Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The fact that air pollution leads to adverse outcomes in pregnancy has been known for some time. Now, for the first time, Indian researchers have identified the molecular pathways that get disrupted due to dangerous particulate matter (PM) in the environment, altering biological processes that help a baby grow properly in the womb.
The researchers associated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi have shown how pollutants can reduce the placenta’s ability to deliver nutrients, affect the development of blood vessels, and alter the activity of genes that regulate growth.
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The important study published in EMBO Molecular Medicine suggests that very small polluting particles can reach the placenta, the organ that supplies oxygen and nutrients from mother to foetus.
Once there, they appear to trigger inflammation and cellular stress, which can interfere with the placenta’s normal functioning.
“This may increase the risk of pregnancy complications such as premature birth, low birth weight, and conditions like pre-eclampsia or dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy,” Dr Subhradip Karmakar, additional professor of biochemistry at AIIMS and lead author of the study, told India Today.
A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air Analysis which came out in late 2025 showed that people in 60 percent of India’s districts are exposed to polluted air all through the year, not just in winter.
In winter months, in a large part of northern India, including Delhi and its adjoining areas, the air quality index (AQI) can be as high as 500 or above driven by dangerously high levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 that can easily penetrate and cause a number of health issues.
Long term exposure to high PM 2.5, in particular, has been linked with rising cases of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and reduced life expectancy.
Every year, nearly 2.3–2.5 crore babies are born every year and low birth weight – when a baby is less than 2.5 kg at birth and at risk of several life-threatening complications – at 18 percent is a major public health challenge in the country.
KEY MESSAGES
The central message of this research is that tiny particles in polluted air are not just harmful to the lungs—they can also affect an unborn baby during pregnancy. The researchers found evidence for these effects across laboratory experiments, animal studies, and observations of human populations living in heavily polluted areas.
In animal studies, explained Dr Karmakar, exposure was linked to smaller litters, abnormal placentas, slower fetal growth, and even changes in brain development after birth.
Human studies similarly found higher rates of babies being born underweight in areas with greater pollution exposure.
One particularly important finding was the identification of a growth-related gene called IGFBP3, whose activity was reduced by pollution-induced inflammation.
“While the technical details are complex, the practical meaning is straightforward: pollution may hinder some of the body’s natural mechanisms for supporting foetal growth. Taken together, the study paints a picture of air pollution as a whole-body threat during pregnancy, not merely a respiratory hazard,” Dr Karmakar emphasised.
The authors go on to suggest that reducing exposure to polluted air – through cleaner environments, better air quality policies, and protective measures during pregnancy – could have meaningful benefits for the health of both mothers and their babies.
PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO DAMAGE
Air particulate matter – PM2.5 and PM10, can cross the placental barrier, triggering oxidative stress and inflammation that compromise foetal development.
These insults lead to placental dysfunction and complications including preterm birth, low birth weight, and pre-eclampsia.
In cell line and placental explant models, urban particulate matter (UPM) increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress pathways, impairing trophoblast invasion, angiogenesis, and nutrient transport, while also altering epigenetic modifications and endoplasmic reticulum function.
Rodent studies revealed reduced litter size, placental abnormalities, and foetal growth arrest along with postnatal neurodevelopmental alterations. Human cohorts from high-exposure regions showed elevated low birth weight rates.
Proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of rat placenta revealed an inflammatory signature and altered metabolic networks, while gut microbiome dysbiosis suggested links to metabolic disturbances.
Importantly, transcriptomic analysis identified IGFBP3 as a major downregulated gene following UPM exposure. IGFBP3, a key regulator of IGF bioavailability, was suppressed by IL1, establishing inflammation-driven repression as the mechanism.
These findings underscore UPM’s multidimensional impact on maternal–foetal health and highlight preventive strategies as urgent priorities, the authors noted.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
