Previous studies have linked prenatal acetaminophen (APAP) exposure to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in humans and animals. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. To address this gap, a study has examined the association between maternal plasma biomarkers of APAP exposure, placental gene expression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 307 African American mother-child pairs. The study found that APAP exposure in the second trimester was associated with a 3.15-fold increased risk of ADHD in children.
This risk correlated with placental upregulation of immune system pathways in females and reduced oxidative phosphorylation in both sexes. Notably, APAP exposure was linked to a 5.22% higher risk of ADHD in females, driven by increased expression of immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 (IGHG1). These findings suggest that…
