Bisphenol S Triggers the Migration and Invasion of Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells via Estrogen-Related Receptor α

Emerging regulatory roles of noncoding RNAs induced by bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternatives in human diseases

Bisphenols (BPs), including BPA, BPF, BPS, and BPAF, are synthetic phenolic organic compounds and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These organics have been broadly utilized to produce epoxy resins, polycarbonate plastics, and other products. Mounting evidence has shown that BPs, especially BPA, may enter into the human body and participate in the development of human diseases mediated by nuclear hormone receptors. Moreover, BPA may negatively affect human health at the epigenetic level through processes such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation. Recent studies have demonstrated that, as part of epigenetics, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), have vital impacts on BP-related diseases, such as reproductive system diseases, nervous system diseases, digestive system diseases, endocrine system diseases, and other diseases. Moreover, based on the bioinformatic analysis, changes in ncRNAs may be relevant to normal activities and functions and BP-induced diseases. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to identify more promising ncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BP exposure and relevant human diseases. In this review, we summarize the regulatory functions of ncRNAs induced by BPs in human diseases and latent molecular mechanisms, as well as identify prospective biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BP exposure and upper diseases.

Effects and mechanisms of bisphenols exposure on neurodegenerative diseases risk: A systemic review

Environmental bisphenols (BPs) pose a global threat to human health because of their extensive use as additives in plastic products. BP residues are increasing in various environmental media (i.e., water, soil, and indoor dust) and biological and human samples (i.e., serum and brain). Both epidemiological and animal studies have determined an association between exposure to BPs and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), including cognitive abnormalities and behavioral disturbances. Hence, understanding the biological responses to different BPs is essential for prevention, and treatment. This study provides an overview of the underlying pathogenic molecular mechanisms as a valuable basis for understanding neurodegenerative disease responses to BPs, including accumulation of misfolded proteins, reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine, abnormal hormone signaling, neuronal death, oxidative stress, calcium homeostasis, and inflammation. These findings provide new insights into the neurotoxic potential of BPs and ultimately contribute to a comprehensive health risk evaluation.

Bisphenols A and S Alter the Bioenergetics and Behaviours of Normal Urothelial and Bladder Cancer Cells

Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) are used in the production of plastics. These endocrine disruptors can be released into the environment and food, resulting in the continuous exposure of humans to bisphenols (BPs). The bladder urothelium is chronically exposed to BPA and BPS due to their presence in human urine samples. BPA and BPS exposure has been linked to cancer progression, especially for hormone-dependent cancers. However, the bladder is not recognized as a hormone-dependent tissue. Still, the presence of hormone receptors on the urothelium and their role in bladder cancer initiation and progression suggest that BPs could impact bladder cancer development. The effects of chronic exposure to BPA and BPS for 72 h on the bioenergetics (glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration), proliferation and migration of normal urothelial cells and non-invasive and invasive bladder cancer cells were evaluated. The results demonstrate that chronic exposure to BPs decreased urothelial cells' energy metabolism and properties while increasing them for bladder cancer cells. These findings suggest that exposure to BPA and BPS could promote bladder cancer development with a potential clinical impact on bladder cancer progression. Further studies using 3D models would help to understand the clinical consequences of this exposure.

ERRα expression in ovarian cancer and promotes ovarian cancer cells migration in vitro

PURPOSE

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from a gynaecological malignancy in the developed world, and is characterized by invasion and metastasis and thus causes a high fatality rate. Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) has been demonstrated to play a widespread and pathophysiological relevant role in tumourigenesis and development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ERRα expression on the progression of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The correlation between ERRα expression level and clinical pathological parameters in ovarian cancer tissues were analysed via cancer public database CPTAC. The expression level of ERRα in ovarian cancer cells were confirmed by RT-qPCR and Western blot methods. The cellular ERRα expression was up-regulated by lentivirus transfection and down-regulated by specific antagonist. The invasion and metastasis capabilities of ovarian cancer cells were characterized by wound healing assay and trans-well chamber assay.

RESULTS

The CPTAC database showed that the ERRα expression levels were higher in the late-stage and high-grade ovarian cancer tissues than in early-stage and low-grade tissues. Ovarian cancer cells with higher-expression ERRα exhibited stronger invasion and metastasis capabilities in vitro. After up-regulating the ERRα expression level, the invasion and metastasis capabilities of ovarian cancer cells were enhanced, while down-regulation weakened. Moreover, the wound sealing rate was positively correlated with the expression of ERRα mRNA expression level (r = 0.921, P < 0.01), and the cell invasiveness was also positively correlated with the cellular ERRα mRNA expression level (r = 0.926, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that ERRα may promote the progression of ovarian cancer, and may serve as a promising predictive biomarker.

Benzotriazole Ultraviolet Stabilizers Promote Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation via Activating Estrogen-Related Receptors α and γ at Human-Relevant Levels

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are ubiquitous emerging pollutants that have been reported to show estrogenic disruption effects through interaction with the classic estrogen receptors (ERs) in the fashion of low activity. The present study aims at revealing the potential disruption mechanism via estrogen-related receptors α and γ (ERRα and ERRγ) pathways. By the competitive binding assay, we first found that BUVSs bond to ERRγ ligand binding domain (ERRγ-LBD) with Kd ranging from 0.66 to 19.27 μM. According to the results of reporter gene assays, the transcriptional activities of ERRα and ERRγ were promoted by most tested BUVSs with the lowest observed effective concentrations (LOEC) from 10 to 100 nM, which are in the range of human exposure levels. At 1 μM, most tested BUVSs showed higher agonistic activity toward ERRγ than ERRα. The most effective two BUVSs promoted the MCF-7 proliferation dependent on ERRα and ERRγ with a LOEC of 100 nM. The molecular dynamics simulation showed that most studied BUVSs had lower binding free energy with ERRγ than with ERRα. The structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that molecular polarizability, electron-donating ability, ionization potential, and softness were the main structural factors impacting the binding of BUVSs with ERRγ. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the estrogenic disruption effects of BUVSs.

Bisphenol analogs AF, S and F: Effects on functional characteristics of porcine granulosa cells

In order to replace industrial functions of the restricted endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), its structural analogs are increasingly employed without adequate assessment of their biological actions. Our study examined effects of the bisphenols AF (BPAF), S (BPS) and F (BPF), on functions of porcine ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) with the focus on viability, steroid production (10^-9-10^-4M), and expression of factors (10^-9-10^-5M) important for the follicle development: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Cell viability was not impaired by the bisphenol analogs, except for the highest BPAF concentration (10^-4M). While the lower concentrations of the bisphenols were without effect, each of them reduced follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced progesterone synthesis at the highest dose. Estradiol synthesis was sensitive to BPS, inhibitory effects of which were manifested from the concentration of 10^-6M. Treatment of GCs with the selected bisphenol concentrations did not result in marked alterations in steroidogenic enzyme expression. Bisphenols did not significantly modulate VEGFA mRNA expression or output either under basal or FSH-stimulated conditions. BPF at 10^-5M increased MMP9 expression in FSH-stimulated cells. FSH upregulated FOXO1 expression, however, none of the bisphenols significantly affected FOXO1 levels either in basal or in FSH-stimulated conditions. AHR mRNA expression remained unchanged after bisphenol treatment. Although the significant effects of BPAF, BPS and BPF appeared only at supraphysiological doses, the results obtained indicate that BPA analogs are not inert with regard to ovarian physiology.

Endocrine-disrupting effects of bisphenols on urological cancers

Bisphenols are endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in a broad range of products that can modulate hormonal signalling pathways and various other biological functions. These compounds can bind steroid receptors, e.g. estrogen and androgen receptors, expressed by numerous cells and tissues, including the prostate and the bladder, with the potential to alter their homeostasis and normal physiological functions. In the past years, exposure to bisphenols was linked to cancer progression and metastasis. As such, recent pieces of evidence suggest that endocrine-disrupting chemicals can lead to the development of prostate cancer. Moreover, bisphenols are found in the urine of the wide majority of the population. They could potentially affect the bladder's normal physiology and cancer development, even if the bladder is not recognized as a hormone-sensitive tissue. This review will focus on prostate and bladder malignancies, two urological cancers that share standard carcinogenic processes. The description of the underlying mechanisms involved in cell toxicity, and the possible roles of bisphenols in the development of prostate and bladder cancer, could help establish the putative roles of bisphenols on public health.

Effects of bisphenol A and bisphenol S on microRNA expression during bovine (Bos taurus) oocyte maturation and early embryo development

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternative, bisphenol S (BPS), are widespread endocrine disrupting compounds linked in several studies to poor female fertility. Sufficient oocyte competence and subsequent embryo development are highly dependent on oocyte maturation, an intricate process that is vulnerable to BPA. These effects as well as the effects of its analog, BPS, have not been fully elucidated. Although the harmful consequences of bisphenols on the reproductive system are largely due to interferences with canonical gene expression, more recent evidence implicates noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNA), as significant contributors. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that abnormal expression of key miRNAs during oocyte maturation and embryo development occurs following BPA and BPS exposure during maturation. Using qPCR, primary and mature forms of miR-21, -155, -34c, -29a, -10b, -146a were quantified in an in vitro bovine model of matured cumulus-oocyte complexes, fertilized embryos, and cultured cumulus cells after exposure to BPA or BPS at the LOAEL dose (0.05 mg/mL). Expression of miR-21, miR -155, and miR-29a were markedly increased (P = 0.02, 0.04, <0.0001) while miR-34c and miR-10b were decreased (P = 0.01, 0.01), after BPA treatment. miR-146a expression remained stable. BPS had no effects, suggesting may not exert its actions through these six miRNAs examined. Overall, this study indicates that BPA effects are likely miRNA specific rather than a global effect on miRNA synthesis and processing mechanisms and that its analog, BPS, may not possess the same properties required to interfere with these miRNAs during bovine oocyte maturation.

A comprehensive review of the neurobehavioral effects of bisphenol S and the mechanisms of action: New insights from in vitro and in vivo models

The normal brain development and function are delicately driven by an ever-changing milieu of steroid hormones arising from fetal, placental, and maternal origins. This reliance on the neuroendocrine system sets the stage for the exquisite sensitivity of the central nervous system to the adverse effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most common EDCs which has been a particular focus of environmental concern for decades due to its widespread nature and formidable threat to human and animal health. The heightened regulatory actions and the scientific and public concern over the adverse health effects of BPA have led to its replacement with a suite of structurally similar but less known alternative chemicals. Bisphenol S (BPS) is the main substitute for BPA that is increasingly being used in a wide array of consumer and industrial products. Although it was considered to be a safe BPA alternative, mounting evidence points to the deleterious effects of BPS on a wide range of neuroendocrine functions in animals. In addition to its reproductive toxicity, recent experimental efforts indicate that BPS has a considerable potential to induce neurotoxicity and behavioral dysfunction. This review analyzes the current state of knowledge regarding the neurobehavioral effects of BPS and discusses its potential mode of actions on several aspects of the neuroendocrine system. We summarize the role of certain hormones and their signaling pathways in the regulation of brain and behavior and discuss how BPS induces neurotoxicity through interactions with these pathways. Finally, we review potential links between BPS exposure and aberrant neurobehavioral functions in animals and identify key knowledge gaps and hypotheses for future research.