Modulation of estrogen synthesis through activation of protein kinase A in H295R cells by extracts of estuary sediments

A preliminary understanding of the relationship between synthetic phenolic antioxidants and early pregnancy loss: Uncovering the potential molecular mechanisms

Mounting evidence suggests that environmental pollutants may affect reproductive health, potentially leading to adverse outcomes like pregnancy loss. However, it remains unclear whether exposure to synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) correlates with early pregnancy loss (EPL). This study explores SPA exposure's link to EPL and its potential molecular mechanisms. From 2021 to 2022, 265 early pregnant women (136 serum and 129 villus samples) with and without EPL were enrolled. We quantified 17 SPAs in serum and chorionic villus, with AO1010, AO3114, BHT, AO2246, and BHT-Q frequently being detected, suggesting their ability to cross the placental barrier. AO1135 showed a positive relationship with EPL in sera, indicating a significant monotonic dose-response relationship (p-trend <0.001). BHT-Q exhibited a similar relationship with EPL in villi. Inhibitory effects of BHT-Q on estradiol (E2) were observed. Molecular docking revealed SPA-protein interactions involved in E2 synthesis. SPA-induced EPL might occur with specific serum levels of AO1135 and certain villus levels of AO1010, BHT-Q, and AO2246. BHT-Q emerges as a potential biomarker for assessing EPL risk. This study provides insights into understanding of the exposure to SPAs and potential adverse outcomes in pregnant women.

Evaluating the effects on steroidogenesis of estragole and trans-anethole in a feto-placental co-culture model

In this study, we determined whether estragole and its isomer trans-anethole interfered with feto-placental steroidogenesis in a human co-culture model composed of fetal-like adrenocortical (H295R) and placental trophoblast-like (BeWo) cells. Estragole and trans-anethole are considered the biologically active compounds within basil and fennel seed essential oils, respectively. After a 24 h exposure of the co-culture to 2.5, 5.2 and 25 μM estragole or trans-anethole, hormone concentrations of estradiol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, progesterone and estriol were significantly increased. Using RT-qPCR, estragole and trans-anethole were shown to significantly alter the expression of several key steroidogenic enzymes, such as those involved in cholesterol transport and steroid hormone biosynthesis, including StAR, CYP11A1, HSD3B1/2, SULT2A1, and HSD17B1, -4, and -5. Furthermore, we provided mechanistic insight into the ability of estragole and trans-anethole to stimulate promoter-specific expression of CYP19 through activation of the PKA pathway in H295R cells and the PKC pathway in BeWo cells, in both cases associated with increased cAMP levels. Moreover, we show new evidence suggesting a role for progesterone in regulating steroid hormone biosynthesis through regulation of the StAR gene.

Essential oils disrupt steroidogenesis in a feto-placental co-culture model

We determined whether 5 common essential oils (basil, fennel seed, orange, black pepper and sage) interfered with feto-placental steroidogenesis in a co-culture model composed of fetal-like adrenocortical (H295R) and placental trophoblast-like (BeWo) cells. After a 24 h exposure, only basil and fennel seed oil significantly increased hormone concentrations of estradiol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, progesterone, and estriol. Basil and fennel seed oil were shown to significantly alter the expression of steroidogenic enzymes involved in cholesterol transport and steroid hormone biosynthesis, including StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD1/2, SULT2A1, and HSD17β1, -4, and -5. Also, basil and fennel seed oil stimulated placental-specific promoter I.1 and pII-derived CYP19 mRNA in BeWo and H295R cells, respectively, as well as, increased CYP19 enzyme activity. Our results indicate that further study is necessary to determine the potential risks of using basil and fennel seed oils during pregnancy considering their potential to disrupt steroidogenic enzyme activity and expression in vitro.

Assessing the effects of Awba dam sediment (Nigeria) on the steroidogenesis of H295R cells using different extraction methods

In the present study, H295R human cells were used to investigate the endocrine disruptor potential of three different sediments extracts taken from a Nigerian tropical freshwater dam (Awba Dam), using three extraction methods that allowed a selective consideration of contaminants based on their binding affinity, which is mainly driven by polarity, to sediment particles. After exposure to different concentration of each extract, H295R cells were evaluated for the expression profiles of 10 steroidogenic enzyme genes and estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) levels. Our results showed a comparable concentrated-related increase in the expression of 17β-hsd1, 3β-hsd2 and cyp21 in cells treated with the polar and non-polar extracts. The star, hmgr, cyp11b2 and 17β-hsd4 were slightly decreased, in an apparent concentration-specific manner, after treatment with the polar extract and decreased in the non-polar treatment. The cyp11a and cyp17 showed an opposite trend in the polar and non-polar treatments. E2 was significantly higher in cell treated with the non-polar extract. Elutriate exposure produced less pronounced variation in mRNA and hormones levels. Overall the extract with non-polar compounds produced the most severe effects in H295R cells. Thus, direct ingestion of detritus and mud from fishes and other benthonic organisms represent possible transfer of contaminants in the trophic web, and mainly account for alteration of the endocrine system previously observed in fish from the same study site.

A high-throughput, computational system to predict if environmental contaminants can bind to human nuclear receptors

Some pollutants can bind to nuclear receptors (NRs) and modulate their activities. Predicting interactions of NRs with chemicals is required by various jurisdictions because these molecular initiating events can result in adverse, apical outcomes, such as survival, growth or reproduction. The goal of this study was to develop a high-throughput, computational method to predict potential agonists of NRs, especially for contaminants in the environment or to which people or wildlife are expected to be exposed, including both persistent and pseudo-persistent chemicals. A 3D-structure database containing 39 human NRs was developed. The database was then combined with AutoDock Vina to develop a System for Predicting Potential Effective Nuclear Receptors (SPEN), based on inverse docking of chemicals. The SPEN was further validated and evaluated by experimental results for a subset of 10 chemicals. Finally, to assess the robustness of SPEN, its ability to predict potentials of 40 chemicals to bind to some of the most studied receptors was evaluated. SPEN is rapid, cost effective and powerful for predicting binding of chemicals to NRs. SPEN was determined to be useful for screening chemicals so that pollutants in the environment can be prioritized for regulators or when considering alternative compounds to replace known or suspected contaminants with poor environmental profiles.