New bisphenol A and bisphenol S analogs: Evaluation of their hERα agonistic and antagonistic activities using the OECD 455 in-vitro assay and molecular modeling

The Dicentrarchus labrax estrogen screen test: A relevant tool to screen estrogen-like endocrine disrupting chemicals in the aquatic environment

In response to the need for the diversification of regulatory bioassays to screen estrogen-like endocrine disrupting chemical (EEDC) in the environment, we propose the use of a reporter gene assay involving all nuclear estrogen receptors from Dicentrarchus labrax (i.e., sbEsr1, sbEsr2a, or sbEsr2b). Named DLES test (D. labrax estrogen screen), it aims at complementing existing standardized in vitro tests by implementing more estrogen receptors notably those that do not originate from humans. Positive responses were obtained with all three estrogen receptors, and-consistently with observations from other species-variations in sensitivity to E2 were measured. Sensitivity and EC50 values could be classified as follows: sbEsr2b < sbEsr2a < sbEsr1. The pharmacological characterization with a human estrogen receptor antagonist (fulvestrant) successfully validated the specific involvement of each sbEsr and evidenced the capacity of the DLES test to highlight antagonist interactions. The DLES test was applied to WWTP contaminant extracts. A positive response was detected in the inflow sample in accordance with the YES test, but not in the outflow sample. Notwithstanding, the DLES test (sbEsr2b) exhibited greater sensitivity for the screening of those samples. This study demonstrates the need for more comprehensive testing including representatives of marine species for a better detection of EEDCs. The DLES test appears as a pertinent tool to predict adverse effects and to widen the scope of screening and hazard assessment of EEDCs in the environment.

Estrogenic potency of endocrine disrupting chemicals and their mixtures detected in environmental waters and wastewaters

Endocrine disrupting chemicals such as natural and synthetic steroid hormones and bisphenols are among the most important pollutants in the aquatic environment. We performed an environmental chemical analysis of five Slovenian water samples, two rivers, one groundwater, and the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants, with a highly sensitive analysis of twenty-five endocrine-disrupting compounds belonging to the groups of natural hormones, synthetic hormones, and bisphenols. Since these compounds are simultaneously present in the environment, it is important to study their individual effects as well as the effects of mixtures. We investigated in vitro the estrogenic potency of selected natural and synthetic steroid hormones and bisphenols detected in surface, ground and waste water in Slovenia using the OECD-validated transactivation assay on the cell line Hela9903. We predicted their mixture effects using the concentration addition model and compared them with experimentally determined values. Two mixing designs were used: a balanced design in which chemicals were combined in proportion to their individual EC₅₀ values, and an unbalanced design with compounds in proportion to their measured concentrations in the environmental samples. The estrogenic effects of the experimental mixtures followed the concentration addition model. Real water samples exhibited weaker estrogenic effects, showing the great heterogeneity of the real water samples.

In silico profiling of endocrine-disrupting potential of bisphenol analogues and their halogenated transformation products

Due to its endocrine-disrupting properties, bisphenol A (BPA) is being phased out from plastics, thermal paper and epoxy resins, and its replacements are being introduced into the market. Bisphenols are released into the environment, where they can undergo halogenation. Unlike BPA, the endocrine-disrupting potential of BPA analogues and their halogenated transformation products has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the endocrine-disrupting potential of 18 BPA analogues and their halogenated derivatives by calculating affinities for 14 human nuclear receptors utilizing the Endocrine Disruptome and VirtualToxLab™ in silico tools. Our simulations identified AR, ERs, and GR as the most favorable targets of bisphenols and their derivatives. Several BPA analogues displayed a higher predicted potential for endocrine disruption than BPA. Our models highlighted BPZ and BPPH as the most hazardous in terms of predicted endocrine activities. Halogenation, in general, was predicted to increase the binding affinity of bisphenols for AR, ERβ, MR, GR, PPARγ, and TRβ. Notably, mono- or 2,2'-di-halogenated bisphenols exhibited the highest potential for endocrine disruption. In vitro corroboration of the obtained results should be the next milestone in evaluating the safety of BPA substitutes and their halogenated transformation products.

Bisphenol A and its substitutes in the aquatic environment: Occurrence and toxicity assessment

Bisphenol A is classified as a high production volume chemical commonly used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and thermal paper. The endocrine disrupting properties of this xenobiotic have led to the restriction and prohibition of its use in many consumer products. To date, many chemical compounds with a chemical structure similar to bisphenol A have been used in consumer products as its replacement. The ubiquitous occurrence of bisphenol A and its substitutes in the environment and their endocrine activity as well as adverse effects on aquatic organisms is a global concern, especially because many available literature reports show that many substitutes (e.g. bisphenol AF, bisphenol AP, bisphenol B, bisphenol C, bisphenol F, bisphenol G, bisphenol FL, tetrabromobisphenol A) exert adverse effects on aquatic organisms, similar to, or even stronger than bisphenol A. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the production, sources, occurrence and associated toxicity, as well as the endocrine activity of bisphenol A and its substitutes on aquatic species. The environmental levels and ecotoxicological data presented in this review allowed for a preliminary assessment and prediction of the risk of bisphenol A and its substitutes for aquatic organisms. Furthermore, the data collected in this paper highlight that several compounds applied in bisphenol A-free products are not safe alternatives and regulations regarding their use should be introduced.

Antagonistic mechanisms of bisphenol analogues on the estrogen receptor α in zebrafish embryos: Experimental and computational studies

Bisphenol A (BPA) can disturb the estrogen receptor α (ERα)-mediated signaling pathway, which results in endocrine-disrupting effects and reproductive toxicity. Most BPA analogues as alternatives were evidenced to generate estrogenic activity as agonists or partial agonists of ERα. Recent studies indicated that certain BPA analogues, such as bisphenol M (BPM), bisphenol P (BPP), and bisphenol FL (BPFL), exhibited strong anti-estrogenic effects comparable with the typical antagonist 4-hydroxytamoxifen. However, conflicting findings were also observed for the compounds in different in vitro assays, and whether these BPA analogues can elicit an in vivo effect on ERα at environmentally relevant concentrations remains unknown. The underlying structural basis of estrogenic/anti-estrogenic activity should be further elucidated at the atomic level. To address these issues, we combined zebrafish-based in vivo and in silico methods to assess the effects of the compounds on ERα. The results show that the expressions of ERα-mediated downstream related genes in zebrafish embryos decreased after exposed to the compounds. Further molecular dynamics simulations were used to probe the antagonistic mechanisms of the compounds on ERα. The key H-bonding interactions were identified as important ligand recognition by ERα in the analysis of binding modes and binding free energy calculations. In summary, the current study provides preliminary in vivo evidence of fish species for the anti-estrogenic activity of certain BPA analogues.

The Association between the Bisphenols Residues in Amniotic Fluid and Fetal Abnormalities in Polish Pregnant Women-Its Potential Clinical Application

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the concentrations of bisphenols residues in the amniotic fluid (AF) samples collected during amniocentesis and fetal chromosomal abnormalities in pregnant women. A total of 33 pregnant Polish women aged between 24 and 44 years, and screened to detect high risk for chromosomal defects in the first trimester, were included in this study. Samples were collected from these patients during routine diagnostic and treatment procedures at mid-gestation. The concentrations of various bisphenols residues in the samples were determined by liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS). Residues of eight analytes (BPS, BPF, BPA, BPAF, BADGE, BADGE•2H₂O, BADGE•H₂O•HCl and BADGE•2HCl) were detected in amniotic fluid samples in the range 0.69 ng/mL to 3.38 ng/mL. Fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities showed a slightly higher frequency of occurrence of selected bisphenols residues in the AF samples collected between 15-26 weeks of pregnancies. Finally, the proposed method was applied in the simultaneous determination of several endocrine-disrupting chemicals from bisphenol group in 33 human AF samples. BADGE•H2O•HCl has been identified in the AF samples taken from women older than average in the examined group. The number of detected compounds has been significant for the following analytes: BPS, BPAF, BADGE•H₂O•HCl and BADGE. The proposed method may be an attractive alternative for application in large-scale human biomonitoring studies.

Smart Portable Device Based on the Utilization of a 2D Disposable Paper Stochastic Sensor for Fast Ultrasensitive Screening of Food Samples for Bisphenols

Since the determination of the high toxicity of bisphenol A, alternative structures for bisphenols have been synthesized, resulting in bisphenols C, E, F, S, and Z. These bisphenols have replaced bisphenol A in plastic bottles, toys, and cans used for preserving food. Later, the toxicity and negative effects of all of these bisphenols on people's health were proven. Therefore, there is a need for a fast ultrasensitive screening method that is able to detect the presence of these bisphenols in any condition directly from food samples. This paper presented a disposable device based on the utilization of a 2D disposable paper stochastic sensor for the fast ultrasensitive screening of food samples for bisphenols A, C, E, F, S, and Z. The 2D disposable sensor was obtained by the deposition of graphene and silver nanolayers on paper using cold plasma. Furthermore, the active side of the sensor was modified using 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H,23H Mn porphyrin. The limits of quantification of these bisphenols were 1 fmol L^-1 for bisphenols C and E, 10 fmol L^-1 for bisphenols A and F, 10 pmol L^-1 for bisphenol S, and 1 pmol L^-1 for bisphenol Z. The recoveries of these bisphenols in milk, canned fruits, vegetables, and fish were higher than 99.00% with RSD (%) values lower than 1.50%.

A new firewall in the fight against breast cancer: in-vitro and in-silico studies correlating chemistry to apoptotic activity of Otostegia fruticosa

Breast cancer is the most devastating disease for women. There is a great demand for new sources to treat this disease. Medicinal plants are an indispensable source of bioactive compounds with wide range of pharmacological activities. In-vitro cytotoxic activity of Otostegia fruticosa methanolic extract against human breast cancer was studied using MCF-7 cell line. The extract showed mildly potent activity (IC₅₀ = 51 ± 9.836 µg/mL) in comparison to the standard anticancer doxorubicin (IC₅₀ = 7.467 ± 1.05 µg/mL). Potential compounds responsible for activity have been identified using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) module on the major compounds detected by HPLC-MS/MS technique against estrogen alpha receptor (ERα+: PDB ID 2JF9). 3,5-di-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, hyperoside and rutin showed similar binding and antagonistic interaction with the estrogen alpha receptor as tamoxifen in several poses. The retrieved results confirm that we can add this plant to a powerful arsenal that combats this insidious disease.