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Vilfranc CL, Houghton LC, Tsui F, Barrett E, Llanos AAM, Pennell K, Walker DAH, Martinez M, Morton B, Shepard P, Terry MB, McDonald JA. The hair tales of women of color in Northern Manhattan: a qualitative analysis. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2024; 6:1298615. [PMID: 38559324 PMCID: PMC10978798 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2024.1298615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates, can negatively impact maternal and child health, contributing to impaired fetal growth, preterm birth, and pregnancy complications, as well as increased downstream risks of cardiometabolic disease and breast cancer. Notably, women of color (WOC) are the largest consumers of personal care products, which are a common source of EDC exposure. Methods The Let's Reclaim Our Ancestral Roots (Let's R.O.A.R) Pilot Study developed an educational intervention delivered during pregnancy to promote reduced use of phthalate-containing hair care products (HCPs). This mixed-methods study included: (1) a quantitative analysis and (2) a qualitative analysis of the educational sessions and the semi-structured focus groups to evaluate the factors that influenced the hair care practices and product choices of WOC at various stages of life, including their current pregnancy (hereafter referred to as the hair journey). During the sessions, participants learned about EDCs (with a focus on phthalates), the unequal burden of exposure for WOC, adverse implications of exposure, and exposure reduction strategies. Focus group sessions provided insight into participants' hair journeys from childhood to the current pregnancy and explored factors during their hair product selection process. All sessions were transcribed and imported into NVivo Version 12 for coding and thematic analysis. Results A total of 46 individuals were enrolled in the study, and 31 participated in an educational session. This current work synthesizes the qualitative analysis of this study. We identified two important life stages (before and after gaining agency over hair care practices and product choices) and three dominant themes related to HCP use: (1) products that impacted the hair journey, which involved all mentions of hair products, (2) factors that influenced the hair journey, which included individuals or entities that shaped participants' hair experiences, and (3) the relationship between hair and sense of self, where sense of self was defined as the alignment of one's inner and outer beauty. Conclusion The themes intersected and impacted the participants' hair journey. Cultural integration was a sub-theme that overlapped within the dominant themes and participants discussed the effect of traditions on their hair experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrystelle L. Vilfranc
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lauren C. Houghton
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Felice Tsui
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Emily Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Adana A. M. Llanos
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kurt Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | | | - Micaela Martinez
- We ACT for Environmental Justice, New York, NY, United States
- Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Beaumont Morton
- We ACT for Environmental Justice, New York, NY, United States
| | - Peggy Shepard
- We ACT for Environmental Justice, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mary Beth Terry
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jasmine A. McDonald
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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Feng Q, Liu Y, Zou L, Lei M, Zhu C, Xia W. Fluorene-9-bisphenol exposure damages the testis in mice through a novel mechanism of ferroptosis. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 184:114385. [PMID: 38123054 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF) is an emerging global endocrine-disrupting chemical found in numerous household products as a substitute of bisphenol A. Many studies have reported various toxicities associated with BHPF. However, the effect of BHPF on male reproduction, particularly on the structural integrity of the blood testis barrier (BTB) in mice, has not yet been extensively studied. Ferroptosis, a newly identified form of cell death, occurs in the testicular tissue following exposure to BPA, affecting male fertility. We investigated whether ferroptosis plays a role in BHPF-induced testicular damage. The findings indicated that BHPF exposure led decreases in serum testosterone (T) concentration and sperm concentration and motility in mice. Furthermore, BHPF disrupted the BTB by interfering with key BTB-related proteins, including Cx43, β-catenin, and ZO-1. Moreover, BHPF induced ferroptosis through the induction of lipid peroxidation, iron overload, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the testicular tissue. Inhibition of ferroptosis using Fer-1 mitigated the BHPF-induced damage to the BTB and ferroptosis in TM4 cells. Overall, our findings indicated the detrimental effects of BHPF on male reproductive function in mice, suggesting ferroptosis as a mechanism underlying testicular damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Feng
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yumeng Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Zou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengying Lei
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Changhong Zhu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xia
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China.
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Burke S. Hypoxia, NSAIDs, and autism: A biocultural analysis of stressors in gametogenesis. Am J Hum Biol 2024:e24042. [PMID: 38282542 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Cultural and generational trends have increasingly favored "anti-inflammatory" action, innovating a new class of analgesic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the 20th century. The modern human body has been molded over evolutionary time and while acknowledging inflammation can be pathologically entwined, it also serves an important role in healthy folliculogenesis and ovulation, shaping cues that drive needed vascular change. This review argues that because of anti-inflammatory action, the cultural invention of NSAIDs represents a particular stressor on female reproductive-age bodies, interacting with natural, underlying variation and placing limits on healthy growth and development in the follicles, creating potential autism risk through hypoxia and mutagenic or epigenetic effects. Since testes are analogs to ovaries, the biological grounding extends naturally to spermatogenesis. This review suggests the introduction of over-the-counter NSAIDs in the 1980s failed to recognize the unique functioning of reproductive-age bodies, challenging the cyclical inflammation needed for healthy gamete development. NSAIDs are framed as one (notable) stressor in an anti-inflammatory era focused on taming the risks of inflammation in modern human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacie Burke
- Department of Anthropology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Pan J, Liu P, Yu X, Zhang Z, Liu J. The adverse role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the reproductive system. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1324993. [PMID: 38303976 PMCID: PMC10832042 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1324993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Reproductive system diseases pose prominent threats to human physical and mental well-being. Besides being influenced by genetic material regulation and changes in lifestyle, the occurrence of these diseases is closely connected to exposure to harmful substances in the environment. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), characterized by hormone-like effects, have a wide range of influences on the reproductive system. EDCs are ubiquitous in the natural environment and are present in a wide range of industrial and everyday products. Currently, thousands of chemicals have been reported to exhibit endocrine effects, and this number is likely to increase as the testing for potential EDCs has not been consistently required, and obtaining data has been limited, partly due to the long latency of many diseases. The ability to avoid exposure to EDCs, especially those of artificially synthesized origin, is increasingly challenging. While EDCs can be divided into persistent and non-persistent depending on their degree of degradation, due to the recent uptick in research studies in this area, we have chosen to focus on the research pertaining to the detrimental effects on reproductive health of exposure to several EDCs that are widely encountered in daily life over the past six years, specifically bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates (PAEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), parabens, pesticides, heavy metals, and so on. By focusing on the impact of EDCs on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which leads to the occurrence and development of reproductive system diseases, this review aims to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of EDCs' damage to human health and to encourage further in-depth research to clarify the potentially harmful effects of EDC exposure through various other mechanisms. Ultimately, it offers a scientific basis to enhance EDCs risk management, an endeavor of significant scientific and societal importance for safeguarding reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Pan
- The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Gynecology Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Gynecology Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongming Zhang
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
| | - Jinxing Liu
- Gynecology Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Tiwary R, Richburg JH. Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) reversibly disrupts the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in pubertal rats. Toxicol Sci 2023; 197:kfad116. [PMID: 37941498 PMCID: PMC10823777 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is constituted by tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells (SC) that create a specialized adluminal microenvironment to foster the development of spermatocytes and spermatids. The BTB is a well-studied target of numerous environmental toxicants, including di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a compound widely used in various consumer products. MEHP is the active toxic metabolite of DEHP that has long been recognized in postnatal rodents to disrupt SC function. This study evaluates the impact of MEHP on the integrity of the BTB in both pubertal and adult rats and the signal transduction pathways known to be involved in the disruption of the BTB. Treatment of prepubertal rats with 700 mg/kg MEHP for 24 hours functionally disrupted the BTB integrity. A similar treatment of adult rats with MEHP did not disrupt the integrity of the BTB. The observed disruption of the BTB integrity in the MEHP-treated prepubertal rats occurred concomitantly with a decreased expression and mislocalization of both the ZO1 and occludin tight junction-associated proteins, as well as sloughing of spermatocytes and spermatids. At this same time, MEHP treatment induced a transient surge of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Interestingly, after a recovery period of 5 weeks, the BTB recovered and was functionally intact. This is the first report to indicate that acute MEHP exposure of prepubertal rats, but not adult rats, disrupts the functional integrity of the BTB and that this effect on the BTB is reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Tiwary
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular and Cellular Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - John H Richburg
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular and Cellular Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Lahimer M, Abou Diwan M, Montjean D, Cabry R, Bach V, Ajina M, Ben Ali H, Benkhalifa M, Khorsi-Cauet H. Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility: from physiological to molecular effects. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1232646. [PMID: 37886048 PMCID: PMC10598475 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The deleterious effects of chemical or non-chemical endocrine disruptors (EDs) on male fertility potential is well documented but still not fully elucidated. For example, the detection of industrial chemicals' metabolites in seminal plasma and follicular fluid can affect efficiency of the gametogenesis, the maturation and competency of gametes and has guided scientists to hypothesize that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may disrupt hormonal homoeostasis by leading to a wide range of hormonal control impairments. The effects of EDCs exposure on reproductive health are highly dependent on factors including the type of EDCs, the duration of exposure, individual susceptibility, and the presence of other co-factors. Research and scientists continue to study these complex interactions. The aim of this review is to summarize the literature to better understand the potential reproductive health risks of EDCs in France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Lahimer
- ART and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, University Hospital and School of Medicine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France
- PERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, Amiens, France
- Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: from Integrated to Molecular “Biology, Medicine and Health” (Code: LR19ES09), Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Maria Abou Diwan
- PERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, Amiens, France
| | - Debbie Montjean
- Fertilys, Centres de Fertilité, Laval and Brossard, QC, Canada
| | - Rosalie Cabry
- ART and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, University Hospital and School of Medicine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France
- PERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, Amiens, France
| | - Véronique Bach
- PERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, Amiens, France
| | - Mounir Ajina
- Service of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Habib Ben Ali
- Laboratory Histology Embryology, Faculty of Medicine Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Moncef Benkhalifa
- ART and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, University Hospital and School of Medicine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France
- PERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, Amiens, France
| | - Hafida Khorsi-Cauet
- ART and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, University Hospital and School of Medicine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France
- PERITOX-(UMR-I 01), UPJV/INERIS, UPJV, CURS, Chemin du Thil, Amiens, France
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Hashemi Karoii D, Azizi H. Functions and mechanism of noncoding RNA in regulation and differentiation of male mammalian reproduction. Cell Biochem Funct 2023; 41:767-778. [PMID: 37583312 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are active regulators of a wide range of biological and physiological processes, including the majority of mammalian reproductive events. Knowledge of the biological activities of ncRNAs in the context of mammalian reproduction will allow for a more comprehensive and comparative understanding of male sterility and fertility. In this review, we describe recent advances in ncRNA-mediated control of mammalian reproduction and emphasize the importance of ncRNAs in several aspects of mammalian reproduction, such as germ cell biogenesis and reproductive organ activity. Furthermore, we focus on gene expression regulatory feedback loops including hormones and ncRNA expression to better understand germ cell commitment and reproductive organ function. Finally, this study shows the role of ncRNAs in male reproductive failure and provides suggestions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danial Hashemi Karoii
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Hossein Azizi
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
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Corpuz-Hilsabeck M, Mohajer N, Culty M. Dysregulation of Immature Sertoli Cell Functions by Exposure to Acetaminophen and Genistein in Rodent Cell Models. Cells 2023; 12:1804. [PMID: 37443838 PMCID: PMC10340629 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sertoli cells are essential for germ cell development and function. Their disruption by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or drugs could jeopardize spermatogenesis, contributing to male infertility. Perinatal exposure to EDCs and acetaminophen (APAP) disrupts male reproductive functions in animals and humans. Infants can be exposed simultaneously to the dietary soy phytoestrogen genistein (GEN) and APAP used for fever or pain relief. Our goal was to determine the effects of 10-100 µM APAP and GEN, alone or mixed, on immature Sertoli cells using mouse TM4 Sertoli cell line and postnatal-day 8 rat Sertoli cells, by measuring cell viability, proliferation, prostaglandins, genes and protein expression, and functional pathways. A value of 50 µM APAP decreased the viability, while 100 µM APAP and GEN decreased the proliferation. Sertoli cell and eicosanoid pathway genes were affected by GEN and mixtures, with downregulation of Sox9, Cox1, Cox2, and genes relevant for Sertoli cell function, while genes involved in inflammation were increased. RNA-seq analysis identified p53 and TNF signaling pathways as common targets of GEN and GEN mixture in both cell types. These results suggest that APAP and GEN dysregulate immature Sertoli cell function and may aid in elucidating novel EDC and drug targets contributing to the etiology of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martine Culty
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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