Non-Genomic Effects of Xenoestrogen Mixtures

Abstract

Xenoestrogens (XEs) are chemicals derived from a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources that can interfere with endogenous estrogens by either mimicking or blocking their responses via non-genomic and/or genomic signaling mechanisms. Disruption of estrogens’ actions through the less-studied non-genomic pathway can alter such functional end points as cell proliferation, peptide hormone release, catecholamine transport, and apoptosis, among others. Studies of potentially adverse effects due to mixtures and to low doses of endocrine-disrupting chemicals have recently become more feasible, though few so far have included actions via the non-genomic pathway. Physiologic estrogens and XEs evoke non-monotonic dose responses, with different compounds having different patterns of actions dependent on concentration and time, making mixture assessments all the more challenging. In order to understand the spectrum of toxicities and their mechanisms, future work should focus on carefully studying individual and mixture components across a range of concentrations and cellular pathways in a variety of tissue types.

Exposure to bisphenol A at physiological concentrations observed in Chinese children promotes primordial follicle growth through the PI3K/Akt pathway in an ovarian culture system

“…Numerous studies have investigated the influence of BPA on human health, especially reproductive health, since the ovary is an active organ that is susceptible to harmful environmental exposure. Previous studies revealed that BPA can suppress ovarian follicle growth by causing perturbations in estrogen metabolism (Mohri and Yoshida, 2005;Richter et al, 2007;Vinas et al, 2012) or meiotic division (Eichenlaub-Ritter et al, 2008;Hunt et al, 2003;Suzuki et al, 2002). Recent evidence suggests that BPA perturbs various ovarian functions such as folliculogenesis and follicle formation in vitro (Susiarjo et al, 2007;Hunt et al, 2012).…”

Endocrine Disruption in the Omics Era: New Views, New Hazards, New Approaches

“…And these problems increase when more "metabolic" signaling pathways, like thyroid, PPAR, retinoids, and others, in which the so-called non-genomic effects (effects on hormone metabolism, transport or degradation, neuroendocrine control, etc.) may easily shadow the more "classic", receptor-binding linked effects [57,[77][78][79][80].…”

Epigenetic Reprogramming Induced by Environmental Estrogens

“…Based upon numerous previous studies, xenoestrogens, also called "environmental estrogens or hormones" or "Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDC)", are considered as serious environmental hazards that have hormone disruptive effects on human and wildlife health [5,6]. Studies have found that fetuses and young children exposed to BPA are at risk for secondary sexual developmental changes, brain and behavior changes and immune disorders [7].…”