Prenatal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter induces dysregulations of lipid metabolism in adipose tissue in male offspring.

Prenatal exposure to ambient fine particles (diameter < 0.25 μm, PM) has been found to be associated with abnormal growth and development in offspring. However, the effects of PM on the lipid metabolism of adipose tissue in offspring are unclear. In the present study, we established a mouse model of prenatal exposure to PM by intratracheal instillation to pregnant C57BL/6 female mice with PM suspension or normal saline. We found that prenatal exposure to PM of a mouse model reduced body weight in adult male offspring after 6 weeks old. Histological analysis showed that the adipocyte size was significantly reduced in epididymal adipose tissue (eWAT) in male offspring, but not in brown adipose tissue. The expression levels of genes related to fatty acid synthesis (ACC1, ACSL1) and oxidation (PPARα) in eWAT were also significantly decreased. In addition, downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6) was also observed. Lipidomics analysis of eWAT demonstrated that prenatal exposure of PM reduced lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC), phosphatidylcholines (PC), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), sphingomyelins (SM), and ceramides (Cer), indicating that metabolic pathways, including SM-Cer signaling and glycerophospholipids remodeling, were disrupted. In summary, prenatal exposure to PM was associated with the dysregulations in lipid metabolism of eWAT and pro-inflammatory response in male offspring.