Biomarkers of exposure to tobacco smoke and environmental pollutants in mothers and their transplacental transfer to the foetus. Part II. Oxidative damage

Abstract Oxidative damage to macromolecules may have numerous negative health consequences. We measured oxidative damage to DNA, proteins and lipids in 80 newborns and 79 mothers, analyzed the effect of mother's tobacco smoke exposure on oxidative stress, and assessed correlations between oxidative stress markers and bulky and PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)-specific DNA adducts. Mean levels (±S.D.) of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) per 10 5 dG in the placenta were 2.85 ± 0.78; we did not see a difference between 8-oxodG levels in newborns born to mothers exposed and unexposed to tobacco smoke. Protein carbonyl levels, a marker of protein oxidation, were comparable in the umbilical cord and in maternal venous blood plasma (17.4 ± 3.2 and 17.6 ± 4.2 nmol/ml plasma in newborns and mothers, respectively, p  = 0.66). Lipid peroxidation measured as levels of 15-F 2t -isoprostane (15-F 2t -IsoP) in plasma was significantly higher in newborns than in mothers (362 ± 129 and 252 ± 130 pg/ml in newborns and mothers, respectively, p 2t -IsoP in cord blood significantly correlated with those in maternal plasma ( p