Environmental Estrogens Induce Mast Cell Degranulation and Enhance IgE-mediated Release of Allergic Mediators

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prevalence and morbidity of allergic diseases have increased over the last decades. Based on the recently recognized differences in asthma prevalence between the sexes, we have examined the effect of endogenous estrogens on a key element of the allergic response. Some lipophilic pollutants have estrogen-like activities and are termed environmental estrogens. These pollutants tend to degrade slowly in the environment and to bioaccumulate and bioconcentrate in the food chain; they also have long biological half-lives. OBJECTIVES: Our goal in this study was to identify possible pathogenic roles for environmental estrogens in the development of allergic diseases. METHODS:We screened a number of environmental estrogens for their ability to modulate the release of allergic mediators from mast cells. We incubated a human mast cell line and primary mast cell cultures derived from bone marrow of wild type and estrogen receptor α (ER-α)-deficient mice with environmental estrogens with and without estradiol or IgE and allergens. We assessed degranulation of mast cells by quantifying the release of β-hexosaminidase.

The Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in Poland – the Results of the PMSEAD Study in Relation to Gender Differences

“…Recently, it has been shown in 2 experimental studies [21,22] that estradiol and estrogen-like compounds stimulate (through a mast cell membrane estrogen receptor-a) the synthesis and release of allergic mediators. They also enhance IgE--dependent mast cell activation and degranulation.…”

The role of environmental estrogens and autoimmunity

“…On the other hand, a study enrolling children from Brazil exposed to DDT showed that the immune response to diptheria vaccine was not impaired [37]. Prenatal DDE exposure increases also the rate of asthma in children (relative risk of 2.6) [38]; in vitro studies showed that DDT induces an increase in the rate of mast-cell degranulation therefore augmenting the risk of allergy [39,40]. In (NZB × NZW) F1 lupus prone mice, DDT exposure markedly increased the incidence of albuminuria, reduced uterine weight but had no measured effects on immunity or mortality [41].…”

Determination of environmentally relevant exposure concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers for in vitro toxicological studies

“…High dose studies have predominated in toxicology because scientists assume these studies can indicate the target of low dose exposure. However, some environmental toxicants display non-linear dose-response relationships, which means they cause different effects at different doses, and the impacts at low doses may not occur at high doses (Andrade et al, 2006;Narita et al, 2007;Wetherill et al, 2002;Wozniak et al, 2005). Recently, PBDEs have been reported to display apparent non-monotonic effects in experimental rats.…”