Transplacental transfer of genotoxins and transplacental carcinogenesis. 1993

H Autrup
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark.

A number of chemical compounds induce cancer in the offspring of animals treated with these compounds. The fetus is sensitive to the toxic and teratogenic effects of chemicals in the early embryonic stages, whereas it is sensitive to carcinogenic effects during late fetal stages. Carcinogens may be direct acting or may require metabolic oxidation such as those in tobacco smoke. Activation can occur in utero. Animal experiments indicate that tumors can be initiated in utero, commonly by activation of cellular proto-oncogenes, and that promotion can occur after birth by postnatal treatment with tumor promoters. This may have important implications for humans. The initial peak of cancer incidence during the first 5 years of life may be due to prenatal exposure of either parent to mutagens, but the role of paternal exposure in relation to childhood cancer is controversial. There is an increased risk of cancer in children whose fathers work in heavy industry or whose mothers work in medical or dental services. The exact etiological agents have not been unequivocally identified. Information on human transplacental exposure to carcinogens and genotoxins is limited and based on measurement of maternal plasma concentrations or analysis of cord blood. Transplacental transfer of carcinogens in smoke and smoke-related damage to fetal tissue have been demonstrated. The mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 or its metabolites have been detected in cord blood, as have metabolites of pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls. New biomarkers may provide important information on the transplacental transfer of genotoxic compounds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008431 Maternal-Fetal Exchange Exchange of substances between the maternal blood and the fetal blood at the PLACENTA via PLACENTAL CIRCULATION. The placental barrier excludes microbial or viral transmission. Transplacental Exposure,Exchange, Maternal-Fetal,Exposure, Transplacental,Maternal Fetal Exchange
D009153 Mutagens Chemical agents that increase the rate of genetic mutation by interfering with the function of nucleic acids. A clastogen is a specific mutagen that causes breaks in chromosomes. Clastogen,Clastogens,Genotoxin,Genotoxins,Mutagen
D009154 Mutation Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations. Mutations
D009369 Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011905 Genes, ras Family of retrovirus-associated DNA sequences (ras) originally isolated from Harvey (H-ras, Ha-ras, rasH) and Kirsten (K-ras, Ki-ras, rasK) murine sarcoma viruses. Ras genes are widely conserved among animal species and sequences corresponding to both H-ras and K-ras genes have been detected in human, avian, murine, and non-vertebrate genomes. The closely related N-ras gene has been detected in human neuroblastoma and sarcoma cell lines. All genes of the family have a similar exon-intron structure and each encodes a p21 protein. Ha-ras Genes,Ki-ras Genes,N-ras Genes,c-Ha-ras Genes,c-Ki-ras Genes,c-N-ras Genes,ras Genes,v-Ha-ras Genes,v-Ki-ras Genes,H-ras Genes,H-ras Oncogenes,Ha-ras Oncogenes,K-ras Genes,K-ras Oncogenes,Ki-ras Oncogenes,N-ras Oncogenes,c-H-ras Genes,c-H-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-Ha-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-K-ras Genes,c-K-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-Ki-ras Proto-Oncogenes,c-N-ras Proto-Oncogenes,ras Oncogene,v-H-ras Genes,v-H-ras Oncogenes,v-Ha-ras Oncogenes,v-K-ras Genes,v-K-ras Oncogenes,v-Ki-ras Oncogenes,Gene, Ha-ras,Gene, Ki-ras,Gene, v-Ha-ras,Gene, v-Ki-ras,Genes, Ha-ras,Genes, Ki-ras,Genes, N-ras,Genes, v-Ha-ras,Genes, v-Ki-ras,H ras Genes,H ras Oncogenes,H-ras Gene,H-ras Oncogene,Ha ras Genes,Ha ras Oncogenes,Ha-ras Gene,Ha-ras Oncogene,K ras Genes,K ras Oncogenes,K-ras Gene,K-ras Oncogene,Ki ras Genes,Ki ras Oncogenes,Ki-ras Gene,Ki-ras Oncogene,N ras Genes,N ras Oncogenes,N-ras Gene,N-ras Oncogene,c H ras Genes,c H ras Proto Oncogenes,c Ha ras Genes,c Ha ras Proto Oncogenes,c K ras Genes,c K ras Proto Oncogenes,c Ki ras Genes,c Ki ras Proto Oncogenes,c N ras Genes,c N ras Proto Oncogenes,c-H-ras Gene,c-H-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-Ha-ras Gene,c-Ha-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-K-ras Gene,c-K-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-Ki-ras Gene,c-Ki-ras Proto-Oncogene,c-N-ras Gene,c-N-ras Proto-Oncogene,ras Gene,ras Oncogenes,v H ras Genes,v H ras Oncogenes,v Ha ras Genes,v Ha ras Oncogenes,v K ras Genes,v K ras Oncogenes,v Ki ras Genes,v Ki ras Oncogenes,v-H-ras Gene,v-H-ras Oncogene,v-Ha-ras Gene,v-Ha-ras Oncogene,v-K-ras Gene,v-K-ras Oncogene,v-Ki-ras Gene,v-Ki-ras Oncogene
D002273 Carcinogens Substances that increase the risk of NEOPLASMS in humans or animals. Both genotoxic chemicals, which affect DNA directly, and nongenotoxic chemicals, which induce neoplasms by other mechanism, are included. Carcinogen,Oncogen,Oncogens,Tumor Initiator,Tumor Initiators,Tumor Promoter,Tumor Promoters,Initiator, Tumor,Initiators, Tumor,Promoter, Tumor,Promoters, Tumor
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004249 DNA Damage Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS. DNA Injury,DNA Lesion,DNA Lesions,Genotoxic Stress,Stress, Genotoxic,Injury, DNA,DNA Injuries
D005260 Female Females

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