Urinary phthalate metabolite and BPA concentrations in women with cervical cancer

Unveiling bisphenol A toxicity: human health impacts and sustainable treatment strategies

INTRODUCTION

The widespread presence of bisphenol-A (BPA) in consumer goods like water bottles and eyeglass frames raises serious concerns about the chemical's ability to accumulate in human tissues. Molecular filtration and activated carbon adsorption are two of the many BPA treatment technologies that have emerged in response to these issues; both are essential in the removal or degradation of BPA from water sources and industrial effluents.

CONTENT

To secure the long-term health and environmental advantages of BPA treatment approaches, sustainable development is essential. Both the efficient elimination or destruction of BPA and the reduction of the treatment operations' impact on the environment are important components of a sustainable approach. Different search engines like Pub-Med, MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Scopus are used for these systematic reviews and analyzed accordingly. This can be accomplished by making treatment facilities more energy efficient and using environmentally friendly materials. Greener ways to deal with BPA pollution are on the horizon, thanks to innovative techniques like bioremediation and improved oxidation processes. Reducing dependence on conventional, resource-intensive procedures can be achieved by investigating the use of bio-based materials and natural adsorbents in treatment processes.

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

This review article tackling the health and environmental concerns raised by BPA calls for an integrated strategy that incorporates sustainable development principles and technology progress. We can reduce the negative impacts of BPA contamination, improve environmental stewardship in the long run, and ensure human health by combining cutting-edge treatment technologies with sustainable behaviours.

Exploring the impact of estrogenic endocrine disruptors on cervical cancer progression: A transcriptome analysis and prognostic model development

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. The detrimental health effects of estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EED), such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, are recognized, but their role in cervical cancer progression remains unclear. To investigate this, a transcriptome analysis using bioinformatics was conducted. The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) identified estrogen-responsive genes (ERGs) associated with EED. Cervical cancer expression and clinical data were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The limma package identified differentially expressed ERGs (DERGs), which were further analyzed for molecular mechanisms through enrichment analysis. LASSO regression developed a prognostic risk score model, and COX analysis identified prognostic biomarkers. ssGSEA assessed immune tumor infiltration, and Autodock performed molecular docking. A total of 217 DERGs were linked to endocrine resistance, estrogen signaling, and the cell cycle. The prognostic risk score and nomogram based on DERGs were highly predictive of cervical cancer prognosis and could serve as independent risk factors. The risk score influenced the tumor immune microenvironment by affecting immune cell presence. SCARA3 and FASN emerged as independent prognostic factors, with molecular docking confirming strong binding between EED and FASN. DERGs can aid in creating a reliable prognostic model and predicting overall survival in cervical cancer patients, offering new insights into the impact of EED on cancer progression and highlighting environmental factors related to cancer risks and development.

The alarming link between environmental microplastics and health hazards with special emphasis on cancer

Microplastic contamination is a burgeoning environmental issue that poses serious threats to animal and human health. Microplastics enter the human body through nasal, dermal, and oral routes to contaminate multiple organs. Studies have advocated the existence of microplastics in human breast milk, sputum, faeces, and blood. Microplastics can find their ways to the sub-cellular moiety via active and passive approaches. At cellular level, microplastics follow clathrin and caveolae-dependent pathways to invade the sub-cellular environment. These environmental contaminants modulate the epigenetic control of gene expression, status of inflammatory mediators, redox homeostasis, cell-cycle proteins, and mimic the endocrine mediators like estrogen and androgen to fuel carcinogenesis. Furthermore, epidemiological studies have suggested potential links between the exposure to microplastics and the onset of various chronic diseases. Microplastics trigger uncontrolled cell proliferation and ensue tissue growth leading to various cancers affecting the lungs, blood, breasts, prostate, and ovaries. Additionally, such contamination can potentially affect sub-cellular signaling and injure multiple organs. In essence, numerous reports have claimed microplastic-induced toxicity and tumorigenesis in human and model animals. Nonetheless, the underlying molecular mechanism is still elusive and warrants further investigations. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of microplastics, covering their sources, chemistry, human exposure routes, toxicity, and carcinogenic potential at the molecular level.

Vascular endothelial effects of dibutyl phthalate: In vitro and in vivo evidence

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is widely used in many consumer and personal care products. Here, we report vascular endothelial response to DBP in three different exposure scenarios: after short-term exposure (24 h) of human endothelial cells (ECs) EA.hy926 to 10-6, 10-5, and 10-4 M DBP, long-term exposure (12 weeks) of EA.hy926 cells to 10-9, 10-8, and 10-7 M DBP, and exposure of rats (28 and 90 days) to 100, 500, and 5000 mg DBP/kg food. We examined different vascular functions such as migration of ECs, adhesion of ECs to the extracellular matrix, tube formation, the morphology of rat aorta, as well as several signaling pathways involved in controlling endothelial function. Short-term in vitro exposure to DBP increased migration of ECs through G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and nitric oxide (NO) signaling and decreased adhesion to gelatin. Long-term in vitro exposure to DBP transiently increased EC migration and had a bidirectional effect on EC adhesion to gelatin and tube formation. These effects were accompanied by a sustained increase in NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and Akt activity. In vivo, exposure to DBP for 90 days decreased the aortic wall-to-lumen ratio and increased eNOS and Akt phosphorylation in ECs of rat aorta. This comparative investigation has shown that exposure to DBP may affect vascular function by altering EC migration, adhesion to gelatin, and tube formation after short- and long-term in vitro exposure and by decreasing the aortic wall-to-lumen ratio in vivo. The eNOS-NO and Akt signaling could be important in mediating the effects of DBP in long-term exposure scenarios.

Upregulation of GOLPH3 mediated by Bisphenol a promotes colorectal cancer proliferation and migration: evidence based on integrated analysis

Background

The interaction between environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), and their influence on cancer progression, particularly regarding the GOLPH3 gene in colorectal cancer, remains unclear.

Methods

We performed an integrated analysis of transcriptional profiling, clinical data, and bioinformatics analyses utilizing data from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and The Cancer Genome Atlas. The study employed ClueGO, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, and Gene Set Variation Analysis for functional enrichment analysis, alongside experimental assays to examine the effects of BPA exposure on colorectal cancer cell lines, focusing on GOLPH3 expression and its implications for cancer progression.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that BPA exposure significantly promoted the progression of colorectal cancer by upregulating GOLPH3, which in turn enhanced the malignant phenotype of colorectal cancer cells. Comparative analysis revealed elevated GOLPH3 protein levels in cancerous tissues versus normal tissues, with single-cell analysis indicating widespread GOLPH3 presence across various cell types in the cancer microenvironment. GOLPH3 was also associated with multiple carcinogenic pathways, including the G2M checkpoint. Furthermore, our investigation into the colorectal cancer microenvironment and genomic mutation signature underscored the oncogenic potential of GOLPH3, exacerbated by BPA exposure.

Conclusion

This study provides novel insights into the complex interactions between BPA exposure and GOLPH3 in the context of colorectal cancer, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and measures to mitigate BPA exposure risks. Our findings advocate for further research to validate these observations in clinical and epidemiological settings and explore potential therapeutic targets within these pathways.

Integrated In-Silico and In Vitro analysis to Decipher the contribution of bisphenol-A in cervical cancer

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical widely used as a monomer for producing polycarbonate plastics. The present investigation employed an in-silico approach to identify BPA-responsive genes and comprehend the biological functions affected using in vitro studies. A Comparative Toxicogenomics Database search identified 29 BPA-responsive genes in cervical cancer (CC). Twenty-nine genes were screened using published datasets, and thirteen of those showed differential expression between normal and CC samples. Protein-Protein Interaction Networks (PPIN) analysis identified BIRC5, CASP8, CCND1, EGFR, FGFR3, MTOR, VEGFA, DOC2B, WNT5A, and YY1 as hub genes. KM-based survival analysis identified that CCND, EGFR, VEGFA, FGFR3, DOC2B, and YY1 might affect CC patient survival. SiHa and CaSki cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were all considerably accelerated by BPA exposure. Changes in cell morphology, remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton, increased number and length of filopodia, elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species and calcium, and lipid droplet accumulation were noted upon BPA exposure. BPA treatment upregulated the expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition pathway members and enhanced the nuclear translocation of CTNNB1. We showed that the enhanced migration and nuclear translocation of CTNNB1 upon BPA exposure is a calcium-dependent process. The present study identified potential BPA-responsive genes and provided novel insights into the biological effects and mechanisms affected by BPA in CC. Our study raises concern over the use of BPA.

The adverse role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the reproductive system

Reproductive system diseases pose prominent threats to human physical and mental well-being. Besides being influenced by genetic material regulation and changes in lifestyle, the occurrence of these diseases is closely connected to exposure to harmful substances in the environment. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), characterized by hormone-like effects, have a wide range of influences on the reproductive system. EDCs are ubiquitous in the natural environment and are present in a wide range of industrial and everyday products. Currently, thousands of chemicals have been reported to exhibit endocrine effects, and this number is likely to increase as the testing for potential EDCs has not been consistently required, and obtaining data has been limited, partly due to the long latency of many diseases. The ability to avoid exposure to EDCs, especially those of artificially synthesized origin, is increasingly challenging. While EDCs can be divided into persistent and non-persistent depending on their degree of degradation, due to the recent uptick in research studies in this area, we have chosen to focus on the research pertaining to the detrimental effects on reproductive health of exposure to several EDCs that are widely encountered in daily life over the past six years, specifically bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates (PAEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), parabens, pesticides, heavy metals, and so on. By focusing on the impact of EDCs on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which leads to the occurrence and development of reproductive system diseases, this review aims to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of EDCs' damage to human health and to encourage further in-depth research to clarify the potentially harmful effects of EDC exposure through various other mechanisms. Ultimately, it offers a scientific basis to enhance EDCs risk management, an endeavor of significant scientific and societal importance for safeguarding reproductive health.

A systematic review on the current situation of emerging pollutants in Mexico: A perspective on policies, regulation, detection, and elimination in water and wastewater

Emerging pollutants (EPs) emerged as a group of new compounds whose presence in the environment has been widely detected in Mexico. In this country, different concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds, pesticides, dyes, and microplastics have been reported, which vary depending on the region and the analyzed matrix (i.e., wastewater, surface water, groundwater). The evidence of the EPs' presence focuses on the detection of them, but there is a gap in information regarding is biomonitoring and their effects in health in Mexico. The presence of these pollutants in the country associated with lack of proper regulations in the discharge and disposal of EPs. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive view of the current environmental status, policies, and frameworks regarding Mexico's situation. The review also highlights the lack of information about biomonitoring since EPs are present in water even after their treatment, leading to a critical situation, which is high exposure to humans and animals. Although, technologies to efficiently eliminate EPs are available, their application has been reported only at a laboratory scale thus far. Here, an overview of health and environmental impacts and a summary of the research works reported in Mexico from 2014 to 2023 were presented. This review concludes with a concrete point of view and perspective on the status of the EPs' research in Mexico as an alert for government entities about the necessity of measures to control the EPs disposal and treatment.