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Long M, Wielsøe M, Bech BH, Henriksen TB, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Maternal serum dioxin-like activity and gestational age at birth and indices of foetal growth: The Aarhus birth cohort. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:165286. [PMID: 37422229 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (lipPOP) is ubiquitous and life-long, beginning during foetal development. Exposure to lipPOP elicits a number of species and tissue specific responses including dioxin-like activity which involve the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). This study aims i) to describe the combined dioxin-like activity in serum from Danish pregnant women collected during 2011-2013; ii) to assess the association between maternal serum dioxin-like activity, gestational age at birth and foetal growth indices. The serum lipPOP fraction was extracted using Solid Phase Extraction and cleaned-up on Supelco multi-layer silica and florisil columns. The combined dioxin-like activity of the extract was determined using the AhR reporter gene bioassay, expressed as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxic equivalent (TEQ) [AhR-TEQ (pg/g lipid)]. The associations of AhR-TEQ and foetal growth indices (birth weight, birth length and head circumference) and gestational age were assessed by linear regression models. We detected AhR-TEQ in 93.9 % of maternal first trimester serum samples, with a median level of 185 pg/g lipid. Each ln-unit increase in AhR-TEQ was associated with an increase in birth weight of 36 g (95 % CI: 5; 68), birth length of 0.2 cm (95 % CI: 0.01; 0.3) and pregnancy duration of 1 day (95 % CI: 0; 1.5). In women who never smoked, higher AhR-TEQ values were associated with higher birth weight and longer duration of gestation, while in smokers the association was the opposite. Mediation analyses suggested that gestational age may mediate the association of AhR-TEQ with foetal growth indices. We conclude that AhR activating substances are present in the bloodstream of almost all pregnant women in Denmark and the AhR-TEQ level was around four times higher than previously reported. The AhR-TEQ was associated with slightly longer gestational duration and thereby higher birth weight and birth length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark.
| | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark.
| | - Bodil Hammer Bech
- Research unit for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Tine Brink Henriksen
- Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark; Greenland Center for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.
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Lin H, Jia Y, Han F, Xia C, Zhao Q, Zhang J, Li E. Toxic effects of waterborne benzylparaben on the growth, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 248:106197. [PMID: 35623196 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Benzylparaben (BzP) is a potential endocrine disruptor; however, its antioxidant defense, lipotoxicity and underlying mechanism of BzP in aquatic organisms are unknown. This study investigated the impacts of waterborne low-, environmental-related and high-level benzylparaben on the growth, antioxidant capacity, lipid metabolism and lipidomic response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Juvenile tilapia (0.60 ± 0.11 g) were exposed to 0, 5, 50, 500 and 5000 ng/L benzylparaben for 8 weeks in quadruplicate for each group. Benzylparaben increased the body crude fat content but decreased brain acetylcholinesterase activity in O. niloticus. Benzylparaben caused oxidative stress, leading to hepatic morphology damage and lipid metabolism disorders in fish. Lipidomic analysis identified 13 lipid classes in fish liver. Benzylparaben exposure induced metabolic disorders of glycerol phospholipids, glycerolipids and sphingomyelins in fish liver. These findings indicate that environmentally related benzylparaben levels (5 to 50 ng/L) could induce an antioxidant response, result in triglyceride accumulation, and increase adipocyte formation and fatty acid intake in tilapia. However, high benzylparaben concentrations inhibit lipid deposition, presumably due to the effects of the antioxidant system, and induce tissue inflammation. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the toxic effects and potential mechanism of benzylparaben in fish, especially from the aspect of lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Yongyi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313001, China
| | - Fenglu Han
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
| | - Chuyan Xia
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Qun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Jiliang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Erchao Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, College of Marine Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
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Dioxin-like Activity in Pregnant Women and Indices of Fetal Growth: The ACCEPT Birth Cohort. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10010026. [PMID: 35051068 PMCID: PMC8781564 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (lipPOPs) elicits a number of species- and tissue-specific toxic responses, many of which involve the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). This study aims to measure the combined serum dioxin-like activity of lipPOPs in Greenlandic Inuit pregnant women and the associations with fetal growth indices. The combined dioxin-like activity of serum lipPOPs extracts was determined using the AhR reporter gene bioassay and expressed as pico-gram (pg) TCDD equivalent (TEQ) per gram serum lipid [AhR-TEQ (pg/g lipid)]. Significant AhR-TEQ was found in >87% of serum samples with the median level of 86.2 pg TEQ/g lipid. The AhR-TEQ level positively correlated with the marine food intake biomarker n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio, while negatively correlated with body mass index and parity. Women giving birth to infants with low birth weight (<2500 g) and length (<50 cm) had higher AhR-TEQ level compared to those with normal weight and length infants. For previous smokers, we found significant inverse associations between maternal AhR-TEQ level and fetal growth indices. In conclusion, exposure of Greenlandic Inuit pregnant women to dioxin-like compounds through traditional marine food can adversely influence the fetal growth via induced AhR activity. Smoking might have modifying effects.
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Long M, Wielsøe M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Time Trend of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Metals in Greenlandic Inuit during 1994-2015. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2774. [PMID: 33803338 PMCID: PMC7967253 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organchlorine pesticides and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) and heavy metals bioaccumulate in the marine food chain in the Arctic regions, and thus, the Greenlandic population has a higher body burden due to relatively high intake of marine mammals. We assessed the temporal trend for POPs, including PCB 153; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE); oxychlordane; six PFASs; mercury; lead and selenium in Inuit from Ilulissat, Nuuk, and across Greenland (including thirteen towns/districts), from 1994 to 2015. Data showed a significant annual decrease of 6.85-8.61% for PCB153, 6.67-8.61% for p,p'-DDE, 6.11-9.52% for oxychlordane, 5.92-6.76% for mercury and 6.48-9.43% for lead in Inuit women from Nuuk, Ilulissat, and across thirteen Greenlandic districts. The blood selenium level of all Greenlandic women increased 1.01% annually, while the trend direction was negative for Nuuk women. A similar pattern was seen for men across Greenland, with a yearly decrease of 11.3% for PCB 153, 8.61% for p,p'-DDE, 15.6% for oxychlordane, 13.1% for mercury and 12.2% for lead. Perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorohexane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid significantly decreased 5.82-11.7% annually for both women and men across Greenland. For perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid and perfluoroundecanoic acid, we observed an increasing trend for women across Greenland. In conclusion, there was a decreasing trend of the regulated POPs and metals but a potential increasing trend of the nonregulated PFASs in the Greenlandic population between 1994 and 2015. The continuing biomonitoring of contaminants of concern is important to protect the Arctic population heath.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Center for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (M.W.); (E.C.B.-J.)
| | - Maria Wielsøe
- Center for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (M.W.); (E.C.B.-J.)
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Center for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; (M.W.); (E.C.B.-J.)
- Greenland Center for Health Research, University of Greenland, 3905 Nuuk, Greenland
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Vinggaard AM, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Jensen TK, Fernandez MF, Rosenmai AK, Taxvig C, Rodriguez-Carrillo A, Wielsøe M, Long M, Olea N, Antignac JP, Hamers T, Lamoree M. Receptor-based in vitro activities to assess human exposure to chemical mixtures and related health impacts. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106191. [PMID: 33068852 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to a large number of chemicals from sources such as the environment, food, and consumer products. There is growing concern that human exposure to chemical mixtures, especially during critical periods of development, increases the risk of adverse health effects in newborns or later in life. Historically, the one-chemical-at-a-time approach has been applied both for exposure assessment and hazard characterisation, leading to insufficient knowledge about human health effects caused by exposure to mixtures of chemicals that have the same target. To circumvent this challenge researchers can apply in vitro assays to analyse both exposure to and human health effects of chemical mixtures in biological samples. The advantages of using in vitro assays are: (i) that an integrated effect is measured, taking combined mixture effects into account and (ii) that in vitro assays can reduce complexity in identification of Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs) in human tissues. We have reviewed the state-of-the-art on the use of receptor-based in vitro assays to assess human exposure to chemical mixtures and related health impacts. A total of 43 studies were identified, in which endpoints for the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR), the estrogen receptor (ER), and the androgen receptor (AR) were used. The majority of studies reported biological activities that could be associated with breast cancer incidence, male reproductive health effects, developmental toxicities, human demographic characteristics or lifestyle factors such as dietary patterns. A few studies used the bioactivities to check the coverage of the chemical analyses of the human samples, whereas in vitro assays have so far not regularly been used for identifying CECs in human samples, but rather in environmental matrices or food packaging materials. A huge field of novel applications using receptor-based in vitro assays for mixture toxicity assessment on human samples and effect-directed analysis (EDA) using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for identification of toxic compounds waits for exploration. In the future this could lead to a paradigm shift in the way we unravel adverse human health effects caused by chemical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marie Vinggaard
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark; Greenland's Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Dep of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- School of Medicine, Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Anna Kjerstine Rosenmai
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Camilla Taxvig
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Olea
- School of Medicine, Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | | | - Timo Hamers
- Vrije Universiteit, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marja Lamoree
- Vrije Universiteit, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Müller MHB, Polder A, Brynildsrud OB, Grønnestad R, Karimi M, Lie E, Manyilizu WB, Mdegela RH, Mokiti F, Murtadha M, Nonga HE, Skaare JU, Solhaug A, Lyche JL. Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants in Northern Tanzania and their distribution between breast milk, maternal blood, placenta and cord blood. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 170:433-442. [PMID: 30634139 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) begins during pregnancy and may cause adverse health effects in the fetus or later in life. The present study aimed to assess prenatal POPs exposure to Tanzanian infants and evaluate the distribution of POPs between breast milk, maternal blood, placenta and cord blood. For assessment of prenatal exposure, 48 maternal blood samples from Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital (MMRRH), Arusha Tanzania, were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), dioxin-like (DL) activity and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs). For evaluation of POPs distribution between maternal/infant compartments, breast milk, placenta and cord blood corresponding to the maternal blood were analyzed for OCPs, PCBs and BFRs. In maternal blood, p,p´- DDE was detected in 100% of the samples ranging between 29 and 1890 ng/g lipid weight (lw). PCB-153 was the only PCB detected in maternal blood, with detection rate of 29% and concentrations up to 116 ng/g lw. BDE-47 was detected in 65% of the maternal blood samples, ranging between <LOD and 83.2 ng/g lw. DL activity was measured using Dioxin Responsive CALUX® bioassay. The DL activity was above LOQ in 92% of the samples, ranging from <LOQ to 114 pg CALUX TEQ/g lw. PFASs was dominated by PFOS and PFOA, however, the concentrations were low (range ∑PFASs 0.18-3.14 ng/mL). p,p´-DDE was detected in 100% of the breast milk, placenta and cord blood samples and the concentrations were strongly correlated (r = 0.89-0.98) between all compartments. Maternal blood (MB) had significantly lower p,p´-DDE concentrations (ng/g lw) than cord blood (CB) and breast milk (BM). The median CB/MB ratio was 1.3 and median MB/BM ratio was 0.8. p,p´-DDE concentrations in breast milk and cord blood did not show significant difference and median CB/BM ratio was 1. In addition, the relative p,p`-DDE transfer from maternal blood to breast milk and to cord blood increased when p,p`-DDE concentrations in maternal blood increased. This study shows that Tanzanian infants are exposed to a wide range of POPs during fetal life, which raise concerns for potential health effects. In addition, this study found that maternal blood concentrations may lead to underestimation of prenatal exposure, while breast milk collected close to delivery may be a more suitable indicator of prenatal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H B Müller
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
| | - A Polder
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway
| | - O B Brynildsrud
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - R Grønnestad
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - M Karimi
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway
| | - E Lie
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadallèen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - W B Manyilizu
- Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - R H Mdegela
- Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - F Mokiti
- Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital, P.O. Box 3092, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - M Murtadha
- Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital, P.O. Box 3092, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - H E Nonga
- Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - J U Skaare
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, N-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - A Solhaug
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, N-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - J L Lyche
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway
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Rothhammer V, Borucki DM, Kenison JE, Hewson P, Wang Z, Bakshi R, Sherr DH, Quintana FJ. Detection of aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in human samples. Sci Rep 2018; 8:4970. [PMID: 29563571 PMCID: PMC5862868 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23323-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor with important functions in the immune response and cancer. AHR agonists are provided by the environment, the commensal flora and the metabolism. Considering AHR physiological functions, AHR agonists may have important effects on health and disease. Thus, the quantification of AHR agonists in biological samples is of scientific and clinical relevance. We compared different reporter systems for the detection of AHR agonists in serum samples of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, and assessed the influence of transfection methods and cell lines in a reporter-based in vitro assay. While the use of stable or transient reporters did not influence the measurement of AHR agonistic activity, the species of the cell lines used in these reporter assays had important effects on the reporter readings. These observations suggest that cell-specific factors influence AHR activation and signaling. Thus, based on the reported species selectivity of AHR ligands and the cell species-of-origin effects that we describe in this manuscript, the use of human cell lines is encouraged for the analysis of AHR agonistic activity in human samples. These findings may be relevant for the analysis of AHR agonists in human samples in the context of inflammatory and neoplastic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veit Rothhammer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Davis M Borucki
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica E Kenison
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick Hewson
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhongyan Wang
- Dept. of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohit Bakshi
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David H Sherr
- Dept. of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Wielsøe M, Bjerregaard-Olesen C, Kern P, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Receptor activities of persistent pollutant serum mixtures and breast cancer risk. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:201-215. [PMID: 29237712 DOI: 10.1530/erc-17-0366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Studies on associations between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. The majority of studies have evaluated the effect of single compounds, without considering multiple exposures to and interactions between different POPs. The present study aimed at evaluating breast cancer risk related to combined effects of serum POP mixtures on cellular receptor functions. Data on breast cancer cases (n = 77) and controls (n = 84) were collected among Greenlandic Inuit women. Serum mixtures of lipophilic POPs (lipPOPs), perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and dioxin-like POPs were extracted. The effect of the mixture extracts on the estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was determined using cell culture reporter gene assays. The serum mixtures were analyzed alone and upon co-exposure with natural receptor ligands to determine agonistic and antagonistic/competitive activity. We found that the frequency of lipPOP mixtures eliciting no, decreasing, or agonizing xenoandrogenic effect differed by breast cancer status. Using lipPOP mixtures with no effect on AR as reference, the mixtures with decreasing effects reduced breast cancer risk (OR: 0.30 (0.12; 0.76)). The AhR-toxic equivalent of serum mixtures was significantly lower in cases than in controls, and a reduced breast cancer risk was found when comparing the third tertile to the first (OR: 0.34 (0.14; 0.83)). We found no association between the xenoestrogenic activities of lipPOPs or PFAAs and breast cancer risk. Serum lipPOP mixtures are hormone disruptive and may influence breast cancer risk, whereas PFAAs seem to influence breast cancer risk through other pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular EpidemiologyDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian Bjerregaard-Olesen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular EpidemiologyDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peder Kern
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsDronning Ingrid's Hospital, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular EpidemiologyDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Institute for Nursing and Health ScienceUniversity of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
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Tavakoly Sany SB, Hashim R, Salleh A, Rezayi M, Karlen DJ, Razavizadeh BBM, Abouzari-Lotf E. Dioxin risk assessment: mechanisms of action and possible toxicity in human health. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:19434-50. [PMID: 26514567 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5597-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) have been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most persistent toxic chemical substances in the environment, and they are associated with several occupational activities and industrial accidents around the world. Since the end of the 1970s, these toxic chemicals have been banned because of their human toxicity potential, long half-life, wide dispersion, and they bioaccumulate in the food web. This review serves as a primer for environmental health professionals to provide guidance on short-term risk assessment of dioxin and to identify key findings for health and exposure assessment based on policies of different agencies. It also presents possible health effects of dioxins, mechanisms of action, toxic equivalency factors (TEFs), and dose-response characterization. Key studies related to toxicity values of dioxin-like compounds and their possible human health risk were identified through PubMed and supplemented with relevant studies characterized by reviewing the reference lists in the review articles and primary literature. Existing data decreases the scope of analyses and models in relevant studies to a manageable size by focusing on the set of important studies related to the perspective of developing toxicity values of DLCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosli Hashim
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Aishah Salleh
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Majid Rezayi
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - David J Karlen
- Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, 3629 Queen Palm Drive, Tampa, FL, 33619-1309, USA
| | - Bi Bi Marzieh Razavizadeh
- Department of Food Chemistry, Research Institute of Food Science and Technology, P.O. Box: 91735-147, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Abouzari-Lotf
- Advanced Materials Research Group, Institute of Hydrogen Economy, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, International Campus, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Sany SBT, Hashim R, Rezayi M, Rahman MA, Razavizadeh BBM, Abouzari-lotf E, Karlen DJ. Integrated ecological risk assessment of dioxin compounds. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:11193-11208. [PMID: 25953606 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4511-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Current ecological risk assessment (ERA) schemes focus mainly on bioaccumulation and toxicity of pollutants in individual organisms. Ecological models are tools mainly used to assess ecological risks of pollutants to ecosystems, communities, and populations. Their main advantage is the relatively direct integration of the species sensitivity to organic pollutants, the fate and mechanism of action in the environment of toxicants, and life-history features of the individual organism of concern. To promote scientific consensus on ERA schemes, this review is intended to provide a guideline on short-term ERA involving dioxin chemicals and to identify key findings for exposure assessment based on policies of different agencies. It also presents possible adverse effects of dioxins on ecosystems, toxicity equivalence methodology, environmental fate and transport modeling, and development of stressor-response profiles for dioxin-like chemicals.
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Ghisari M, Long M, Tabbo A, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Effects of currently used pesticides and their mixtures on the function of thyroid hormone and aryl hydrocarbon receptor in cell culture. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2015; 284:292-303. [PMID: 25684042 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2015.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggest that exposure to pesticides can interfere with the endocrine system by multiple mechanisms. The endocrine disrupting potential of currently used pesticides in Denmark was analyzed as single compounds and in an equimolar mixture of 5 selected pesticides. The pesticides were previously analyzed for effects on the function of estrogen and androgen receptors, the aromatase enzyme and steroidogenesis in vitro. In this study, the effect on thyroid hormone (TH) function and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivity was assessed using GH3 cell proliferation assay (T-screen) and AhR responsive luciferase reporter gene bioassay, respectively. Thirteen pesticides were analyzed as follows: 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, terbuthylazine, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, mesosulfuron-methyl, metsulfuron-methyl, chlormequat chloride, bitertanol, propiconazole, prothioconazole, mancozeb and its metabolite ethylene thiourea, cypermethrin, tau-fluvalinate, and malathion (currently banned in DK). In the T-screen, prothioconazole, malathion, tau-fluvalinate, cypermethrin, terbuthylazine and mancozeb significantly stimulated and bitertanol and propiconazole slightly reduced the GH3 cell proliferation. In the presence of triiodothyronine (T3), prothioconazole, tau-fluvalinate, propiconazole, cypermethrin and bitertanol significantly antagonized the T3-induced GH3 cell proliferation. Eleven of the tested pesticides agonized the AhR function, and bitertanol and prothioconazole inhibited the basal AhR activity. Bitertanol, propiconazole, prothioconazole and cypermethrin antagonized the TCDD-induced AhR transactivation at the highest tested concentration. The 5-component mixture had inducing effect but the combined effect could not be predicted due to the presence of bitertanol eliciting inhibitory effect. Upon removal of bitertanol from the mixture, the remaining four pesticides acted additively. In conclusion, our data suggest that pesticides currently used in Denmark can interfere with TH signaling and AhR function in vitro and might have the potential to cause endocrine disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandana Ghisari
- Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Agnese Tabbo
- Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Singh K, Bjerregaard P, Chan HM. Association between environmental contaminants and health outcomes in indigenous populations of the Circumpolar North. Int J Circumpolar Health 2014; 73:25808. [PMID: 25491153 PMCID: PMC4261238 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v73.25808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Since the 1990s, research has been carried out to monitor environmental contaminants and their effects on human health in the Arctic. Although evidence shows that Arctic indigenous peoples are exposed to higher levels of contaminants and do worse on several dimensions of health compared with other populations, the contribution of such exposures on adverse outcomes is unclear. Objective The purpose of this review is to provide a synopsis of the published epidemiological literature that has examined association between environmental contaminants and health outcomes in Arctic indigenous populations. Design A literature search was conducted in OVID Medline (1946-January 2014) using search terms that combined concepts of contaminant and indigenous populations in the Arctic. No language or date restrictions were applied. The reference lists of review articles were hand-searched. Results Of 559 citations, 60 studies were relevant. The studies fell under the following categories: paediatric (n=18), reproductive health (n=18), obstetrics and gynaecology (n=9), cardiology (n=7), bone health (n=2), oncology (n=2), endocrinology (n=2) and other (n=2). All studies, except one from Arctic Finland, were either from Nunavik or Greenland. Most studies assessed polychlorinated biphenyls (n=43) and organochlorine pesticides (n=29). Fewer studies examined heavy metals, perfluorinated compounds, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Details of study results for each health category are provided. Conclusions It is difficult to make conclusive statements about the effects of environmental contaminants on health due to mixed results, small number of studies and studies being restricted to a small number of regions. Meta-analytical synthesis of the evidence should be considered for priority contaminants and health outcomes. The following research gaps should be addressed in future studies: association of contaminants and health in other Arctic regions (i.e. Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunatsiavut, Alaska, European North and Russian North); assessment of contaminants on chronic diseases; inclusion of clinical endpoints in assessments; and assessment of the emerging contaminants of perfluorinated compounds and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Bjerregaard
- Department of Health, Centre for Health Research in Greenland, Greenland Government and University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Canada Research Chair in Toxicology and Environmental Health, Center for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada;
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Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Ghisari M, Wielsøe M, Bjerregaard-Olesen C, Kjeldsen LS, Long M. Biomonitoring and hormone-disrupting effect biomarkers of persistent organic pollutants in vitro and ex vivo. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2014; 115:118-28. [PMID: 24797035 PMCID: PMC4270256 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.12263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) include lipophilic legacy POPs and the amphiphilic perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs). They have long half-lives and bioaccumulate in the environment, animals and human beings. POPs possess toxic, carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting potentials. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that either mimic or block endogenous hormones and thus disrupt the normal hormone homeostasis. Biomonitoring assesses the internal doses of a person to provide information about chemical exposures. Effect biomarkers assess chemicals potential to affect cellular functions in vivo/ex vivo. Human beings are exposed to complex mixtures of chemicals, having individually very different biological potentials and effects. Therefore, the assessment of the combined, integrated biological effect of the actual chemical mixture in human blood is important. In vitro and ex vivo cell systems have been introduced for the assessment of the integrated level of xenobiotic cellular effects in human beings. Ex vivo studies have shown geographical differences in bioaccumulated POP serum levels, being reflected by the combined biomarker effects of the complex mixture extracted from human serum. Xenohormone receptor transactivities can be used as an ex vivo integrated biomarker of POP exposure and effects. Epidemiological and in vitro/ex vivo studies have supported the potential impact of the combined effect of serum POPs on the activity of hormone and/or dioxin receptors as a risk factor for human health. With focus on hormone disruption, this MiniReview will give an update on recent POP-related endocrine-disrupting effects in vitro/ex vivo/in vivo and some related genetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Department of Public Health, Centre for Arctic Health & Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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14
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Mørck TA, Erdmann SE, Long M, Mathiesen L, Nielsen F, Siersma VD, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Knudsen LE. PCB Concentrations and Dioxin-like Activity in Blood Samples from Danish School Children and Their Mothers living in Urban and Rural Areas. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2014; 115:134-44. [DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.12214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thit A. Mørck
- Section of Environmental Health; Department of Public Health; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Simon E. Erdmann
- Department of Public Health; Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology; University of Aarhus; Aarhus Denmark
| | - Manhai Long
- Department of Public Health; Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology; University of Aarhus; Aarhus Denmark
| | - Line Mathiesen
- Section of Environmental Health; Department of Public Health; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Environmental Medicine; Institute of Public Health; University of Southern Denmark; Odense Denmark
| | - Volkert D. Siersma
- Department of Public Health; The Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Eva C. Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Department of Public Health; Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology; University of Aarhus; Aarhus Denmark
| | - Lisbeth E. Knudsen
- Section of Environmental Health; Department of Public Health; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
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15
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Long M, Strand J, Lassen P, Krüger T, Dahllöf I, Bossi R, Larsen MM, Wiberg-Larsen P, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Endocrine-disrupting effects of compounds in Danish streams. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2014; 66:1-18. [PMID: 24145922 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-013-9959-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Effluents from municipal wastewater-treatment plants and scattered dwellings, as well as runoff from agricultural fields, are sources of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the aquatic environment. The present study investigated the correlation between the occurrence of EDCs in nine Danish streams using passive samplers (polar organic integrative samplers and silicone membranes) and determined their possible biological effects as assessed by mammal cell cultures and the mussel (Unio tumidus). The passive samplers and mussels were exposed simultaneously at the study sites. The extracts from the passive samplers were used to measure the concentrations of EDCs and the biological effects on the estrogen (ER), androgen (AR), and aryl hydrocarbon (AhR)-receptor transactivation. Male mussels were investigated for biomarkers of endocrine effects, such as the levels of vitellogenin-like proteins measured as alkali-labile phosphate (ALP). EDC concentrations, hormone-receptor transactivation (ER, AR, AhR), and level of ALP were greater downstream of wastewater-treatment plants compared with upstream sites and sites supposed to be relatively nonimpacted by wastewater. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between in vitro AhR transactivation and frequency of ALP of male mussels. We conclude that wastewater effluent is an important source of endocrine-disrupting effects in the aquatic environment and that the combination of biological effect measurements and chemical analyses based on passive sampling is useful in the assessment of the ecological state of the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Centre for Arctic Health, Aarhus University, BartholinsAllé 2, Building 1260, 8000, Århus C, Denmark,
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16
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Long M, Ghisari M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Effects of perfluoroalkyl acids on the function of the thyroid hormone and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 20:8045-56. [PMID: 23539207 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1628-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are perfluorinated compounds that widely exist in the environment and can elicit adverse effects including endocrine disruption in humans and animals. This study investigated the effect of seven PFAAs on the thyroid hormone (TH) system assessing the proliferation of the 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thryonine (T3)-dependent rat pituitary GH3 cells using the T-screen assay and the effect on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivation in the AhR-luciferase reporter gene bioassay. A dose-dependent impact on GH3 cells was observed in the range 1×10(-9)-1×10(-4) M: seven PFAAs (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)) inhibited the GH3 cell growth, and four PFAAs (PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFUnA) antagonized the T3-induced GH3 cell proliferation. At the highest test concentration, PFHxS showed a further increase of the T3-induced GH3 growth. Among the seven tested PFAAs, only PFDoA and PFDA elicited an activating effect on the AhR. In conclusion, PFAAs possess in vitro endocrine-disrupting potential by interfering with TH and AhR functions, which need to be taken into consideration when assessing the impact on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health and Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, Building 1260, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark,
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Long M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Dioxin-like activity in environmental and human samples from Greenland and Denmark. CHEMOSPHERE 2012; 89:919-28. [PMID: 22858370 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.06.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2011] [Revised: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 06/30/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Dioxins and dioxin-like (DL) compounds are some of the most toxic chemicals being highly persistent in the environment. The toxicological effects of dioxins are mediated via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Compounds of diverse structure and lipophility can bind and activate AhR. The AhR transactivation bioassay is utilized in an array of projects to study the AhR-mediated activities of individual chemicals and mixtures and for epidemiological purposes. This review summarizes a series of studies regarding the DL-activity of single compounds and complex compound mixtures in the environment and humans. We found that some pesticides, plasticizers and phytoestrogens can activate the AhR, and the combined effect of compounds with no or weak AhR potency cannot be ignored. The significant DL-activity in the wastewater effluent indicates the treatment is not sufficient to prevent contamination of surface waters with dioxins. Our results from human studies suggest that the serum DL-activity reflect the complex mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Greenlandic Inuit had lower serum DL-activity level compared to Europeans, probably due to long distance from the dioxin sources and UV degradation of the high potent dioxin and/or the inhibitory effect of the high level of non-DL POPs. Selective bioaccumulation of PCBs in the food chain may contribute to the negative correlation between serum POPs and DL-activity observed in Greenlandic Inuit. Hence the AhR transactivation bioassay provides a cost-effective and integrated screening tool for measurement of the DL-activity in human, environmental and commercial samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Cellular & Molecular Toxicology, Centre of Arctic Health, Department of public Health, Arhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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Krüger T, Long M, Ghisari M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. The combined effect of persistent organic pollutants in the serum POP mixture in Greenlandic Inuit: xenoestrogenic, xenoandrogenic and dioxin-like transactivities. Biomarkers 2012; 17:692-705. [PMID: 23030067 DOI: 10.3109/1354750x.2012.700950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Greenlandic Inuit have high body burden of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We analyzed the combined effect of the actual lipophilic serum POP mixture on estrogen-, androgen- and aryl hydrocarbon-receptor functions as effect biomarkers, and the associations between the effect biomarkers and serum POPs, and lifestyle characteristics. The serum POPs were extracted from 232 Inuit from Ittoqqortoormiit, Narsaq and Qeqertarsuaq. The POP-related receptor transactivities correlated negatively to the POP levels and were associated to the lifestyle characteristics. The POP-related receptor transactivities can be used as effect biomarkers. The serum POPs have hormone disruptive potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Krüger
- Department of Public Health, Centre for Arctic Health & Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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19
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Long M, Krüger T, Ghisari M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Effects of selected phytoestrogens and their mixtures on the function of the thyroid hormone and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Nutr Cancer 2012; 64:1008-19. [PMID: 22966911 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2012.711419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Phytoestrogens (PEs) are natural plant components, which can induce biologic responses in vertebrates by mimicking or blocking the actions of natural hormones or influencing the hormone production in the body. This study investigated the effect of different mixtures composed of food-relevant PEs on the thyroid hormone (TH) system assessing the proliferation of the 3,3',5-triiodi-L-thryonine (T3) dependent rat pituitary GH3 cells using the T-screen assay, and the effect on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivation using an AhR-luciferase reporter gene assay. Most tested PEs and their mixtures showed effect on both the TH and AhR system. Single isoflavonoid metabolites and their mixture and coumestrol induced GH3 cell growth and AhR transactivity dose-dependently. Isoflavonoid metabolites elicited an additive effect on the T3-dependent GH3 cell growth, and a synergistic effect on the AhR transactivity. In conclusion, nutrition-relevant PEs, alone and in mixture may possess endocrine-disrupting potential by interfering with TH and AhR functions, which need to be considered when assessing the effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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20
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Croes K, Van Langenhove K, Den Hond E, Bruckers L, Colles A, Koppen G, Loots I, Nelen V, Schoeters G, Nawrot T, Van Larebeke N, Denison MS, Vandermarken T, Elskens M, Baeyens W. Quantification of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in small amounts of human serum using the sensitive H1L7.5c1 mouse hepatoma cell line: optimization and analysis of human serum samples from adolescents of the Flemish human biomonitoring program FLEHS II. Talanta 2011; 85:2484-91. [PMID: 21962672 PMCID: PMC3523230 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2011.07.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2011] [Revised: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Since the CALUX (Chemically Activated LUciferase gene eXpression) bioassay is a fast and inexpensive tool for the throughput analysis of dioxin-like compounds in a large number of samples and requires only small sample volumes, the use of this technique in human biomonitoring programs provides a good alternative to GC-HRMS. In this study, a method for the separate analysis of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) in human serum with the new sensitive H1L7.5c1 mouse hepatoma cell line was optimized. Sample dilution factors of 5 and 2.4 were selected for routine analysis of respectively the PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs. The validation studies showed that repeatability and within-lab reproducibility for the quality control (QC) standard were within the in-house criteria. A long-term within-lab reproducibility of 25% for the PCDD/F fraction and 41% for the dl-PCB fraction for the analysis of pooled serum samples, expressed as pg BEQ/g fat, was determined. CALUX recoveries of the spiked procedural blanks were within the acceptable in-house limits of 80-120% for both fractions and the LOQ was 30.3 pg BEQ/g fat for the PCDD/Fs and 14.5 pg BEQ/g fat for the dl-PCBs. The GC-HRMS recovery of a C13-spiked pooled serum sample was between 60 and 90% for all PCDD/F congeners and between 67 and 82% for the non-ortho PCBs. An adequate separation between both fractions was found. The CALUX/GC-HRMS ratio for a pooled serum sample was respectively 2.0 and 1.4 for the PCDD/Fs and the dl-PCBs, indicating the presence of additional AhR active compounds. As expected, a correlation was found between human serum samples analyzed with both the new H1L7.5c1 cell line and the more established H1L6.1c3 cell line. The geometric mean CALUX-BEQ values, reported for the adolescents of the second Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS II) recruited in 2009-2010, were 108 (95% CI: 101-114) pg CALUX-BEQ/g fat for the PCDD/Fs and 32.1 (30.1-34.2) pg CALUX-BEQ/g fat for the dioxin-like PCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Croes
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (ANCH), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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21
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Bonefeld-Jorgensen EC, Long M, Bossi R, Ayotte P, Asmund G, Krüger T, Ghisari M, Mulvad G, Kern P, Nzulumiki P, Dewailly E. Perfluorinated compounds are related to breast cancer risk in Greenlandic Inuit: a case control study. Environ Health 2011; 10:88. [PMID: 21978366 PMCID: PMC3203030 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-10-88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/06/2011] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer for women in the western world. From very few cases an extraordinary increase in BC was observed in the Inuit population of Greenland and Canada although still lower than in western populations. Previous data suggest that exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) might contribute to the risk of BC. Rat studies showed that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) cause significantly increase in mammary fibroadenomas. This study aimed at evaluating the association between serum levels of POPs/PFCs in Greenlandic Inuit BC cases and their controls, and whether the combined POP related effect on nuclear hormone receptors affect BC risk. METHODS Thirty-one BC cases and 115 controls were sampled during 2000-2003 from various Greenlandic districts. The serum levels of POPs, PFCs, some metals and the combined serum POP related effect on estrogen- (ER), androgen- (AR) and Ah-receptor (AhR) transactivity were determined. Independent student t-test was used to compare the differences and the odds ratios were estimated by unconditional logistic regression models. RESULTS We observed for the very first time a significant association between serum PFC levels and the risk of BC. The BC cases also showed a significantly higher concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls at the highest quartile. Also for the combined serum POP induced agonistic AR transactivity significant association to BC risk was found, and cases elicited a higher frequency of samples with significant POP related hormone-like agonistic ER transactivity. The AhR toxic equivalent was lowest in cases. CONCLUSIONS The level of serum POPs, particularly PFCs, might be risk factors in the development of BC in Inuit. Hormone disruption by the combined serum POP related xenoestrogenic and xenoandrogenic activities may contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer in Inuit. Further investigations are needed to document these study conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Bonefeld-Jorgensen
- Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Rossana Bossi
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Gert Asmund
- National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Tanja Krüger
- Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Mandana Ghisari
- Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | | | - Peder Kern
- Dronning Ingrids Hospital, Nuuk Greenland
| | | | - Eric Dewailly
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
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Exposure to persistent organic pollutants as potential risk factors for developing diabetes. Sci China Chem 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s11426-010-0157-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Medehouenou TCM, Larochelle C, Dumas P, Dewailly E, Ayotte P. Determinants of AhR-mediated transcriptional activity induced by plasma extracts from Nunavik Inuit adults. CHEMOSPHERE 2010; 80:75-82. [PMID: 20435334 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2010] [Revised: 03/11/2010] [Accepted: 04/02/2010] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The exposure of Inuit people to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides has been well characterised but little is known regarding their exposure to dioxin-like compounds, which induce toxic effects through binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In order to obtain a global measure of persistent organic pollutants in plasma that interact with this signalling pathway, we used a luciferase reporter gene assay to assess the AhR-mediated transcriptional activity elicited by plasma sample extracts from 874 Inuit adults who were recruited in the course of a prospective epidemiological study conducted in Nunavik (Québec, Canada). Several sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary and lifestyle variables were considered as possible modulating factors of the AhR-mediated activity in multivariate statistical analyses. The geometric mean AhR-mediated activity expressed as 2,3,7,8-tetachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents was 8.9 pg g(-1) lipids (range: <5-144 pg g(-1) lipids). PCB-153 concentration measured by high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was moderately correlated to AhR-mediated activity (Pearson's r=0.53, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that age and omega-3 fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes (an index of marine food consumption) were positively associated with plasma AhR-mediated activity (p<0.001), whereas a negative association was noted with body fat mass (p=0.037). These results suggest that AhR-mediated transcriptional activity of Inuit plasma extracts is linked to their organochlorine body burden, most likely that of dioxin-like PCBs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans. AhR-mediated transcriptional activity measures may prove useful in investigating possible associations between exposure to AhR agonists and adverse health effects in this indigenous population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry C M Medehouenou
- Axe de Recherche en Santé des Populations et Environnementale, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec and Université Laval, 2875 Boulevard Laurier, Québec, QC, Canada.
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Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Long M. Dioxin-like activity in the blood of Greenlandic Inuit and Danish women: a pilot study. Int J Circumpolar Health 2010; 69:181-94. [PMID: 20356465 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v69i2.17434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES (1) To determine whether plasma dioxin-like (DL) bioactivity differs between Inuit living in different Greenlandic districts, (2) to compare the DL activity of the Inuit having high burdens of POPs with a low-burden study group (Danish volunteers), and (3) to evaluate DL activity associations to POP exposure biomarkers and/or lifestyle factors. STUDY DESIGN The study was a cross-sectional survey, including randomized inhabitants (70) from 6 different Greenlandic districts and young Danish volunteers (22). METHODS POPs and fatty acids profiles were analysed. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediated DL-activity was determined by exposure of Hepa1.12cR AhR-CALUX reporter cell line to hexane: ethanol plasma extracts. RESULTS The sum PCBs/POPs level of Inuit was more than 10 times higher than the levels found in Danish volunteers, and for both study groups the level was positively associated with age. The TCDD equivalent of the determined DL-activity, AhR-TEQ, differed between the Greenlandic districts. The AhR-TEQ data of the combined Inuit was significantly higher compared with the Danish women. AhR-TEQ of Inuit were positively associated with plasma POPs after adjustment for age and/or the ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids, whereas no correlations were found for the Danish samples. CONCLUSIONS AhR-TEQ differs between Inuit and Danish plasma samples. Plasma POP levels alone cannot be used as a biomarker for DL-activity. We suggest that the profile and level of plasma POPs, geographical location and diet have the greatest impact on plasma dioxin activity. Further studies are needed to elucidate the differences in geographical determinants of blood DL-activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Unit of Cellular & Molecular Toxicology, Centre of Arctic Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
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Jørgensen ME, Borch-Johnsen K, Bjerregaard P. A cross-sectional study of the association between persistent organic pollutants and glucose intolerance among Greenland Inuit. Diabetologia 2008; 51:1416-22. [PMID: 18560802 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-008-1066-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2007] [Accepted: 05/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Some evidence supports the hypothesis that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. The Inuit population in Greenland, which is highly exposed to POPs due to a high intake of marine mammals, has experienced a rapid increase in diabetes prevalence over the last 30 years. Thus the aim was to study the association between POPs and glucose intolerance and markers of insulin resistance and insulin secretion using a population-based design. METHODS From 1999 to 2002 the Greenland population study was carried out among adult Inuit living in Greenland. The examination included a 75 g OGTT, anthropometric measurements, a structured interview, and blood tests. Plasma glucose and serum insulin were analysed, and three defined subclasses of POPs were analysed in a subgroup. Associations were adjusted for age, sex, waist circumference, Inuit heritage, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and educational level. RESULTS Data on POPs were available on 692 individuals, 305 men (mean age 50 years) and 387 women (mean age 49 years). The prevalence of diabetes was 10.3%, and 10.5% had impaired glucose tolerance. The concentrations of several POPs were exceptionally high. While no associations were found between POPs and stages of glucose intolerance or markers of insulin resistance, POPs were significantly inversely associated with stimulated insulin concentrations and homeostasis model assessment of beta cell function. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION The study indicates that POPs may affect insulin secretion rather than being involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. No association was seen between POPs and glucose intolerance or markers of insulin resistance.
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Krüger T, Ghisari M, Hjelmborg PS, Deutch B, Bonefeld-Jorgensen EC. Xenohormone transactivities are inversely associated to serum POPs in Inuit. Environ Health 2008; 7:38. [PMID: 18627625 PMCID: PMC2503956 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-7-38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2008] [Accepted: 07/15/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are highly lipophilic and resistant to biodegradation and found in e.g. seafood and marine mammals. Greenlandic Inuit have high intake of marine food and thus high POP burden that varies according to local conditions and dietary preference. We do for the very first time report the serum POP related non-steroidal xenohormone activity of Inuit across Greenland. The aims were 1) to determine the integrated xenohormone bioactivities as an exposure biomarker of the actual lipophilic serum POP mixture measuring the effect on estrogen (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) transactivity in citizens from different Greenlandic districts and 2) to evaluate associations to serum POP markers (14 PCBs and 10 pesticides) and lifestyle characteristics. METHODS Serum samples from 121 men and 119 women from Nuuk, Sisimiut and Qaanaaq were extracted using SPE-HPLC fractionation to obtain the serum POP fraction free of endogenous hormones. The serum POP fraction was used for determination of xenohormone transactivity using ER and AR reporter gene assays. RESULTS In overall, the xenohormone transactivities differed between districts as well as between the genders. Associations between the transactivities and age, n-3/n-6 and smoker years were observed. The xenoestrogenic and xenoandrogenic transactivities correlated negatively to the POPs for the combined female and male data, respectively. CONCLUSION The non-steroidal xenohormone transactivities can be used as an integrated biomarker of POP exposure and lifestyle characteristics. The actual serum POP mixtures antagonized the age adjusted sex hormone receptor functions. Comparison of different study populations requires in addition to age inclusion of diet and lifestyle factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Krüger
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, Build 1260, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Mandana Ghisari
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, Build 1260, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Philip S Hjelmborg
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, Build 1260, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Bente Deutch
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, Build 1260, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Eva C Bonefeld-Jorgensen
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, Build 1260, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Krüger T, Long M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Plastic components affect the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon and the androgen receptor. Toxicology 2008; 246:112-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2007.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2007] [Revised: 12/20/2007] [Accepted: 12/29/2007] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Bonde JP, Toft G, Rylander L, Rignell-Hydbom A, Giwercman A, Spano M, Manicardi GC, Bizzaro D, Ludwicki JK, Zvyezday V, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Pedersen HS, Jönsson BAG, Thulstrup AM. Fertility and markers of male reproductive function in Inuit and European populations spanning large contrasts in blood levels of persistent organochlorines. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2008; 116:269-77. [PMID: 18335090 PMCID: PMC2265036 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2007] [Accepted: 11/23/2007] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We synthesized the main findings from an international epidemiologic study on the impact of biopersistent organic pollutants (POPs) on human reproductive function. DATA SOURCES AND EXTRACTION We used a database with interview and biological data from 2,269 women and their spouses, and 18 published core papers. DATA SYNTHESIS The study did not provide direct evidence of hormone-like activity of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener CB-153 and the main dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) metabolite, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), as serum concentrations of these compounds were not consistently related to either endogenous or exogenous hormone activity in serum. Nevertheless several links bewteen POP exposure and biomarkers of male reproductive function were identified. First, an association between high CB-153 serum levels and low sperm counts was detected within a subgroup of men with short androgen receptor CAG repeat length. Second, a relationship between increased CB-153 serum concentrations and decreased sperm motility was seen in all four studied regions, and indications of reduced neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma point to a post-testicular effect. Third, damage of sperm chromatin integrity was considerably less frequent in Greenlandic Inuits compared with that in European groups, and only in the latter was impairment of sperm chromatin integrity related to POPs. Despite these effects, fertility in terms of time taken to conceive was not related to POPs except in Inuits. A likely explanation of the latter was not identified. CONCLUSIONS POPs may interfere with male reproductive function without major impact on fertility. The data do not provide direct evidence for endocrine disruption, hence other mechanisms should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Peter Bonde
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark.
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Krüger T, Spanò M, Long M, Eleuteri P, Rescia M, Hjelmborg PS, Manicardi GC, Bizzaro D, Giwercman A, Toft G, Bonde JP, Bonefeld-Jorgensen EC. Xenobiotic activity in serum and sperm chromatin integrity in European and inuit populations. Mol Reprod Dev 2008; 75:669-80. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Long M, Hofmeister MV, Vinggaard AM. Endocrine-disrupting potential of bisphenol A, bisphenol A dimethacrylate, 4-n-nonylphenol, and 4-n-octylphenol in vitro: new data and a brief review. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2007; 115 Suppl 1:69-76. [PMID: 18174953 PMCID: PMC2174402 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 367] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2006] [Accepted: 09/26/2006] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An array of environmental compounds is known to possess endocrine disruption (ED) potentials. Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BPA-DM) are monomers used to a high extent in the plastic industry and as dental sealants. Alkylphenols such as 4-n-nonylphenol (nNP) and 4-n-octylphenol (nOP) are widely used as surfactants. OBJECTIVES We investigated the effect in vitro of these four compounds on four key cell mechanisms including transactivation of a) the human estrogen receptor (ER), b) the human androgen receptor (AR), c) the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and d) aromatase activity. RESULTS All four compounds inhibited aromatase activity and were agonists and antagonists of ER and AR, respectively. nNP increased AhR activity concentration-dependently and further increased the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin AhR action. nOP caused dual responses with a weak increased and a decreased AhR activity at lower (10(-8) M) and higher concentrations (10(-5)-10(-4) M), respectively. AhR activity was inhibited with BPA (10(-5)-10(-4) M) and weakly increased with BPA-DM (10(-5) M), respectively. nNP showed the highest relative potency (REP) compared with the respective controls in the ER, AhR, and aromatase assays, whereas similar REP was observed for the four chemicals in the AR assay. CONCLUSION Our in vitro data clearly indicate that the four industrial compounds have ED potentials and that the effects can be mediated via several cellular pathways, including the two sex steroid hormone receptors (ER and AR), aromatase activity converting testosterone to estrogen, and AhR; AhR is involved in syntheses of steroids and metabolism of steroids and xenobiotic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Toft G, Long M, Krüger T, Hjelmborg PS, Bonde JP, Rignell-Hydbom A, Tyrkiel E, Hagmar L, Giwercman A, Spanó M, Bizzaro D, Pedersen HS, Lesovoy V, Ludwicki JK, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Semen quality in relation to xenohormone and dioxin-like serum activity among Inuits and three European populations. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2007; 115 Suppl 1:15-20. [PMID: 18174945 PMCID: PMC2174408 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2006] [Accepted: 09/05/2006] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Semen quality in humans may be influenced by exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds. OBJECTIVES We analyzed associations between semen characteristics and serum xenoestrogen receptor (XER), xenoandrogen receptor (XAR), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivity. XER and XAR activity were measured in serum samples cleared for endogenous steroid hormones and AhR activity in raw lipophilic serum extracts free of proteins. RESULTS All together, 319 men from Warsaw (Poland), Greenland, Kharkiv (Ukraine), and Sweden provided semen and blood samples. No strong and consistent associations between xenobiotic activity and semen quality measures were observed in the four populations. However, when the data were combined across populations sperm concentration increased 40% per unit increase in XER activity [95% confidence interval (CI), 1-79%] in the subgroup with XER activity below the reference level. Among subjects with XER activity above the reference level an increase of 14% (95% CI, 2-28%) was found. Furthermore, an increase of 10% motile sperm per unit increase in XER activity below reference level (95% CI, 0.2-20) was found. We are unable to exclude that the associations are chance findings. CONCLUSION Alteration of XER, XAR, or AhR transactivity within the range found in serum from the general European and Inuit population seems not to markedly deteriorate sperm cell concentration, motility, or morphology in adult men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Toft
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Krüger T, Hjelmborg PS, Jönsson BA, Hagmar L, Giwercman A, Manicardi GC, Bizzaro D, Spanò M, Rignell-Hydbom A, Pedersen HS, Toft G, Bonde JP, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Xenoandrogenic activity in serum differs across European and Inuit populations. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2007; 115 Suppl 1:21-7. [PMID: 18174946 PMCID: PMC2174397 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2006] [Accepted: 12/04/2006] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal and in vitro studies have indicated that human male reproductive disorders can arise as a result of disrupted androgen receptor (AR) signalling by persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Our aim in the present study was to compare serum xenoandrogenic activity between study groups with different POP exposures and to evaluate correlations to the POP proxy markers 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE). METHODS We determined xenoandrogenic activity in the serum fraction containing the lipophilic POPs but free of endogenous hormones. Adult male serum (n = 261) from Greenland, Sweden, Warsaw (Poland), and Kharkiv (Ukraine) was analyzed. Xenoandrogenic activity was determined as the effect of serum extract alone (XAR) and in the presence of the synthetic AR agonist R1881 (XARcomp) on AR transactivated luciferase activity. RESULTS The study groups differed significantly with respect to XARcomp activity, which was increased in the Inuits and decreased in the European study groups; we observed no difference for XAR activity. We found the highest level of the AR antagonist p,p'-DDE in Kharkiv, and accordingly, this study group showed the highest percent of serum samples with decreased XARcomp activities. Furthermore, the percentage of serum samples with decreased XARcomp activities followed the p,p'-DDE serum level for the European study groups. No correlations between serum XAR or XARcomp activities and the two POP markers were revealed. CONCLUSIONS The differences in XARcomp serum activity between the study groups suggest differences in chemical exposure profiles, genetics, and/or lifestyle factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Krüger
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Philip S. Hjelmborg
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bo A.G. Jönsson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Hagmar
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Gian-Carlo Manicardi
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Davide Bizzaro
- Institute of Biology and Genetics, Politechnical University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marcello Spanò
- Section of Toxicology and Biomedical Sciences, BIOTEC-MED, ENEA Casaccia, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rignell-Hydbom
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Gunnar Toft
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens Peter Bonde
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Eva C. Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
- Address correspondence to E.C. Bonefeld-Jørgensen, Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Blvd. 6, Building 260, DK-8000 Aarhus C., Denmark. Telephone: 045 8942 6162. Fax: +45 8942 6199. E-mail:
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Long M, Deutch B, Bonefeld-Jorgensen EC. AhR transcriptional activity in serum of Inuits across Greenlandic districts. Environ Health 2007; 6:32. [PMID: 17956617 PMCID: PMC2173889 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-6-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2006] [Accepted: 10/23/2007] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human exposure to lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticide is ubiquitous. The individual is exposed to a complex mixture of POPs being life-long beginning during critical developmental windows. Exposure to POPs elicits a number of species- and tissue-specific toxic responses, many of which involve the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The aim of this study was to compare the actual level of integrated AhR transcriptional activity in the lipophilic serum fraction containing the actual POP mixture among Inuits from different districts in Greenland, and to evaluate whether the AhR transactivity is correlated to the bio-accumulated POPs and/or lifestyle factors. METHODS The study included 357 serum samples from the Greenlandic districts: Nuuk and Sisimiut (South West Coast), Qaanaaq (North Coast) and Tasiilaq (East Coast). The bio-accumulated serum POPs were extracted by ethanol: hexane and clean-up on Florisil columns. Effects of the serum extract on the AhR transactivity was determined using the Hepa 1.12cR mouse hepatoma cell line carrying an AhR-luciferase reporter gene, and the data was evaluated for possible association to the serum levels of 14 PCB congeners, 10 organochlorine pesticide residues and/or lifestyle factors. RESULTS In total 85% of the Inuit samples elicited agonistic AhR transactivity in a district dependent pattern. The median level of the AhR-TCDD equivalent (AhR-TEQ) of the separate genders was similar in the different districts. For the combined data the order of the median AhR-TEQ was Tasiilaq > Nuuk > or = Sisimiut > Qaanaaq possibly being related to the different composition of POPs. In overall, the AhR transactivity was inversely correlated to the levels of sum POPs, age and/or intake of marine food. CONCLUSION i) We observed that the proportion of dioxin like (DL) compounds in the POP mixture was the dominating factor affecting the level of serum AhR transcriptional activity even at very high level of non DL-PCBs; ii) The inverse association between the integrated serum AhR transactivity and sum of POPs might be explained by the higher level of compounds antagonizing the AhR function probably due to selective POP bioaccumulation in the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bente Deutch
- Centre for Arctic Environmental Medicine, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Eva C Bonefeld-Jorgensen
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Denmark
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Long M, Stronati A, Bizzaro D, Krüger T, Manicardi GC, Hjelmborg PS, Spanò M, Giwercman A, Toft G, Bonde JP, Bonefeld-Jorgensen EC. Relation between serum xenobiotic-induced receptor activities and sperm DNA damage and sperm apoptotic markers in European and Inuit populations. Reproduction 2007; 133:517-30. [PMID: 17307920 DOI: 10.1530/rep-06-0195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can interfere with hormone activities and are suspected as endocrine disrupters involved in disorders, e.g. reproductive disorders. We investigated the possible relation between the actual integrated serum xenoestrogenic, xenoandrogenic and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activities, and the sperm DNA damage and sperm apoptotic markers of 262 adult males (54 Inuits from Greenland, 69 from Warsaw (Poland), 81 from Sweden, and 58 from Kharkiv (Ukraine)) exposed to different levels of POPs. Xenobiotic-induced receptor activities were determined by receptor-mediated luciferase reporter gene expression. Sperm DNA damage was measured using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-driven dUTP nick labeling assay (TUNEL) and pro- (Fas) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-xL) markers were determined by immune methods. Different features of xenobiotic-induced receptor activity in serum and sperm DNA fragmentation and apoptotic markers existed between the Inuits and the European Caucasians. Negative correlations between xenobiotic-induced receptor activities and DNA damage were found for Inuits having relatively lower xenoestrogenic, lower dioxin-like activity, and lower sperm DNA damage, but higher xenoandrogenic activity. In contrast, in the European groups, xenobiotic-induced receptor activities were found to be positively correlated with the DNA damage. Further research must elucidate whether altered receptor activities in concerted action with genetic and/or nutrient factors may have protecting effect on sperm DNA damage of the Inuit population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology (CMT), Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, Build 1260, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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