Integrated Bioinformatics, Environmental Epidemiologic and Genomic Approaches to Identify Environmental and Molecular Links between Endometriosis and Breast Cancer

Environmental Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Its Association with Endometriosis Risk: Implications in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process

We aimed to explore the relationship of adipose tissue concentrations of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with the risk of endometriosis and the endometriotic tissue expression profile of genes related to the endometriosis-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. This case-control study enrolled 109 women (34 cases and 75 controls) between January 2018 and March 2020. Adipose tissue samples and endometriotic tissues were intraoperatively collected to determine concentrations of nine POPs and the gene expression profiles of 36 EMT-related genes, respectively. Associations of POPs with endometriosis risk were explored with multivariate logistic regression, while the relationship between exposure and gene expression profiles was assessed through Spearman correlation or Mann-Whitney U tests. After adjustment, increased endometriosis risk was associated with p,p'-DDT, PCB-180, and ΣPCBs. POP exposure was also associated with reduced gene expression levels of the CLDN7 epithelial marker and increased levels of the ITGB2 mesenchymal marker and a variety of EMT promoters (HMGA1, HOXA10, FOXM1, DKK1, CCR1, TNFRSF1B, RRM2, ANG, ANGPT1, and ESR1). Our findings indicate that exposure to POPs may increase the risk of endometriosis and might have a role in the endometriosis-related EMT development, contributing to the disease onset and progression. Further studies are warranted to corroborate these findings.

Doppler ultrasonographic scan, gene expression and serum profile of immune, APPs and antioxidant markers in Egyptian buffalo-cows with clinical endometritis

The objective of this study was to elaborate Doppler ultrasonographic scan, genetic resistance and serum profile of markers associated with endometritis susceptibility in Egyptian buffalo-cows. The enrolled animals were designed as; twenty five apparently healthy buffalo-cows considered as a control group and twenty five infected buffalo with endometritis. There were significant (p < 0.05) increased of cervical diameter, endometrium thickness, uterine horn diameter, TAMEAN, TAMAX and blood flow through middle uterine artery with significant decrease of PI and RI values in endometritis buffalo-cows. Gene expression levels were considerably higher in endometritis-affected buffaloes than in resistant ones for the genes A2M, ADAMTS20, KCNT2, MAP3K4, MAPK14, FKBP5, FCAMR, TLR2, IRAK3, CCl2, EPHA4, and iNOS. The RXFP1, NDUFS5, TGF-β, SOD3, CAT, and GPX genes were expressed at substantially lower levels in endometritis-affected buffaloes. The PCR-DNA sequence verdicts of healthy and affected buffaloes revealed differences in the SNPs in the amplified DNA bases related to endometritis for the investigated genes. However, MAP3K4 elicited a monomorphic pattern. There was a significant decrease of red blood cells (RBCs) count, Hb and packed cell volume (PCV) with neutrophilia, lymphocytosis and monocytosis in endometritis group compared with healthy ones. The serum levels of Hp, SAA, Cp, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, NO and MDA were significantly (P˂0.05) increased, along with reduction of CAT, GPx, SOD and TAC in buffalo-cows with endometritis compared to healthy ones. The variability of Doppler ultrasonographic scan and studied genes alongside alterations in the serum profile of investigated markers could be a reference guide for limiting buffalo endometritis through selective breeding of natural resistant animals.

Expression Profiles of Genes Related to Development and Progression of Endometriosis and Their Association with Paraben and Benzophenone Exposure

Increasing evidence has been published over recent years on the implication of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including parabens and benzophenones in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has been published on the ways in which exposure to EDCs might affect cell-signaling pathways related to endometriosis. We aimed to describe the endometriotic tissue expression profile of a panel of 23 genes related to crucial cell-signaling pathways for the development and progression of endometriosis (cell adhesion, invasion/migration, inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation/hormone stimulation) and explore its relationship with the exposure of patients to parabens (PBs) and benzophenones (BPs). This cross-sectional study included a subsample of 33 women with endometriosis from the EndEA study, measuring their endometriotic tissue expressions of 23 genes, while urinary concentrations of methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-paraben, benzophenone-1, benzophenone-3, and 4-hydroxybenzophenone were determined in 22 women. Spearman's correlations test and linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. The expression of 52.2% of studied genes was observed in >75% of endometriotic tissue samples and the expression of 17.4% (n = 4) of them in 50-75%. Exposure to certain PB and BP congeners was positively associated with the expression of key genes for the development and proliferation of endometriosis. Genes related to the development and progression of endometriosis were expressed in most endometriotic tissue samples studied, suggesting that exposure of women to PBs and BPs may be associated with the altered expression profile of genes related to cellular pathways involved in the development of endometriosis.

Phthalate exposure and risk of ovarian dysfunction in endometriosis: human and animal data

Objective: We aimed to explore the correlations between and possible mechanisms of common environmental endocrine disruptors, phthalates, and ovarian dysfunction in endometriosis. Methods: Subjects were included in the case group (n = 107) who were diagnosed with endometriosis by postoperative pathology in Fujian Maternal and Child Hospital from February 2018 to February 2021, and the women who were excluded from endometriosis by surgery were as the control group (n = 70). The demographic information of the subjects were evaluated by questionnaire, and the clinical characteristics were evaluated by medical records and 3-year follow-up results. Gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry was used to quantify 10 metabolites of phthalates, including dimethyl ortho-phthalate (DMP), mono-n-methyl phthalate (MMP), dioctyl ortho-phthalate (DEP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), di-n-butyl ortho-phthalate (DBP), mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBzP), mono-benzyl; phthalate (MBzP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), in the urine samples of the subjects. Furthermore, a total of 54 SD rats were exposed to DEHP 0, 5, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2000, and 3,000 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. The SD rats' body weight, oestrus cycle changes, and serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels were evaluated. After sacrifice, the mass index of the rat uterus and bilateral ovaries were calculated. Finally, bioinformatics analysis of rat ovarian tissues was performed to explore the possible mechanism. SPSS 24.0 (IBM, United States) was used for data analysis. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The human urinary levels of DMP (p < 0.001), MMP (p = 0.001), DEP (p = 0.003), MEP (p = 0.002), DBP (p = 0.041), MBP (p < 0.001), BBzP (p = 0.009), DEHP (p < 0.001), and MEHP (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in controls. Notably, DEHP was a significant risk factor for endometriosis (OR: 11.0, 95% CI: 5.4-22.6). The area under the ROC curve increased when multiple phthalates were diagnosed jointly, reaching 0.974 as the highest value, which was helpful for the diagnosis of endometriosis. In vivo experiments showed that after DEHP exposure in rats, the mass index of the ovary and uterus decreased in a dose-dependent manner; the oestrus cycle of SD rats was irregularly prolonged and disordered; and the serum AMH level was negatively correlated with the DEHP exposure dose (Rho = -0.8, p < 0.001). Bioinformatics analysis of rat ovarian tissues showed that seven genes involved in the steroid biosynthesis pathway were upregulated and may play a negative role in ovarian function. Conclusion: Exposure to phthalates, especially DEHP, is associated with the occurrence of endometriosis and affects women's reproductive prognosis and ovarian function. The steroid biosynthesis pathway may be related to ovarian dysfunction. The detection of phthalate in urine may become a new biological target for the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Influence Hub Genes Associated with Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among men in the world. Its prevention has been limited because of an incomplete understanding of how environmental exposures to chemicals contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of aggressive PCa. Environmental exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may mimic hormones involved in PCa development. This research aims to identify EDCs associated with PCa hub genes and/or transcription factors (TF) of these hub genes in addition to their protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. We are expanding upon the scope of our previous work, using six PCa microarray datasets, namely, GSE46602, GSE38241, GSE69223, GSE32571, GSE55945, and GSE26126, from the NCBI/GEO, to select differentially expressed genes based on |log2FC| (fold change) ≥ 1 and an adjusted p-value < 0.05. An integrated bioinformatics analysis was used for enrichment analysis (using DAVID.6.8, GO, KEGG, STRING, MCODE, CytoHubba, and GeneMANIA). Next, we validated the association of these PCa hub genes in RNA-seq PCa cases and controls from TCGA. The influence of environmental chemical exposures, including EDCs, was extrapolated using the chemical toxicogenomic database (CTD). A total of 369 overlapping DEGs were identified associated with biological processes, such as cancer pathways, cell division, response to estradiol, peptide hormone processing, and the p53 signaling pathway. Enrichment analysis revealed five up-regulated (NCAPG, MKI67, TPX2, CCNA2, CCNB1) and seven down-regulated (CDK1, CCNB2, AURKA, UBE2C, BUB1B, CENPF, RRM2) hub gene expressions. Expression levels of these hub genes were significant in PCa tissues with high Gleason scores ≥ 7. These identified hub genes influenced disease-free survival and overall survival of patients 60-80 years of age. The CTD studies showed 17 recognized EDCs that affect TFs (NFY, CETS1P54, OLF1, SRF, COMP1) that are known to bind to our PCa hub genes, namely, NCAPG, MKI67, CCNA2, CDK1, UBE2C, and CENPF. These validated differentially expressed hub genes can be potentially developed as molecular biomarkers with a systems perspective for risk assessment of a wide-ranging list of EDCs that may play overlapping and important role(s) in the prognosis of aggressive PCa.

Urinary phthalate metabolite and BPA concentrations in women with cervical cancer

Environmental pollutants are involved in the development and progression of numerous cancers, including cervical cancer (CC). One possible explanation for this is the ability of several pollutants to mimic natural hormones. This study aimed to evaluate the urinary concentrations of monoesters of phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) in women with CC. A total of 45 women were included: 15 in the control group, 12 with CC diagnosis classified in early stages IA-IIB, and 18 in late stages III-IV. Urine samples were analyzed for BPA, mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), and mono 2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass detector. The detection rate of environmental pollutants was 100%, with a median concentration in the control group and early-, and late-stage groups of 10.4, 9.2, 4.3, 38.4, and 12.9 µg L^-1; 3.1, 3.1, 151.1, 54.5, and 30.4 µg L^-1 and 1.9, 92.8, 3.6, 31.0, and 9.3 µg L^-1 for BPA, MEHP, MBzP, MBP, and MiBP, respectively This study reveals high levels of phthalates, particularly MEHP, in urine samples of women with CC associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible role of phthalates in synergy with HPV in progression to CC.

Endocrine disruptors and endometriosis

Endometriosis is a hormone-dependent inflammatory gynecological disease of reproductive-age women. It is clinically and pathologically characterized by the presence of functional endometrium as heterogeneous lesions outside the uterine cavity. The two major symptoms are chronic pelvic pain and infertility, which profoundly affect women's reproductive health and quality of life. This significant individual and public health concerns underscore the importance of understanding the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous agents that interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, signaling, or metabolism of hormones responsible for homeostasis, reproduction, and developmental processes. Endometriosis has been potentially linked to exposure to EDCs. In this review, based on the robust literature search, we have selected four endocrine disruptors (i) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)s (ii) dioxins (TCDD) (iii) bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs and (iv) phthalates to elucidate their critical role in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis. The epidemiological and experimental data discussed in this review indicate that these four EDCs activate multiple intracellular signaling pathways associated with proinflammation, estrogen, progesterone, prostaglandins, cell survival, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and growth of endometriosis. The available information strongly indicates that environmental exposure to EDCs such as PCBs, dioxins, BPA, and phthalates individually or collectively contribute to the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of how these EDCs establish endometriosis and therapeutic strategies to mitigate the effects of these EDCs in the pathogenesis of endometriosis are timely needed. Moreover, understanding the interactive roles of these EDCs in the pathogenesis of endometriosis will help regulate the exposure to these EDCs in reproductive age women.

Integrated bioinformatic analysis to understand the association between phthalate exposure and breast cancer progression

Phthalates have been extensively used as plasticizers while manufacturing plastic-based consumer products. Estradiol mimicking properties and association studies suggest phthalates may contribute to breast cancer (BC). We performed an in-silico analysis and functional studies to understand the association between phthalate exposure and BC progression. Search for phthalate-responsive genes using the comparative toxicogenomics database identified 20 genes as commonly altered in response to multiple phthalates exposure. Of the 20 genes, 12 were significantly differentially expressed between normal and BC samples. In BC samples, 9 out of 20 genes showed a negative correlation between promoter methylation and its expression. AHR, BAX, BCL2, CAT, ESR2, IL6, and PTGS2 expression differed significantly between metastatic and non-metastatic BC samples. Gene set enrichment analysis identified metabolism, ATP-binding cassette transporters, insulin signaling, and type II diabetes as highly enriched pathways. The diagnostic assessment based on 20 genes expression suggested a sensitivity and a specificity >0.91. The aberrantly expressed phthalate interactive gene influenced the overall survival of BC patients. Drug-gene interaction analysis identified 14 genes and 523 candidate drugs, including 19 BC treatment-approved drugs. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthlate (DEHP) exposure increased the growth, proliferation, and migration of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in-vitro. DEHP exposure induced morphological changes, actin cytoskeletal remodeling, increased ROS content, reduced basal level lipid peroxidation, and induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). The present approach can help to explore the potentially damaging effects of environmental agents on cancer risk and understand the underlined pathways and molecular mechanisms.

Urinary phthalate concentrations and mortality risk: A population-based study

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers. Laboratory-based mechanistic and epidemiological studies suggest that phthalates are detrimental to human health. Here, we present prospective analyses on phthalate exposure and all-cause, as well as cause-specific, mortality from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a population-based cohort. Between 1999 and 2018, urinary concentrations of 12 phthalate metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in spot urine samples of 10,881 adults aged 40-85 years, of which 2382 died over a median duration of 8.9 years after sample provision. Multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusted for a wide range of lifestyle factors and comorbidities showed that higher concentrations of mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) were associated with increased mortality. The hazard ratios for participants in the highest quartiles of MBzP and MnBP concentrations were at 1.27 [95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.49; p _{linear trend} = 0.002] and 1.35 [1.13, 1.62; p _{linear trend} = 0.005). These findings reinforce the need for monitoring of phthalate exposure in relation to health outcomes.

Persistent dysregulation of genes in the development of endometriosis

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects women of child-bearing age. Since the etiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis have not been fully elucidated, it is important to investigate the mechanisms that lead to the deterioration of endometriosis.

METHODS

In this study, the transcriptome data of patients with normal, mild, and severe endometriosis were examined using the GSE51981 dataset obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Short Time Series Expression Miner (STEM) was used to screen the genes with continuous expression disorder in the development process, and the core genes were identified by constructing a protein-protein interaction network. The molecular mechanisms of endometriosis were examined using enrichment analysis. Finally, the transcription factors that regulate the core genes were predicted and the comprehensive mechanisms involved in the development of endometriosis were examined.

RESULTS

A total of 3,472 differentially expressed genes were identified from the normal, mild, and severe endometriosis samples. These were allocated into 12 modules and HRAS, HSP90AA1, TGFB1, TP53, and UBC were selected as the core genes. Enrichment analysis showed that the genes in modules 6, 7, and 9 were significantly related to oxygen levels, metallic processes, and hormone levels, respectively. Transcription factor prediction analysis showed that TP53 regulates HRAS to participate in immune related signaling pathways. Drug prediction analysis identified 792 drugs that interact with the targeted core genes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study explored the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of endometriosis and identified potential biomarkers of endometriosis. This data may provide novel targets and research directions for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.

Alteration of the N6-methyladenosine epitranscriptomic profile in synthetic phthalate-treated human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells

Background: This study aimed to characterize the N6-methyladenosine epitranscriptomic profile induced by mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) exposure using a human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cell model. Methods: A multiomic approach was employed by performing RNA sequencing in parallel with an N6-methyladenosine-specific microarray to identify mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs affected by MEHP exposure. Results: An integrative multiomic analysis identified relevant biological features affected by MEHP, while functional assays provided a phenotypic characterization of these effects. Transcripts regulated by the epitranscriptome were validated with quantitative PCR and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation. Conclusion: The authors' profiling of the epitranscriptome expands the scope of toxicological insights into known environmental toxins to under surveyed cellular contexts and emerging domains of regulation and is, therefore, a valuable resource to human health.

Brain infiltration of breast cancer stem cells is facilitated by paracrine signaling by inhibitor of differentiation 3 to nuclear respiratory factor 1

Treatment options for brain metastatic breast cancer are limited because the molecular mechanism for how breast cancer cells infiltrate the brain is not fully understood. For breast tumors to metastasize to the brain first, cells need to detach from the primary tumor, enter in the blood circulation, survive within the microvascular niche, and then cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to colonize into the brain. It is critical to understand how breast cancer cells transmigrate through the BBB to prevent brain metastasis. Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) transcription factor has been reported to be highly active in several human cancers and its aberrant expression facilitates in the acquisition of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Inhibitor of differentiation protein 3 (ID3), a transcription regulating protein, induces pluripotent endothelial stem cells (ESCs). Herein, we investigated if NRF1-induced BCSCs could cross a BBB model and guiding of BCSCs by ID3-induced ESCs across the BBB. BCSCs and ESCs were subjected to functional gain/loss experiments to determine if NRF1/ID3 contributed to lineage-specific BCSCs organ entry. First, we tested whether NRF1 promoted migration of breast cancer using a BBB model consisting of BCSCs or MDA-MB231 cells, brain endothelial cell layer, and astrocytes. NRF1 overexpression increased the propensity for BCSCs and NRF1-induced MDA-MB231 cells to adhere to brain endothelial cells and migrate across a human BBB model. Increased adhesion of NRF1-induced BCSCs to ESCs^ID3 was detected. NRF1-induced BCSCs crossed through the BBB model and this was promoted by ESCs^ID3. We also showed that environmental relevant exposure to PCBs (PCB153 and PCB77) produced differential effects. Treatment with PCB153 showed increased growth of NRF1-induced BCSCs tumor spheroids and increased in vivo migration of ESCs^ID3. Exosomal ID3 released from endothelial cells also supported the growth of NRF1-induced BCSCs and provide the basis for paracrine effects by ESCs^ID3 associated with breast tumors. Xenograft experiments showed that ID3 overexpressing brain ESCs not only supported the growth of BCSC tumor spheroids but guided them to the neural crest in zebrafish. These findings show for the first time a novel role for ID3 and NRF1 by which ESCs^ID3 help guide BCSCs^NRF1 to distant metastatic sites where they most likely facilitate the colonization, survival, and proliferation of BCSCs. This knowledge is important for pre-clinical testing of NRF1/ID3 modifying agents to prevent the spread of breast cancer to the brain.

Urinary concentration of endocrine-disrupting phthalates and breast cancer risk in Indian women: A case-control study with a focus on mutations in phthalate-responsive genes

BACKGROUND

Phthalates are known endocrine-disrupting chemicals used indiscriminately as constituents in consumer products including food processing, and packaging, cosmetics, personal care and household items. Although, few studies have assessed the risk of breast cancer on exposure to phthalates, their association with breast cancer risk in Indian women have not yet been evaluated.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study involving 171 participants. Urinary concentrations of six phthalate dieters; DMP (Dimethyl phthalate), DEP (Diethyl phthalate), DBP (Dibutyl phthalate), BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate), DEHP (Di-2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate), DINOP (Di-n-octyl phthalate) were estimated by GC-MS and geometric means were calculated. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess breast cancer risk on exposure to phthalates. Genes responsive to phthalates were identified through literature search and matched with NGS data, and gene-enrichment analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Significant associations were observed between urinary phthalate concentrations and increased risk of breast cancer for di-butyl phthalate (OR=1.5, 95% CI; 1.06, 2.11, p = 0.002) and di-2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate (>median vs ≤ median; OR=2.97, 95% CI; 1.18, 7.47, p = 0.005) in multivariable analyses. We also found several phthalate-responsive gene mutations in paired breast tumor tissues, which include PTPRD (76.19%), AR (42.86%), CYP1A1 (42.86%), CYP19A1 (23.81%), AHRR (19.05%), PIK3CA (19.05%), CYP1B1 (9.52%), RB1 (9.52%) and MMP9 (9.52%). Gene-enrichment analysis revealed that these genes form a major part of ER/PR, PPAR and HIF-1α-TGF-β signaling cascades involved in breast cancer CONCLUSION: Although the sample size is small, in this first case-control study from India, DBP and DEHP were found to be associated with increased risk of invasive breast cancer and tumor tissues revealed mutations in several phthalate-responsive genes. It is, therefore suggested that human biomonitoring in India and larger studies evaluating the early life genetic and epigenetic alterations on phthalates exposure are required to establish their role in breast carcinogenesis.

Urinary bisphenol A and its interaction with CYP17A1 rs743572 are associated with breast cancer risk

OBJECTIVE

Bisphenol A (BPA), a common endocrine disrupter, can be activated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) metabolizing enzymes and might influence the development of breast cancer (BC). We hypothesized that BPA could interact with CYP genes, synergistically contributing to the BC risk.

METHODS

Urinary BPA was measured in a total of 302 newly diagnosed BC patients and 302 healthy controls by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. A set of seven CYP gene polymorphisms was genotyped by using the Sequenom MassARRAY system. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess the associations of BPA and BPA-SNP interaction with BC risk.

RESULTS

BC patients had a higher urinary BPA concentration than healthy individuals (P < 0.001). Each 1-unit increase in log-transformed urinary BPA was associated with a 54 % increased BC risk [95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.34-1.77, P < 0.001]. Individuals with the CYP19A1 rs1902580 GA + AA genotype showed a significantly higher BC risk than those with the GG genotype (OR = 1.45, 95 % CI, 1.01-2.09, P < 0.05). A significant BPA-CYP17A1 rs743572 interaction was found to be associated with a higher risk of BC (P_interaction = 0.020). Compared with low-BPA individuals carrying CYP17A1 rs743572 GG genotypes, high-BPA individuals with the GA + AA genotype had a higher BC risk, with an odds ratio of 2.49 (95 % CI, 1.52-4.13, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The positive association of BPA exposure with BC risk might be modified by CYP17A1 rs743572, providing evidence for the interaction effect of environment-genes on the etiology of BC.

Human Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and The Risk of Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol

Endometriosis is one of the gynecological disorders and its prevalence is estimated to 8.10% of reproductive-age women. In Iran, the frequency of endometriosis was reported at 29% among infertile women. The etiology of endometriosis is still unclear. Numerous environmental contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may play important roles in endometriosis development and etiology. Iranian population has relatively low levels of PCBs. However, no studies have evaluated PCBs levels in Iranian endometriosis patients so far. At present, there is no systematic review of the relationship between only PCBs exposure and the risk of endometriosis. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis protocol will be to evaluate the association between only PCBs exposure and the risk of endometriosis. PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, Embase, key journals, conferences/congress research papers, and the references of included primary studies will be searched. Observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort) in humans that investigated the association between PCBs exposure and the risk of endometriosis will be included. The outcome will be endometriosis risk in association with PCBs exposure. The primary screening and data extraction will be performed by three team members independently and will be judged by opinion with the fourth member. The modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) will be used for the quality assessment of studies. Findings from this study will recognize the association between PCBs exposure and the risk of endometriosis. Results may provide a new window for identifying the role of PCBs as environmental risk factors in relation to the development of endometriosis.

Registration number: PROSPERO; CRD42019120539

Buy-now-pay-later: Hazards to human and planetary health from plastics production, use and waste

More than 8 billion tonnes of plastic were produced between 1950 and 2015, that is 1 tonne for every man, woman and child on our planet. Global plastic production has been growing exponentially with an annual growth rate of 8.4% since 1950, equating to approximately 380 million tonnes per annum. A further 50 kg of plastic is now being produced for each person every year with production continuing to accelerate. Here, we discuss the human and planetary health hazards of all that plastic. We consider each step in the journey of these complex and pervasive industrial materials: from their synthesis predominantly from fossil fuel feedstocks, through an often-brief consumer use as plastic products, and onto waste streams as fuel, permanent landfill or as unmanaged waste in our environment, food, air and bodies.

Bioinformatics Approach for Data Capturing: The Case of Breast Cancer

Background:

With the rapid evolution in advanced computer systems and various statistical algorithms, it is now a days possible to analyze complex biological data. Bioinformatics is an interface between computational and biological assemblies. It is applied in various fields of biological as well as medical sciences.

Aim:

The manuscript aims to summarize the developments in the field of breast cancer research through the applications of bioinformatics.

Methods:

Various search engines like google, science direct, Scopus, PubMed, etc., were used for the literature survey.

Results:

It describes the bioinformatics analysis tools and models, which include mainly artificial neural network models.

Conclusion:

Bioinformatics is the evolutionary approach that is used for the capturing of data from the various case studies related to breast cancer.

Genomic loci and genetic parameters for uterine diseases in first-parity Holstein cows and associations with milk production and fertility

Based on the clinical stage (e.g., vaginal discharge) and bacterial species, several forms of uterine diseases (UD) exist and can be classified as different traits [i.e., different stages of endometritis (EM) and metritis (MET)], which may differ in their genetic background and causal physiological mechanisms. Consequently, the present study aimed to study (1) the effect of UD on 305-d lactation and fertility, (2) the estimation of heritabilities for UD traits using pedigree- and SNP-based relationships, and (3) genome-wide associations to detect significant SNP markers and to infer candidate genes for UD traits. The data set contained herd manager and veterinarian recorded UD traits of 14,810 first-lactating genotyped Holstein cows from 63 large-scale contract herds. Binary defined UD traits (healthy or diseased) according to the clinical stage were endometritis catarrhalis (EM I), endometritis mucopurulenta (EM II), endometritis purulenta (EM III), pyometra (EM IV), endometritis (EM_SOD; superordinate diagnosis = no specific clinical stage defined), and MET. The binary defined trait UDall included all EM and MET diagnoses. The prevalence of UDall was 26.7%. The effect of UD on 305-d lactation and fertility was estimated via linear and generalized linear mixed models. We applied linear single-trait animal models and threshold models to estimate pedigree- and SNP-based heritabilities for UD traits, and bivariate linear models for genetic correlation estimations between UDall with 305-d lactation and fertility traits. A diagnosis for UDall had significant unfavorable effects on the female fertility traits calving interval, interval from calving to first service, days open, and nonreturn rate after 90 d, but was unrelated to 305-d lactation records for production traits milk yield, protein yield, and fat yield. Heritabilities for UDall and EM stages were close to zero, displaying maximal values of 0.05 for pedigree and 0.07 for SNP-based relationship matrices. For MET, pedigree- and SNP-based heritabilities were <0.001 and 0.07, respectively. Genetic correlations ranged from 0.20 to 0.31 between UDall with 305-d milk, protein, and fat yield, and from 0.17 to 0.40 with fertility traits. The GWAS revealed 5 SNP on bovine chromosomes (BTA) 1, 8, 10, 23 for UDall, 5 SNP on BTA 26 for EM I, 1 SNP on BTA 19 for EM II, 4 SNP on BTA 2, 18, 20, 25 for EM III, and 4 SNP on BTA 4, 16, 20 for EM IV above the significance threshold. For EM_SOD, we identified 15 significantly associated SNP on 4 chromosomes, and 4 significant SNP on BTA 3, 20, 22, 28 for MET. Marker associations for UD traits were annotated to 24 potential candidate genes using the ENSEMBL database. Six of these genes were previously reported to be involved in uterine defense mechanisms or in endometritis. Further detected genes contribute to immune response mechanisms during bacterial infections. Different SNP significantly influenced different UD stages, explaining the inter-individual variations in clinical severity of uterine infections.

Markedly increased risk of malignancies in women with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the cancer risk in a cohort of women with newly diagnosed endometriosis.

METHODS

This retrospective, nationwide, population-based cohort study utilized data from the 10-year claims database of the Korean National Health Insurance from January 2008 to December 2018. Patients diagnosed with endometriosis between 2010 and 2013 were included; those who underwent appendectomy but were not diagnosed with endometriosis during the study period served as controls. No participant was diagnosed with cancer before enrollment. Cancer diagnoses according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, were compared between the two groups. Cancer occurrence in both groups was identified according to the diagnostic codes for different organ sites.

RESULTS

Altogether, 179,865 patients with endometriosis and 87,408 controls were analyzed, and the incidence rates of cancer were 644.3 and 543.8 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Patients with endometriosis had a significantly increased overall cancer risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-1.40; p < 0.001) than controls after adjusting for age, insurance type, and comorbidities. They had significantly increased uterine (HR, 4.59; 95% CI, 3.56-5.91; p < 0.001), ovarian (HR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.99-3.16; p < 0.001), cervical (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.49-2.28; p < 0.001), breast (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.31-1.58; p < 0.001), and thyroid cancer (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24-1.45; p < 0.001) risk. Median age at diagnosis was <50 years for all cancer types.

CONCLUSIONS

Endometriosis was associated with an increased cancer risk, specifically uterine, ovarian, cervical, breast, and thyroid cancers, suggesting that effective cancer screening for early detection of malignancies in women should be implemented in those with endometriosis.

Occurrence, removal, and environmental risk of phthalates in wastewaters, landfill leachates, and groundwater in Poland

Phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are chemical compounds whose use is exceptionally widespread in everyday materials but, at the same time, have been proven to have harmful effects on living organisms. Effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and leachates from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are important sources of phthalates with respect to naturally occurring waters. The main aim of this research was determination, mass loads, removal rates and ecological risk assessment of eight phthalates in municipal wastewaters, landfill leachates and groundwater from Polish WWTPs and MSW landfills. Solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry were used for the extraction and determination of analytes. Summed up concentrations of eight phthalates ranged from below LOD to 596 μg/L in influent wastewater with the highest concentration found for bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) (143 μg/L). The average degree of phthalate removal varies depending on the capacity of a given treatment plant with larger treatment plants coping better than smaller ones. The highest treatment efficiency for all tested treatment plants, over 90%, was reported for dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Overall concentrations of phthalates in leachates ranged from below LOD to 303 μg/L while the highest maximum concentration was registered for DEHP (249 μg/L). Overall concentrations of phthalic acid esters in groundwater from upstream monitoring wells ranged from below LOD to 1.8 μg/L and from LOD to 27.9 μg/L in samples from wells downstream of MSW landfills. The obtained data shows that diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), DEHP, and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) pose a high risk for all trophic levels being considered in effluent wastewaters. In the case of groundwater high environmental risk was recorded for DBP and DEHP for all tested trophic levels. Phthalates, in concentrations that pose a high environmental risk, are present in Polish municipal after-treatment wastewater as well as in groundwater under municipal solid waste landfills.

Environmental DNA and RNA as Records of Human Exposome, Including Biotic/Abiotic Exposures and Its Implications in the Assessment of the Role of Environment in Chronic Diseases

Most of environment-related diseases often result from multiple exposures of abiotic and/or biotic stressors across various life stages. The application of environmental DNA/RNA (eDNA/eRNA) to advance ecological understanding has been very successfully used. However, the eminent extension of eDNA/eRNA-based approaches to estimate human exposure to biotic and/or abiotic environmental stressors to understand the environmental causes of chronic diseases has yet to start. Here, we introduce the potential of eDNA/eRNA for bio-monitoring of human exposome and health effects in the real environmental or occupational settings. This review is the first of its kind to discuss how eDNA/eRNA-based approaches can be applied for assessing the human exposome. eDNA-based exposome assessment is expected to rely on our ability to capture the genome- and epigenome-wide signatures left behind by individuals in the indoor and outdoor physical spaces through shedding, excreting, etc. Records of eDNA/eRNA exposome may reflect the early appearance, persistence, and presence of biotic and/or abiotic-exposure-mediated modifications in these nucleic acid molecules. Functional genome- and epigenome-wide mapping of eDNA offer great promise to help elucidate the human exposome. Assessment of longitudinal exposure to physical, biological, and chemical agents present in the environment through eDNA/eRNA may enable the building of an integrative causal dynamic stochastic model to estimate environmental causes of human health deficits. This model is expected to incorporate key biological pathways and gene networks linking individuals, their geographic locations, and random multi-hits of environmental factors. Development and validation of monitoring of eDNA/eRNA exposome should seriously be considered to introduce into safety and risk assessment and as surrogates of chronic exposure to environmental stressors. Here we highlight that eDNA/eRNA reflecting longitudinal exposure of both biotic and abiotic environmental stressors may serve as records of human exposome and discuss its application as molecular tools for understanding the toxicogenomics basis of environment-related health deficits.

Oral exposure to low-dose bisphenol A induces hyperplasia of dorsolateral prostate and upregulates EGFR expression in adult Sprague-Dawley rats

Prostate is sensitive to endocrine hormone level, and the synergetic effect of estrogen and androgen is critical in prostate growth. The change of signal pathways caused by the imbalance of estrogen and androgen might function in the occurrence of prostate diseases. As a well-known endocrine disruptor compound, bisphenol A (BPA) can disturb the normal function of endocrine hormone and affect prostate development. This study aims to investigate effects of BPA on the dorsolateral prostate (DLP) and the related gene expression of the tissue in adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and to explore the mechanism for the effect of low-dose BPA on DLP hyperplasia. Three-month-old male SD rats were treated with BPA (10.0, 30.0, or 90.0 µg (kg.day)^-1, gavage) or vehicle (gavage) for 4 weeks. BPA significantly increased the DLP weight, the DLP organ coefficient, and the prostate epithelium height (p < 0.01) of rats dose-dependently. Microarray analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that BPA significantly upregulated the transcriptional levels of some genes, including pituitary tumor transforming gene 1, epidermal growth factor, Sh3kbp1, and Pcna. Furthermore, the expression of PCNA (p < 0.01), androgen receptor (p < 0.01), and EGF receptor (EGFR) (p < 0.001) in DLP was increased significantly by BPA treatment, and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha was also upregulated. The findings evidenced that low-dose BPA could induce DLP hyperplasia in adult rats, and the upregulated EGF/EGFR pathway that was responsive to estrogen and androgen might play an essential role in the DLP hyperplasia induced by low-dose BPA.

Association between interleukin-10 genetic polymorphisms and risk of primary open angle glaucoma in a Chinese Han population: a case-control study

AIM

To investigate the association between interleukin-10 (IL-10) genetic polymorphisms and risk of POAG through a case-control study in a Han population of China.

METHODS

A total of 210 patients with POAG and 420 normal subjects were recruited during the period from Dec. 2013 to Dec. 2016. The IL-10 -1082A>G (rs1800870), -819T>C (rs1800871) and -592C>A (rs1800872) polymorphisms were determined using iPlex GOLD SNP genotyping analysis (the SequenomMassARRAY® System, Sequenom, San Diego, USA). The association between IL-10 -1082A>G (rs1800870), -819T>C (rs1800871), and -592C>A (rs1800872) polymorphisms and risk of POAG was assessed by singlelogistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

We observed that those carrying the CC genotype of rs1800871 was associated with an increased risk of POAG when compared with those harboring the TT genotype (OR=1.84, 95%CI=1.01-3.38). Those with AA genotype of rs1800872 had a 10.62 fold risk of POAG in comparison to the CC genotype (OR=10.62, 95%CI, 3.41-33.09). A completely linkage disequilibrium was found between IL-10 rs1800871-rs1800872 (D'=1.00, r ²=0.16). The A-C-A (OR=2.60, 95%CI, 1.48-4.58) and G-T-A (OR=2.34, 95%CI, 1.42-3.86) haplotypes were associated with an increased risk of POAG, while the A-T-C haplotype showed a decreased risk of POAG (OR=0.63, 95%CI, 0.49-0.81).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that IL-10 rs1800871 and rs1800872 can be predictive factors for the pathogenesis of POAG in the Chinese population.

BPA, BPB, BPF, BADGE and BFDGE in canned beers from the Italian market

A survey of BPA, BPB, BPF, BADGE and BFDGE contamination in canned beers from the Italian market is reported. An analytical method for the determination of these five bisphenols down to 0.5 ng mL^-1 using UPLC with fluorescence detection was developed and validated. A total of 40 canned beers were collected from the market in Southern Italy and analysed. The results showed that only 14 samples were contaminated at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 ng mL^-1 by at least BPA, BPF and BADGE. No contamination by BPB and BFDGE was detected. This survey suggests that canned beers from the Italian market should represent neither a relevant source of intake of bisphenols nor a risk for consumer's health.

The effects of bisphenol A, benzyl butyl phthalate, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on estrogen receptor alpha in estrogen receptor-positive cells under hypoxia

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widely used in various consumer goods. Consequently, humans are constantly exposed to EDCs, which is associated with a variety of endocrine-related diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression under normoxia and hypoxia. First, we confirmed the effects of EDCs on ER activity using OECD Test Guideline 455. Compared to the 100% activity induced by 1 nM 17-β-estradiol (positive control), BPA and BBP exhibited 50% ERα activation at concentrations of 1.31 μM and 4.8 μM, respectively. In contrast, and consistent with previous reports, DEHP did not activate ERα. ERα is activated and degraded by hypoxia in breast cancer cells. BPA, BBP, and DEHP enhanced ERα-mediated transcriptional activity under hypoxia. All three EDCs decreased ERα protein levels under hypoxia in MCF-7 cells. The transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 was decreased and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was increased by BPA and BBP under hypoxia in MCF-7 cells, but not by DEHP. All three EDCs decreased the ERα protein expression level in Ishikawa human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells, and DEHP caused a weak decrease in VEGF secretion under hypoxia. These results demonstrate down-regulation of ERα by EDCs may influence the pathological state associated with hypoxia.

Endometriosis and cancer

Endometriosis, characterized by the presence of extra-uterine endometrium, is a common gynecologic disorder in reproductive-age women. Although the detailed molecular mechanism of etiology remains unelucidated, recent studies have gradually revealed both genetic and epigenetic backgrounds of the development of endometriosis. In clinical practice, endometriosis has been recognized as a precursor lesion of several types of malignancies and endometriosis-associated carcinoma. An imbalance between reactive oxygen species and local antioxidants has been reported to contribute to the development of endometriosis-associated carcinoma as well as the pathophysiology of this disease through a systemic inflammatory response in the peritoneal cavity. This review mainly presents an epidemiology, possible etiology of endometriosis, precursor lesions, molecular features, and the association between the microenvironmental accumulations of oxidative stress in endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer progression.

Geometric characterisation of disease modules

There is an increasing accumulation of evidence supporting the existence of a hyperbolic geometry underlying the network representation of complex systems. In particular, it has been shown that the latent geometry of the human protein network (hPIN) captures biologically relevant information, leading to a meaningful visual representation of protein-protein interactions and translating challenging systems biology problems into measuring distances between proteins. Moreover, proteins can efficiently communicate with each other, without global knowledge of the hPIN structure, via a greedy routing (GR) process in which hyperbolic distances guide biological signals from source to target proteins. It is thanks to this effective information routing throughout the hPIN that the cell operates, communicates with other cells and reacts to environmental changes. As a result, the malfunction of one or a few members of this intricate system can disturb its dynamics and derive in disease phenotypes. In fact, it is known that the proteins associated with a single disease agglomerate non-randomly in the same region of the hPIN, forming one or several connected components known as the disease module (DM). Here, we present a geometric characterisation of DMs. First, we found that DM positions on the two-dimensional hyperbolic plane reflect their fragmentation and functional heterogeneity, rendering an informative picture of the cellular processes that the disease is affecting. Second, we used a distance-based dissimilarity measure to cluster DMs with shared clinical features. Finally, we took advantage of the GR strategy to study how defective proteins affect the transduction of signals throughout the hPIN.

Polychlorinated biphenyl 104 promotes migration of endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as part of environmental contaminants, have been proved to be related to endometriosis. This study is to investigate the effect of PCB 104 on cell migration, invasion and resultant gene expression in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). Fifty-three specimens of eutopic endometrial tissues were collected from twenty-four women with endometriosis (EU-EMS) and twenty-nine women without endometriosis (EU-NON). Both EU-EMS and EU-NON were divided into the PCB 104 exposure group and the control group according to whether they were exposed to PCB 104. Primary cultured ESCs were exposed to PCB 104 at the micro molar doses (2 × 10^-3, 0.2 and 1 μmol/L) and concentrations of 2, 5 and 10 μmol/L in six-well plates. Cell mobility and proliferation assay were used to evaluate the effects of PCB 104 on the migration, invasion and proliferation of ESCs, and the effect of PCB 104 on actin cytoskeleton was also examined by immunofluorescence. Subsequently, the mRNA levels of related genes including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2, -3, -9, -10, E-cadherin, Snail, Slug and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) -2 in ESCs were examined by using real-time PCR, as well as protein levels of MMP-3 and MMP-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We explored the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-10 induced by PCB 104. Exposure to PCB 104 significantly increased the migration and invasion of ESCs. The mRNA and protein levels of MMP-3 and MMP-10 in ESCs treated with PCB 104 were higher than that in the control, with a dose- and time-dependent manner in mRNA level, while the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-2, E-cadherin, Snail and Slug did not change significantly. Taken together, PCB 104 promotes migration and invasion of ESCs by inducing the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-10, which may involved the EGFR signalling pathway.

Environmental chemicals and breast cancer: An updated review of epidemiological literature informed by biological mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Many common environmental chemicals are mammary gland carcinogens in animal studies, activate relevant hormonal pathways, or enhance mammary gland susceptibility to carcinogenesis. Breast cancer's long latency and multifactorial etiology make evaluation of these chemicals in humans challenging.

OBJECTIVE

For chemicals previously identified as mammary gland toxicants, we evaluated epidemiologic studies published since our 2007 review. We assessed whether study designs captured relevant exposures and disease features suggested by toxicological and biological evidence of genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, tumor promotion, or disruption of mammary gland development.

METHODS

We systematically searched the PubMed database for articles with breast cancer outcomes published in 2006-2016 using terms for 134 environmental chemicals, sources, or biomarkers of exposure. We critically reviewed the articles.

RESULTS

We identified 158 articles. Consistent with experimental evidence, a few key studies suggested higher risk for exposures during breast development to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dioxins, perfluorooctane-sulfonamide (PFOSA), and air pollution (risk estimates ranged from 2.14 to 5.0), and for occupational exposure to solvents and other mammary carcinogens, such as gasoline components (risk estimates ranged from 1.42 to 3.31). Notably, one 50-year cohort study captured exposure to DDT during several critical windows for breast development (in utero, adolescence, pregnancy) and when this chemical was still in use. Most other studies did not assess exposure during a biologically relevant window or specify the timing of exposure. Few studies considered genetic variation, but the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project reported higher breast cancer risk for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in women with certain genetic variations, especially in DNA repair genes.

CONCLUSIONS

New studies that targeted toxicologically relevant chemicals and captured biological hypotheses about genetic variants or windows of breast susceptibility added to evidence of links between environmental chemicals and breast cancer. However, many biologically relevant chemicals, including current-use consumer product chemicals, have not been adequately studied in humans. Studies are challenged to reconstruct exposures that occurred decades before diagnosis or access biological samples stored that long. Other problems include measuring rapidly metabolized chemicals and evaluating exposure to mixtures.

Environmental estrogen-like endocrine disrupting chemicals and breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Estrogen-mimicking endocrine disruptors (EEDs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates have been found ubiquitously throughout our environment. Although exposure to EEDs has the ability to interfere with endocrine control of reproductive function and development in both humans and wildlife, inconsistent reports have made it difficult to draw conclusions concerning the hypothesized increased risk of breast cancer associated with EEDs.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relationship between exposure to PCBs, BPA or phthalates; and risk of breast cancer in U.S. women using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data between 1999 and 2004.

METHODS

We analyzed data from female participants (20 years of age and older) collected by NHANES between 1999 and 2004 for exposure assessment based on lipid adjusted serum levels of 6 individual PCB congeners (PCB 074, 099, 118, 138, 153, and 180), the sum of dioxin-like PCBs (074 and 118), and the sum of non-dioxin-like PCBs (099 + 138 + 153 + 187). Levels of urinary BPA and seven phthalate metabolites mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-(3-caroxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MZP), and three metabolites of di (2-ehtylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): [mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP)] were obtained from the 2003-2010 yearly survey cycles in participants aged 6 years and older. Assessments of EEDs or their metabolites were analyzed in conjunction with medical and reproductive health questionnaire data. Age, race/ethnicity, age at menarche, body mass index (BMI; kg/m²), and lactation were considered as potential confounders in our final models. Geometric means (GM) were calculated to compare PCB, BPA or phthalate concentrations in women who self-reported a breast cancer diagnosis versus women who self-reported never being diagnosed with breast cancer. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between PCB, BPA or phthalate measurements and breast cancer.

RESULTS

In age, race/ethnicity, and BMI adjusted models, PCB138 was the only congener found to be significantly associated with breast cancer [OR of 3.16; 95% CI: 1.14-8.76]. We also found the sum of non-dioxin-like PCBs to be significantly associated with breast cancer [OR of 1.14; 95% CI: 1.00-1.29]. Risk of breast cancer, however, was not found to be significantly associated with phthalate, phthalate metabolites, and BPA in unadjusted or adjusted logistic regression models.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest a link between environmental exposures to PCB 138 and breast cancer. There were no significant associations between phthalates or BPA and breast cancers. These findings should be interpreted with caution because of the use of cross-sectional self-reported data and a small sample size of breast cancer subjects. Nonetheless, our finding emphasizes a need of comprehensive environmental molecular epidemiologic study to determine the potential role of environmental exposures to PCBs, phthalates, and BPA in the development of breast cancer.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Transgenerational Epigenetics and Metabolic Diseases

Exposure to environmental chemicals can produce effects on the endocrine system through epigenetic mechanisms. These can considerably decrease or increase the sensitivity of multiple hormones depending on the dose, route, or time of exposure. The exposure of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during the in utero period could be a critical window, altering the epigenome profile. Recently, several researchers suggest a role of EDCs in the obesity epidemic. In this brief review, we focused on how four EDCs (bisphenol A, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and tributyltin) may underlay transgenerational epigenetic effects. We also discuss the adipogenesis signaling pathway and the impact of exposure to individual or mixtures of EDCs on the developing endocrine system. Understanding the molecular determinants of epigenetic memory across generations will provide essential insight into how environmental exposure can affect the health of individuals, as well as subsequent generations.

Roles of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Aromatase-Dependent Cell Proliferation in Human Osteoblasts

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and its expression is influenced by environmental compounds, such as 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and β-naphthoflavone (β-NF). AhR and its downstream genes, such as CYP1A1, are considered to play a pivotal role in xenobiotic responses. AhR signaling has also been proposed to mediate osteogenesis in experimental animals, but its details have remained unclear. Therefore, in this study, we examined the possible roles of AhR in human bone. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that AhR was detected in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. We then screened AhR-target genes using a microarray analysis in human osteoblastic hFOB cells. Results of microarray and subsequent PCR analysis did reveal that estrogen metabolizing and synthesizing enzymes, such as CYP1B1 and aromatase, were increased by 3-MC in hFOB and osteosarcoma cell line, MG-63. The subsequent antibody cytokine analysis also demonstrated that interleukin-1β and -6 expression was increased by 3-MC and β-NF in hFOB cells and these interleukins were well known to induce aromatase. We then examined the cell proliferation rate of hFOB and MG-63 cells co-treated with 3-MC and testosterone as an aromatase substrate. The status of cell proliferation in both hFOB and MG-63 cells was stimulated by 3-MC and testosterone treatment, which was also inhibited by an estrogen blocker, aromatase inhibitor, or AhR antagonist. These findings indicated that AhR could regulate estrogen synthesis and metabolism in bone tissues through cytokine/aromatase signaling.

Identification of Linkages between EDCs in Personal Care Products and Breast Cancer through Data Integration Combined with Gene Network Analysis

Approximately 1000 chemicals have been reported to possibly have endocrine disrupting effects, some of which are used in consumer products, such as personal care products (PCPs) and cosmetics. We conducted data integration combined with gene network analysis to: (i) identify causal molecular mechanisms between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) used in PCPs and breast cancer; and (ii) screen candidate EDCs associated with breast cancer. Among EDCs used in PCPs, four EDCs having correlation with breast cancer were selected, and we curated 27 common interacting genes between those EDCs and breast cancer to perform the gene network analysis. Based on the gene network analysis, ESR1, TP53, NCOA1, AKT1, and BCL6 were found to be key genes to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms of EDCs in the development of breast cancer. Using GeneMANIA, we additionally predicted 20 genes which could interact with the 27 common genes. In total, 47 genes combining the common and predicted genes were functionally grouped with the gene ontology and KEGG pathway terms. With those genes, we finally screened candidate EDCs for their potential to increase breast cancer risk. This study highlights that our approach can provide insights to understand mechanisms of breast cancer and identify potential EDCs which are in association with breast cancer.

New approach to generating insights for aging research based on literature mining and knowledge integration

The proportion of the elderly population in most countries worldwide is increasing dramatically. Therefore, social interest in the fields of health, longevity, and anti-aging has been increasing as well. However, the basic research results obtained from a reductionist approach in biology and a bioinformatic approach in genome science have limited usefulness for generating insights on future health, longevity, and anti-aging-related research on a case by case basis. We propose a new approach that uses our literature mining technique and bioinformatics, which lead to a better perspective on research trends by providing an expanded knowledge base to work from. We demonstrate that our approach provides useful information that deepens insights on future trends which differs from data obtained conventionally, and this methodology is already paving the way for a new field in aging-related research based on literature mining. One compelling example of this is how our new approach can be a useful tool in drug repositioning.

Gender, Estrogen, and Obliterative Lesions in the Lung

Gender has been shown to impact the prevalence of several lung diseases such as cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Controversy over the protective effects of estrogen on the cardiopulmonary system should be of no surprise as clinical trials of hormone replacement therapy have failed to show benefits observed in experimental models. Potential confounders to explain these inconsistent estrogenic effects include the dose, cellular context, and systemic versus local tissue levels of estrogen. Idiopathic PAH is disproportionately found to be up to 4 times more common in females than in males; however, estrogen levels cannot explain why males develop PAH sooner and have poorer survival. Since the sex steroid hormone 17β-estradiol is a mitogen, obliterative processes in the lung such as cell proliferation and migration may impact the growth of pulmonary tissue or vascular cells. We have reviewed evidence for biological differences of sex-specific lung obliterative lesions and highlighted cell context-specific effects of estrogen in the formation of vessel lumen-obliterating lesions. Based on this information, we provide a biological-based mechanism to explain the sex difference in PAH severity as well as propose a mechanism for the formation of obliterative vascular lesions by estrogens.

Increased Urinary Phthalate Levels in Women with Uterine Leiomyoma: A Case-Control Study

We assessed the urinary concentration of 16 phthalate metabolites in 57 women with and without uterine leiomyoma (n = 30 and 27; respectively) to determine the association between phthalate exposure and uterine leiomyoma. To evaluate exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP); we calculated the molar sum of DEHP metabolites; ∑3-DEHP (combining mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP); mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP); and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate); ∑4-DEHP (∑3-DEHP plus mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate); and ∑5-DEHP (∑4-DEHP plus mono (2-(carboxylmethyl)hexyl) phthalate (2cx-MMHP)). The log transformed urinary levels of MEHP; MEHHP; 2cx-MMHP; ∑3-DEHP; ∑4-DEHP; and ∑5-DEHP in the leiomyoma group were significantly higher than those of controls. When we adjusted for age; waist circumference; and parity using multiple logistic regression analyses; we found log ∑3-DEHP (OR = 10.82; 95% CI = 1.25; 93.46) and ∑4-DEHP (OR = 8.78; 95% CI = 1.03; 75.29) were significantly associated with uterine leiomyoma. Our findings suggest an association between phthalate exposure and uterine leiomyoma. However; larger studies are needed to investigate potential interactions between phthalate exposure and uterine leiomyoma.

Estrogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Influencing NRF1 Regulated Gene Networks in the Development of Complex Human Brain Diseases

During the development of an individual from a single cell to prenatal stages to adolescence to adulthood and through the complete life span, humans are exposed to countless environmental and stochastic factors, including estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals. Brain cells and neural circuits are likely to be influenced by estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EEDs) because they strongly dependent on estrogens. In this review, we discuss both environmental, epidemiological, and experimental evidence on brain health with exposure to oral contraceptives, hormonal therapy, and EEDs such as bisphenol-A (BPA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalates, and metalloestrogens, such as, arsenic, cadmium, and manganese. Also we discuss the brain health effects associated from exposure to EEDs including the promotion of neurodegeneration, protection against neurodegeneration, and involvement in various neurological deficits; changes in rearing behavior, locomotion, anxiety, learning difficulties, memory issues, and neuronal abnormalities. The effects of EEDs on the brain are varied during the entire life span and far-reaching with many different mechanisms. To understand endocrine disrupting chemicals mechanisms, we use bioinformatics, molecular, and epidemiologic approaches. Through those approaches, we learn how the effects of EEDs on the brain go beyond known mechanism to disrupt the circulatory and neural estrogen function and estrogen-mediated signaling. Effects on EEDs-modified estrogen and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) signaling genes with exposure to natural estrogen, pharmacological estrogen-ethinyl estradiol, PCBs, phthalates, BPA, and metalloestrogens are presented here. Bioinformatics analysis of gene-EEDs interactions and brain disease associations identified hundreds of genes that were altered by exposure to estrogen, phthalate, PCBs, BPA or metalloestrogens. Many genes modified by EEDs are common targets of both 17 β-estradiol (E2) and NRF1. Some of these genes are involved with brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Brain Neoplasms. For example, the search of enriched pathways showed that top ten E2 interacting genes in AD-APOE, APP, ATP5A1, CALM1, CASP3, GSK3B, IL1B, MAPT, PSEN2 and TNF-underlie the enrichment of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) AD pathway. With AD, the six E2-responsive genes are NRF1 target genes: APBB2, DPYSL2, EIF2S1, ENO1, MAPT, and PAXIP1. These genes are also responsive to the following EEDs: ethinyl estradiol (APBB2, DPYSL2, EIF2S1, ENO1, MAPT, and PAXIP1), BPA (APBB2, EIF2S1, ENO1, MAPT, and PAXIP1), dibutyl phthalate (DPYSL2, EIF2S1, and ENO1), diethylhexyl phthalate (DPYSL2 and MAPT). To validate findings from Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) curated data, we used Bayesian network (BN) analysis on microarray data of AD patients. We observed that both gender and NRF1 were associated with AD. The female NRF1 gene network is completely different from male human AD patients. AD-associated NRF1 target genes-APLP1, APP, GRIN1, GRIN2B, MAPT, PSEN2, PEN2, and IDE-are also regulated by E2. NRF1 regulates targets genes with diverse functions, including cell growth, apoptosis/autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, genomic instability, neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, synaptogenesis, and senescence. By activating or repressing the genes involved in cell proliferation, growth suppression, DNA damage/repair, apoptosis/autophagy, angiogenesis, estrogen signaling, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and senescence, and inducing a wide range of DNA damage, genomic instability and DNA methylation and transcriptional repression, NRF1 may act as a major regulator of EEDs-induced brain health deficits. In summary, estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals-modified genes in brain health deficits are part of both estrogen and NRF1 signaling pathways. Our findings suggest that in addition to estrogen signaling, EEDs influencing NRF1 regulated communities of genes across genomic and epigenomic multiple networks may contribute in the development of complex chronic human brain health disorders.

Carcinogenetic mechanisms of endocrine disruptors in female cancers (Review)

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are pollutants that alter the endocrine system and are involved in carcinogenesis. EDs have multiple and complex levels of action. They can affect the synthesis, release and transport of natural hormones. In target tissues, EDs can reduce or increase the effects of natural hormones on their receptors and change signaling cascades. When ED exposure happens at critical periods of life, from embryo to puberty, they can act at doses considered safe for an adult. Furthermore, their epigenetic effects can also influence the cancer risk of future generations. The cancer mechanisms of known EDs are hereby reviewed, There are thousands of newly introduced substances whose potential endocrine-disrupting and cancer effects are completely unknown. Although there are still gaps in our knowledge, these data support the urgent need for health and environmental policies aimed at protecting the public and in particular, the developing fetus and women of reproductive age.

Endometriosis and breast cancer: A survey of the epidemiological studies

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Recent reviews have demonstrated the connection between endometriosis and breast cancer, which represents the most frequently diagnosed female cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey of available published epidemiological studies indicating the association between endometriosis and breast cancer, and simultaneously to categorize the results based on the strength of the association, with the intention of the critical evaluation of the existing data. We performed a rigorous search of the PubMed/Medline database, using the key words 'endometriosis' and 'breast cancer' for all studies published in the English language until September 2015. We found 4 retrospective cohort studies, 4 case-control studies and 3 case-cohort studies that demonstrated a notable risk for developing breast cancer among women with endometriosis. By contrast, we also found 5 case-control studies, 1 prospective cohort study, 1 case-cohort study and 1 cross-sectional study that demonstrated a negative association between endometriosis and breast cancer. In conclusion, as regards the clarification of a 'robust' or 'weak' association between endometriosis and breast cancer, no definite conclusions could be drawn, due to the limited number of studies and the limitations of each of these studies. New well-designed, prospective cohort or randomized control trials with long-term follow-up are warranted in order to provide evidence-based clinical recommendations for proper counseling, screening and treatment strategies for patients with endometriosis, and hence to improve public health.