Correlation of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Serum Levels and White Blood Cells Gene Expression of Nuclear Receptors in a Population of Infertile Women

Donatella Caserta,Giuseppe Lo Monte,Cinzia La Rocca,Giulia Bordi,Ilaria Soave,Francesca Borghini,Cristiana Guerranti,Roberto Marci,Laura Stecca,Silvano Focardi,Guido Perra,Emiliano Fanello,Massimo Moscarini,Alberto Mantovani,Sabrina Tait,Bruno Bergamasco,Francesca Ciardo

doi:10.1155/2013/510703

Abstract

Significant evidence supports that many endocrine disrupting chemicals could affect female reproductive health. Aim of this study was to compare the internal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in serum samples of 111 infertile women and 44 fertile women. Levels of gene expression of nuclear receptors (ERα, ERβ, AR, AhR, PXR, and PPARγ) were also analyzed as biomarkers of effective dose. The percentage of women with BPA concentrations above the limit of detection was significantly higher in infertile women than in controls. No statistically significant difference was found with regard to PFOS, PFOA, MEHP and DEHP. Infertile patients showed gene expression levels of ERα, ERβ, AR, and PXR significantly higher than controls. In infertile women, a positive association was found between BPA and MEHP levels and ERα, ERβ, AR, AhR, and PXR expression. PFOS concentration positively correlated with AR and PXR expression. PFOA levels negatively correlated with AhR expression. No correlation was found between DEHP levels and all evaluated nuclear receptors. This study underlines the need to provide special attention to substances that are still widely present in the environment and to integrate exposure measurements with relevant indicators of biological effects.

Highlights

An endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) is defined as “an exogenous agent that interferes with synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action, or elimination of natural blood-borne hormones that are present in the body and are responsible for homeostasis, reproduction, and developmental process” [1].The homeostasis of sex steroids and the thyroid are the main targets of EDC effects; reproductive health, considered as a continuum from gamete production and fertilization through to intrauterine and postnatal developmentInternational Journal of Endocrinology of progeny, is recognized as being especially vulnerable to endocrine disruption [2].This study stems from the PREVIENI project, founded by the Italian Environment Ministry
This study presents the data on internal EDC exposure levels in infertile women from three different IVF units as well as the expression of nuclear receptors (NRs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as biomarkers of effective dose
Our results show how infertile women have higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) when compared to healthy fertile women

Summary

Introduction

An endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) is defined as “an exogenous agent that interferes with synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action, or elimination of natural blood-borne hormones that are present in the body and are responsible for homeostasis, reproduction, and developmental process” [1].The homeostasis of sex steroids and the thyroid are the main targets of EDC effects; reproductive health, considered as a continuum from gamete production and fertilization through to intrauterine and postnatal developmentInternational Journal of Endocrinology of progeny, is recognized as being especially vulnerable to endocrine disruption [2].This study stems from the PREVIENI project (http:// www.iss.it/prvn/), founded by the Italian Environment Ministry. An endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) is defined as “an exogenous agent that interferes with synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action, or elimination of natural blood-borne hormones that are present in the body and are responsible for homeostasis, reproduction, and developmental process” [1]. Aim of the project is to integrate biomarkers of chemical exposure, biologically effective dose biomarkers, and clinical findings, in order to assess the relationship between reproductive health and emerging EDC that are still incompletely considered in the environment and health surveillance. This study presents the data on internal EDC exposure levels in infertile women from three different IVF units as well as the expression of nuclear receptors (NRs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as biomarkers of effective dose.

Methods

Results

Conclusion