Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) Triggers Systemic Para-Inflammation and is Sufficient to Induce Airway Allergic Sensitization in Mice

Climate Change, Exposome Change, and Allergy: A Review

Climate change is a major threat to human respiratory health and associated allergic disorders given its broad impact on the exposome. Climate change can affect exposure to allergens, such as pollen, dust mites, molds, as well as other factors such as temperature, air pollution, and nutritional factors, which synergistically impact the immune response to these allergens. Exposome change can differentially exacerbate allergic reactions across subgroups of populations, especially those who are more vulnerable to environmental stressors. Understanding links between climate change and health impacts can help inform how to protect individuals and vulnerable populations from adverse health effects.

Identification of the allergenic sensitizing potential of bisphenol A substitutes used in the industry

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol (BP-)A is a chemical used in Europe to produce polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin or as colour developer in thermal paper. Due to its toxicity, BPA presence was restricted by European regulations. Therefore, substitute chemicals are replacing BPA.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the allergenic sensitizing potential of 27 substitutes to BPA used in the industry.

METHODS

The expression of two costimulatory molecules and six cytokines were analysed by flow cytometry in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) exposed to the chemicals.

RESULTS

All substances except one induced overexpression of at least one receptor and were thus identified as having allergenic sensitizing potential. Based on the BMDC model, they were classified as extreme (1 out of 27), strong (20 out of 27) and moderate (5 out of 27) sensitizers. BPA was classified as a moderate sensitizer and BPF was the only substitute classified as a non-sensitizer. The more potent substitutes induced more than 2-fold secretion of CCL3, CCL4 and/or CCL5 by dendritic cells.

CONCLUSION

Most of the BPA substitutes tested in this study have an allergenic sensitizing potential; 24 of them being more potent than BPA itself. Only BPE, BPF and 2,4-BPS appeared to be weaker sensitizers than BPA.

Current knowledge on the effects of environmental contaminants in early life nutrition

Breast milk represents the optimal source of feeding for newborns, in terms of nutritional compounds and as it provides immunological, metabolic, organic, and neurological well-being. As a complex biological fluid, it consists not only of nutritional compounds but also contains environmental contaminants. Formulas through production, contact with bottles and cups, and complementary feeding can also be contaminated. The current review focuses on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and made-man xenoestrogens present in the environment and both commonly present in food sources, agricultural practices, packaging, consumer products, industry, and medical care. These contaminants are transferred by passive diffusion to breast milk and are delivered during breastfeeding. They mainly act by activating or antagonizing hormonal receptors. We summarize the effects on the immune system, gut microbiota, and metabolism. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and indirect food additives may induce tissue inflammation and polarize lymphocytes, increase proinflammatory cytokines, promote allergic sensitization, and microbial dysbiosis, activate nuclear receptors and increase the incidence of allergic, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases. Breast milk is the most important optimal source in early life. This mini-review summarizes current knowledge on environmental contaminants and paves the way for strategies to prevent milk contamination and limit maternal and infant exposure during pregnancy and the first months of life.

A multi-framework for bisphenols based on their high performance and environmental friendliness: Design, screening, and recommendations

Bisphenols (BPs) have gained significant attention due to their extensive use in the production of medical equipment, packaging materials, and everyday commodities. Urgent attention is required for assessing and identifying the risks associated with BP exposure to the environment and human health, as well as developing regulatory strategies. In this paper, 29 common BPs were selected as the research object, high-performance BP substitutes with environmental and human health friendliness characteristics were designed and screened. The above eight BP substitutes were considered as examples, and the first-level evaluation indicators of BPs and their substitutes were predicted using a random forest classification/regression model. Subsequently, the key indicators affecting the first-level evaluation indicators were ranked. The ranking results were environmental friendliness (64.30%) > human health risk (18.00%) > functionality (17.69%), indicating that environmental friendliness was the main influencing factor for the first-level evaluation indicators of BPs and their substitutes. Therefore, the study employed density functional theory (DFT) to simulate the biodegradation pathways of BPs and their substitutes in contaminated soil and landfill leachate, using Derivative-50 as an example. Furthermore, the environmental risk associated with the degradation products was evaluated, and regulatory recommendations based on risk identification were proposed.

Human Exposure to Bisphenols, Parabens, and Benzophenones, and Its Relationship with the Inflammatory Response: A Systematic Review

Bisphenols, parabens (PBs), and benzophenones (BPs) are widely used environmental chemicals that have been linked to several adverse health effects due to their endocrine disrupting properties. However, the cellular pathways through which these chemicals lead to adverse outcomes in humans are still unclear, suggesting some evidence that inflammation might play a key role. Thus, the aim of this study was to summarize the current evidence on the relationship between human exposure to these chemicals and levels of inflammatory biomarkers. A systematic review of peer-reviewed original research studies published up to February 2023 was conducted using the MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. A total of 20 articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Most of the reviewed studies reported significant associations between any of the selected chemicals (mainly bisphenol A) and some pro-inflammatory biomarkers (including C-reactive protein and interleukin 6, among others). Taken together, this systematic review has identified consistent positive associations between human exposure to some chemicals and levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, with very few studies exploring the associations between PBs and/or BPs and inflammation. Therefore, a larger number of studies are required to get a better understanding on the mechanisms of action underlying bisphenols, PBs, and BPs and the critical role that inflammation could play.

Environmental phenol exposure associates with urine metabolome alteration in young Northeast Indian females

Urinary biomonitoring delivers the most accurate environmental phenols exposure assessment. However, environmental phenol exposure-related biomarkers are required to improve risk assessment to understand the internal processes perturbed, which may link exposure to specific health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between environmental phenols exposure and the metabolome of young adult females from India. Urinary metabolomics was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Environmental phenols-related metabolic biomarkers were investigated by comparing the low and high exposure of environmental phenols. Seven potential biomarkers, namely histidine, cysteine-s-sulfate, 12-KETE, malonic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, PE (36:2), and PS (36:0), were identified, revealing that environmental phenol exposure altered the metabolic pathways such as histidine metabolism, beta-Alanine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and other pathways. This study also conceived an innovative strategy for the early prediction of diseases by combining urinary metabolomics with machine learning (ML) algorithms. The differential metabolites predictive accuracy by ML models was >80%. This is the first mass spectrometry-based metabolomics study on young adult females from India with environmental phenols exposure. The study is valuable in demonstrating multiple urine metabolic changes linked to environmental phenol exposure and a better understanding of the mechanisms behind environmental phenol-induced effects in young female adults.

CDEMI: characterizing differences in microbial composition and function in microbiome data

Microbial communities influence host phenotypes through microbiota-derived metabolites and interactions between exogenous active substances (EASs) and the microbiota. Owing to the high dynamics of microbial community composition and difficulty in microbial functional analysis, the identification of mechanistic links between individual microbes and host phenotypes is complex. Thus, it is important to characterize variations in microbial composition across various conditions (for example, topographical locations, times, physiological and pathological conditions, and populations of different ethnicities) in microbiome studies. However, no web server is currently available to facilitate such characterization. Moreover, accurately annotating the functions of microbes and investigating the possible factors that shape microbial function are critical for discovering links between microbes and host phenotypes. Herein, an online tool, CDEMI, is introduced to discover microbial composition variations across different conditions, and five types of microbe libraries are provided to comprehensively characterize the functionality of microbes from different perspectives. These collective microbe libraries include (1) microbial functional pathways, (2) disease associations with microbes, (3) EASs associations with microbes, (4) bioactive microbial metabolites, and (5) human body habitats. In summary, CDEMI is unique in that it can reveal microbial patterns in distributions/compositions across different conditions and facilitate biological interpretations based on diverse microbe libraries. CDEMI is accessible at http://rdblab.cn/cdemi/.

Effects of mammalian target of rapamycin and aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediating autophagy signaling on the balance of Th17/Treg cells during perinatal bisphenol A exposure in female offspring mice

Bisphenol A (BPA)'s immunotoxic properties have received increasing interest, which can lead to immune dysfunction and related disease development. However, the mechanism is not completely clear. A growing body of evidence suggests that autophagy has important roles in innate immunity, inflammatory response, and adaptive immunity. This study aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and autophagy in Treg/Th17 imbalance induced by perinatal BPA exposure. Our results showed that the number of Th17 cells in the spleen of offspring female mice significantly increased, while the number of Treg cells decreased significantly, which was consistent with the expression levels of up-regulation of RORγt protein and a down-regulation Foxp3 protein. The levels of mTOR, p-mTOR, P62, and AhR protein expression increased, and LC3 protein decreased in spleen. However, in the thymus, we found that RORγt and Foxp3 proteins changed most significantly in the low-dose BPA group, and the same as p-mTOR and P62 protein levels. We conjectured that the potential mechanism of the imbalance of Th17/Treg upon perinatal exposure to BPA was probably associated with autophagy dysfunction. Proper autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the thymic and spleen immune system.

Analysis of 19 urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress, nitrative stress, metabolic disorders, and inflammation using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Environmental chemical exposures have been associated with cancer, diabetes, hormonal and immunological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Some direct effects of chemical exposure that are precursors to adverse health outcomes, including oxidative stress, nitrative stress, hormonal imbalance, neutrophilia, and eosinophilia, can be assessed through the analysis of biomarkers in urine. In this study, we describe a novel methodology for the determination of 19 biomarkers of health effects: malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-isoprostaglandin-F_2α (8-PGF_2α), 11-β-prostaglandin-F_2α (11-PGF_2α), 15-prostaglandin-F_2α (15-PGF_2α), 8-iso-15-prostaglandin-F_2α (8,15-PGF_2α), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-HdG), 8-hydroxyguanine (8-HG), dityrosine (diY), allantoin (Alla), and two metabolic products of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), namely 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal glutathione (HNE-GSH) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal mercapturic acid (HNE-MA) (in total, 12 oxidative stress biomarkers, OSBs); 8-nitroguanosine (8-NdG), 8-nitroguanine (8-NG), and 3-nitrotyrosine (NY) (3 nitrative stress biomarkers, NSBs); chlorotyrosine (CY) and bromotyrosine (BY) (2 inflammatory biomarkers); and the advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) N^ε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and N^ε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) (2 metabolic disorder biomarkers). Since these biomarkers are trigged by a variety of environmental insults and produced by different biomolecular pathways, their selective and sensitive determination in urine would help broadly elucidate the pathogenesis of diseases mediated by environmental factors.

Targeting p-AKT/mTOR/MAP kinase signaling, NLRP3 inflammasome and apoptosis by fluvastatin with or without taxifolin mitigates gonadal dysfunction induced by bisphenol-A in male rats

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical substance that is widely used in industry for manufacturing of plastic bottles and resins. Recent reports found that BPA may mimic the effects of estrogen to a great manner that might disrupt the normal hormonal balance in the human body. Fluvastatin is an agent used for treatment of hypercholesterolemia that was proven to possess promising antioxidant ant anti-inflammatory properties. Taxifolin is a polyphenolic compound with potential antioxidant and antiestrogenic effects. The present study investigated the prospect of fluvastatin with or without taxifolin to mitigate testicular dysfunction elicited by BPA in rats. In a model of BPA-induced testicular toxicity, the hormonal profile was assessed and the testicular tissues were examined by biochemical analysis, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Fluvastatin with or without taxifolin improved the body weight gain, hormonal profile, testicular weight and functions, sperm characteristics, the antioxidant status, and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms together with enhancement of autophagy and suppression of the proapoptotic events induced by BPA in the testicular tissues. In addition, fluvastatin with or without taxifolin significantly mitigated the histopathological and the immunohistochemical changes induced by BPA in the testicular tissues. These desirable effects were more pronounced with fluvastatin/taxifolin combination relative to the use of each of these agents alone. In tandem, fluvastatin/taxifolin combination might counteract the pathogenic events induced by BPA in the testicular tissues which may be considered as a novel strategy for amelioration of these disorders.

Influence of o,p'-DDT on MUC5AC expression via regulation of NF-κB/AP-1 activation in human lung epithelial cells

o,p'-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (o,p'-DDT) is a representative endocrine disruptor, and exposure to o,p'-DDT may produce immune disorders and inflammation, leading to various diseases such as cancer. Chronic airway inflammation is characterized by excessive mucus secretion resulting in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mucin 5AC  (MUC5AC), one of the mucus genes, plays an important role in mucus secretion and inflammation in the airways. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of o,p'-DDT on the regulation of MUC5AC expression in human lung epithelial A549 cell line. o,p'-DDT increased mRNA levels and the promoter activity of MUC5AC. Transient transfection with mutation promoter constructs of MUC5AC demonstrated that nuclear factor kappa-b (NF-κB) and activator protein 1(AP-1) response elements were essential for the consequences of o,p'-DDT on MUC5AC expression. In addition, o,p'-DDT induced phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and Akt, which are involved in the regulation of MUC5AC expression. It is noteworthy that inhibitors of NF-κB, AP-1, Akt, and MAPKs blocked enhanced o,p'-DDT-induced MUC5AC mRNA expression. Data indicate that o,p'-DDT increase in NF-κB, and AP-1 transcriptional activation-dependent MUC5AC expression is associated with stimulation of Akt and MAPK signaling pathways in A549 cells.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their effects on puberty

Sexual maturation in humans is characterized by a unique individual variability. Pubertal onset is a highly heritable polygenic trait but it is also affected by environmental factors such as obesity or endocrine disrupting chemicals. The last 30 years have been marked by a constant secular trend toward earlier age at onset of puberty in girls and boys around the world. More recent data, although more disputed, suggest an increased incidence in idiopathic central precocious puberty. Such trends point to a role for environmental factors in pubertal changes. Animal data suggest that the GnRH-neuronal network is highly sensitive to endocrine disruption during development. This review focuses on the most recent data regarding secular trend in pubertal timing as well as potential new epigenetic mechanisms explaining the developmental and transgenerational effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on pubertal timing.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate and bisphenol A induce a similar level of mast cell activation via a common signaling pathway, Fyn-Lyn-Syk activation

Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) as food contaminants are widely distributed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and have been suggested to induce immune dysfunction. However, their effects on immune function are not conclusive. Mast cells play a central role in allergic and non-allergic inflammatory responses. Therefore, we have examined the effects of PFCs (PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS) on mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses using in vitro mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and human mast cells (HMC-1) and in vivo mice model. The effects of PFCs were compared with those of bisphenol A (BPA), a well-studied environmental pollutant. Among PFCs tested, PFOS had the highest effects. Both PFOS and BPA increased degranulation and production of inflammatory eicosanoids in mast cells at a similar level, which subsequently led to increased skin edema and serum LTC₄ and PGD₂ in mice. Both PFOS and BPA increased not only downstream signaling (PLCγ1, AKT, ERK), but also upstream signaling (Fyn, Lyn, Syk/LAT) in mast cells. Taken together, PFOS and BPA induce mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses via a common signaling pathways. Our results may help establish the scientific basis for understanding the etiology of mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses and improve the immune dysfunction risk assessment for emerging POPs such as PFCs.

Molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensor for the determination of endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A in bovine milk

Bisphenol A (BPA) contamination from food packaging material has been a major concern in recent years, due to its potential endocrine-disrupting effects on humans, especially infants and children. This paper reports the detection of BPA using an electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide coated glassy carbon electrode used for this study. Density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6-31 + G (d,p) level was used to calculate the molecular-level interaction between BPA and MIP. The pyrrole electrochemically polymerized in the presence of template molecule BPA on the electrode surface. BPA imprinted cavities were formed by removing entrapped BPA molecules from the polypyrrole film. MIP electrode was used for the determination of BPA in standard and real samples by differential pulse voltammetry. The peak current shows the linear relationship to the logarithmic concentration of BPA between 750 and 0.5 nmolL^-1 with a correlation coefficient, R² = 0.992. The limit of detection was found to be 0.2 nmolL^-1 (S/N = 3). The reproducibility and repeatability of the sensor were also studied.

Advances in Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Detection of Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are contaminants that may mimic or interfere with the body's hormones, hampering the normal functions of the endocrine system in humans and animals. These substances, either natural or man-made, are involved in development, breeding, and immunity, causing a wide range of diseases and disorders. The traditional detection methods such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chromatography are still the golden techniques for EDs detection due to their high sensitivity, robustness, and accuracy. Nevertheless, they have the disadvantage of being expensive and time-consuming, requiring bulky equipment or skilled personnel. On the other hand, early stage detection of EDs on-the-field requires portable devices fulfilling the Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and Robust, Equipment free, Deliverable to end users (ASSURED) norms. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based sensors can be easily implemented in fully automated, sample-to-answer devices by integrating electrodes in microfluidic chips. The latest achievements on EIS-based sensors are discussed and critically assessed.