Abstract
Contamination of the environment with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a major health concern. The presence of estrogenic compounds in water and their deleterious effect are well documented. However, detection and monitoring of other classes of EDCs is limited. Here we utilize a high-throughput live cell assay based on sub-cellular relocalization of GFP-tagged glucocorticoid and androgen receptors (GFP-GR and GFP-AR), in combination with gene transcription analysis, to screen for glucocorticoid and androgen activity in water samples. We report previously unrecognized glucocorticoid activity in 27%, and androgen activity in 35% of tested water sources from 14 states in the US. Steroids of both classes impact body development, metabolism, and interfere with reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems. This prevalent contamination could negatively affect wildlife and human populations.
Highlights
Contamination of the environment with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a major health concern
Here we introduce a highly sensitive live cell assay based on cytoplasm to nuclear translocation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged nuclear receptors, exemplified by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expressed in a mammalian cell line, 361715 to screen samples from US water sources for glucocorticoid/EDCs activity (Fig. 1a)
5 mm. (c) Transcriptional activation of the GR-regulated Per[1] gene by 10 water samples collected using a polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) are compared to transactivation induced by corticosterone
Summary
Contamination of the environment with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a major health concern. We report previously unrecognized glucocorticoid activity in 27%, and androgen activity in 35% of tested water sources from 14 states in the US Steroids of both classes impact body development, metabolism, and interfere with reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems. Chemical methods for detection of EDCs have revealed the presence of five classes of steroid hormones comprising estrogens, androgens, progestogens, glucocorticoids, and a mineralocorticoid in water sources in China[12]. It is unclear whether the EDCs detected in water could elicit steroid-specific biological response(s) in mammalian systems To address these questions, it is crucial to develop and implement high throughput and low cost methods for detection of EDCs in the environment.
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