Effects of Endocrine Disruptors o,p′-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and Endosulfan on the Expression of Estradiol-, Progesterone-, and Testosterone-Responsive MicroRNAs and Their Target Genes in MCF-7 Cells

Many studies have shown that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) exposure raises breast cancer risk. Another insecticide with similar properties is endosulfan, which has been actively used in agriculture after DDT prohibition. Previously, we have identified some estradiol-, progesterone-, and testosterone-sensitive microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs). Because DDT and endosulfan have estrogenic, antiandrogenic, and antiprogesterone properties, we hypothesized that these miRNAs are affected by the insecticides. We quantified relative levels of miRNAs and expression levels of their target genes in breast cancer MCF-7 cells treated with p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, or endosulfan. We also quantified miR-19b expression, which, as previously shown, is regulated by estrogen. Here, we observed that miR-19b expression increased in response not only to estradiol but also to testosterone and progesterone. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with p,p′-DDT or endosulfan decreased the protein levels of apoptosis regulators TP53INP1 and APAF1. In cells treated with o,p′-DDT, the TP53INP1 amount decreased after 24 h of incubation, but increased after 48 h of incubation with insecticide. OXTR expression, which is known to be associated with breast carcinogenesis, significantly diminished under the exposure of all insecticides. In cells treated with p,p′-DDT or o,p′-DDT, the observed changes were accompanied by alterations of the levels of hormone-responsive miRNAs: miR-324, miR-190a, miR-190b, miR-27a, miR-193b, and miR-19b.

International approaches to hazard assessment and classification of endocrine disruptors

Introduction. The problems of the impact of endocrine disruptors on human health and the environment are of serious concern today at the international, regional and national levels. Although the first mention about an ability of a substance to harm the endocrine system back in the 60 th of the XX century, the issues of substantiating the criteria for classifying it as endocrine disruptors, identifying potential disruptors of the endocrine system, assessing and classifying their danger to health and the environment with the purpose of further regulation. The aim of the study. To study of world experience in classifying chemical compounds as endocrine disruptors; creating a list of chemicals circulating on the territory of the Russian Federation that can potentially affect the endocrine system; selection of criteria for their classification according to the degree of hazard. The material for the analysis was literature sources from the bibliographic databases Web of Science, MedLine, EMBASE, Global Health, PubMed, Scopus, RSCI. The documents of international organizations, the European Union, the USA, Canada, Japan, India and other states on the hazard assessment, classification and regulation of endocrine disruptors have been studied and analyzed. Considering international experience, the criteria for classifying chemical compounds as endocrine disruptors have been substantiated, including three main components: an adverse effect on the body, an endocrine mechanism of action, and a biological relationship between endocrine activity and an adverse effect. A comparative analysis of the hazard classifications of endocrine disruptors developed by the EU and India showed to be based on the principles of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Hazards of Chemicals and Mixtures. Considering the limited scientific knowledge about substances capable of destroying the endocrine system, it is advisable to introduce class 3 for substances with limited data obtained in “in vitro” experiments in invertebrates tests. Conclusion. International approaches to the selection, assessment and classification of chemicals that have a potential impact on the endocrine system will allow for the first time in the Russian Federation to form a national list of endocrine disruptors, to identify substances that are the priority in terms of hazard and degree of risk for making relevant management decisions.

Environmental Contaminants Acting as Endocrine Disruptors Modulate Atherogenic Processes: New Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases in Women?

The number of aged individuals is increasing worldwide, rendering essential the comprehension of pathophysiological mechanisms of age-related alterations, which could facilitate the development of interventions contributing to “successful aging” and improving quality of life. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) include pathologies affecting the heart or blood vessels, such as hypertension, peripheral artery disease and coronary heart disease. Indeed, age-associated modifications in body composition, hormonal, nutritional and metabolic factors, as well as a decline in physical activity are all involved in the increased risk of developing atherogenic alterations that raise the risk of CVD development. Several factors have been reported to play a role in the alterations observed in muscle and endothelial cells and that lead to increased CVD, such as genetic pattern, smoking and unhealthy lifestyle. Moreover, a difference in the risk of these diseases in women and men has been reported. Interestingly, in the past decades attention has been focused on a potential role of several pollutants that disrupt human health by interfering with hormonal pathways, and more specifically in non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes and CVD. This review will focus on the potential alteration induced by Endocrine Disruptors (Eds) in the attempt to characterize a potential role in the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the atheromatous degeneration process and CVD progression.

Perinatal Environmental Health Education Intervention to Reduce Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors: The PREVED Project

Environmental health promotion interventions may reduce endocrine disruptor (ED) exposure. The PREVED (PREgnancy, preVention, Endocrine Disruptors) project was developed to improve knowledge, to enhance risk perception, and to change exposure behavior. Our objective was to present the phases of the PREVED project using the RE-AIM method. PREVED intervention consisted of three workshops during pregnancy. Reach, adoption, and implementation phases were assessed with qualitative studies. Efficacy study consisted of a three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) on 268 pregnant women: (i) control group (leaflet), (ii) intervention group in neutral location, (iii) intervention group in contextualized location. The main outcome was the percentage evolution of participants who reported consuming canned food. Secondary outcomes were evolution of psycho-social scores, evolution of ED presence in urine, and ED presence in colostrum. The intervention adoption was centered on upper-privileged women, but implementation assessment showed that key features (highly practical intervention) seemed to be carried out and had initiated some behavior changes. A total of 268 pregnant women participated in the intervention and 230 in a randomized controlled trial (control group: 86 and intervention groups: 172). We found no significant differences in consumption of canned food and in percentage of women having a decrease of bisphenol A or parabens in urine, but we found a significant increase in the evolution of risk perception score and overall psychosocial score in intervention groups (respectively: +15.73 control versus +21.03 intervention, p = 0.003 and +12.39 versus +16.20, p = 0.02). We found a significant difference in percentage of women with butylparaben detection between control group and intervention groups (13% versus 3%, p = 0.03). PREVED intervention is the first intervention research dedicated to perinatal environmental health education in France. By sharing know-how/experience in a positive non-alarmist approach, it improved risk perception, which is key to behavior change, aiming to reduce perinatal ED exposure. Including women in precarious situations remains a major issue.