inborn malformations. Similar correlations were found for the women who had normal pregnancy (rS = 0.4, p = 0.0001, and rS = 0.23, p = 0.026, respectively). The Pg/Es proportion correlated with IgG-Bp/IgG-Es (rS = 0.46, p = 0.002), and with IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg ratio (rS = 0.5, p = 0.0009) in cases of malformations, but not in women with normal pregnancy. Conclusion: we have revealed novel associations between congenital malformations of fetus and ratios of IgA-Bp/IgA-Es, as well as IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg, like as positive correlations between hormonal Pg/Es proportions, and ratios of specific antibodies in pregnant women.

Keywords

• congenital malformations
• antibodies
• benzo[a]pyrene
• estradiol
• progesterone