Fig. 3. Impact of prenatal PM_2.5 exposure during third trimester on neonatal-maternal cytokine association, especially IL-27.

(A) Volcano plots summarize the β coefficients and statistical significance for the association between maternal marker levels and CB markers (see Materials and Methods). Multiple testing corrections were performed by using FDR at 0.05. A positive β coefficient can be interpreted that 1-U increase in maternal cytokine will increase the cytokines level in CB by β estimates. A β coefficient of PM_2.5 (binary indicator; low versus high) can be interpreted that cytokine levels in CB will change by β among high maternal PM_2.5 exposure compared to the low exposure group. A β coefficient of interaction between maternal cytokine levels and PM_2.5 status can be interpreted as the relation between maternal cytokine and corresponding cytokine in CB getting weaker in CB from high maternal PM_2.5 exposure compared to those with low maternal PM_2.5 exposure. (B) Box plots for levels of IL-27 in pregnant women and CB. The exposure group is defined on the basis of the mother’s exposure status during the 3 months before the blood collection, categorized as low or high. Points are samples in each group and matched pregnant women and CB are connected by a line. Q values of the differences within exposure status and between pregnant and nonpregnant women are noted with significant levels. Q values below 0.05 get one star (*); below 0.01, two stars (**); and below 0.001, three stars (***).