Modulation of cytokine expression in human macrophages by endocrine-disrupting chemical Bisphenol-A

Exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) is often associated with dysregulated immune homeostasis, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, the effects of BPA on the cytokines responses of human macrophages were investigated. Treatment with BPA increased pro-inflammation cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production, but decreased anti-inflammation cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) production in THP1 macrophages, as well as in primary human macrophages. BPA effected cytokines expression through estrogen receptor α/β (ERα/β)-dependent mechanism with the evidence of ERα/β antagonist reversed the expression of cytokines. We also identified that activation of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal cascade marked the effects of BPA on cytokines expression. Our results indicated that BPA effected inflammatory responses of macrophages via modulating of cytokines expression, and provided a new insight into the link between exposure to BPA and human health.     

Perinatal exposure to bisphenol-A impairs learning-memory by concomitant down-regulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors of hippocampus in male offspring mice

Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been shown to influence development of the brain and behaviors. The purpose of the present report was to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to BPA on learning/memory and its mechanism of action, especially focusing on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Perinatal maternal exposure to BPA at 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/d significantly extended the escape length to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze, and BPA at 0.5 or 5 mg/kg/d markedly decreased the percentage of time spent in the quadrant where the platform had been during training both in postnatal day (PND) 21 and PND 56 mice. The results of passive avoidance test showed that the error frequency to step down from a platform after received footshock was significantly increased, and the latency of the step-down response onto the grid floor 24 h after received footshock was obviously reduced by exposure to BPA at 5 and 50 mg/kg/d (P < 0.01) in the PND 21 offspring or at 50 mg/kg/d in the PND 56 offspring (P < 0.01). Furthermore, perinatal exposure to BPA significantly inhibited the expressions of NMDAR subunits NR1, NR2A, and 2B in the hippocampus during the development stage, especially in PND 56 mice. The expressions of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in both PND 21 and PND 56 mice were markedly down-regulated by BPA at 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/d. These results indicate that perinatal exposure to BPA affects normal behavioral development in both spatial memory and avoidance memory, and also permanently influences the behavior of offspring in adulthood. The inhibition of expressions of NMDAR subunits and ERβ in hippocampus during postnatal development stage may be involved.     

围产期母鼠染毒双酚A对雄性子代脑内谷氨酸N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体发育的影响

为了探讨围生期双酚A (bisphenol A,BPA) 暴露对雄性子代大鼠海马和前皮层谷氨酸N- 甲基-D- 天冬氨酸受体(N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor, NMDAR) 表达的影响,作者通过对妊娠第7 天至仔鼠出生后21 天的母鼠灌胃染毒BPA (200, 50, 5, 0.5 mg/(kg·d)),用Western-blot法分别检测出生后4、7、14、21、56 天的雄性仔鼠海马和前皮层NMDA 受体NR1、NR2A、2B 亚基的表达。结果显示,在海马区,较低剂量(0.5～50 mg/(kg·d))BPA 剂量依赖性地下调NMDA 受体各亚基表达,而高剂量(200 mg/(kg·d)) BPA 最显著下调NR1 表达,却对
NR2A、2B的影响最小;但所有BPA剂量组的NMDA受体亚基表达均显著低于对照组。在前皮层,NMDAR 亚基表达对BPA 的敏感性相对较低,只有较高剂量(50～200 mg/(kg·d)) BPA 可明显下调NR2A、2B 亚基表达。此外,BPA 明显改变NMDAR 的亚基组成,NR2A/NR1 和NR2B/NR1 比值在海马区被200 mg/(kg·d) BPA 上调,在前皮层却被0.5 mg/(kg·d) BPA 上调;其它剂量BPA 均下调两脑区的该比值。以上结果提示,母体围生期双酚A 暴露下调NMDA 受体表达和亚基组成,这可能是BPA 影响雄性子代脑发育的机制之一。     

Metabolic treatment of syndrome linked with Parkinson's disease and hypothalamus pituitary gonadal hormones by turmeric curcumin in Bisphenol-A induced neuro-testicular dysfunction of wistar rat

The metabolic shift in cholinesterase activity and inhibitor of hypothalamus pituitary gonadal hormones were hypothesized as resultant effect of Parkinson's disease (PD) which is clinically characterized by a movement disorder. This study therefore examined the effect of turmeric curcumin (CUR) on index of PD, acetylcholine esterase activity and disorder of hypothalamus pituitary gonadal hormone (HPGH) in Bisphenol-A induced injury using animal model. Forty adult male albino rats were randomly distributed into five (n = 8) groups. Group I: vehicle control (olive oil 0.5 ml), Group II was given 50 mg/kg of BPA only, Group III was given 50 mg/kg BPA + 50 mg/kg curcumin, Group IV was given 50 mg/kg BPA + 100 mg/kg curcumin and Group V was administered 50 mg/kg of curcumin only for 14 days. The study examined the effect of curcumin on acetylcholineesterase (AChE) activity, nitric oxide radical (NO^?) production, HPGH (LH, FSH and testosterone), MDA level, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), in BPA induced male rat. Sperm parameters were similarly examined. The animals induced with BPA exhibited impairment to striatum, leydig cells and sertoli cells by depleting LH, FSH, testosterone and spermatozoa with reduced AChE activity and significant (p < 0.05) alteration in cerebral enzymatic antioxidants. Locomotive activity was impeded followed by the increase of brain NO^? level (marker of pro-inflammation). Therapeutically, CUR promoted hypothalamus–pituitary–testicular hormones via modulation of AChE and locomotive activities, reduction of intracellular NO^? level, prevention of striatum-endocrine injury as well as oxidative damage. Hence, CUR abolished HPGH dysfunction linked with PD mediated by BPA in rat.     

Exposure to bisphenol-A affects fear memory and histone acetylation of the hippocampus in adult mice

Bisphenol-A (BPA), an environmental endocrine disruptor, has been reported to possess weak estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, and anti-androgen properties. Previous evidence indicates that perinatal exposure to low levels of BPA affects anxiety-like and cognitive behaviors in adult rodents. The present study aims to investigate the effect of BPA on emotional memory using the contextual fear conditioning of male mice in adulthood exposed to BPA for 90 days. The results indicated that exposure to BPA increased the freezing time 1 h and 24 h after fear conditioning training. Furthermore, western blot analyses showed that BPA exposure decreased the level of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor subunit NR1 and increased the expression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) before fear conditioning training in the hippocampus of male mice. One and twenty-four hours after fear conditioning training, BPA enhanced the changes of the expressions of NR1, phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2), and histone acetylation induced by contextual fear conditioning in the hippocampus. These results suggest that long term exposure to BPA enhanced fear memory by the concomitant increased level of NMDA receptor and/or the enhanced histone acetylation in the hippocampus, which may be associated with activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway.     

Developmental exposure to low-dose estrogenic endocrine disruptors alters sex differences in exploration and emotional responses in mice

Estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EEDs) are naturally occurring or man-made compounds present in the environment that are able to bind to estrogen receptors and interfere with normal cellular development in target organs and tissues. There is mounting evidence that EEDs can interfere with the processes of sexual differentiation of brain and behavior in different animal models. We investigated the effects of maternal exposure to EEDs, at concentrations within the range of human exposure and not patently teratogenic, on behavioral responses of male and female house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) before and after puberty. Pregnant dams were trained to spontaneously drink daily doses of corn oil with or without the estrogenic plastic derivative, bisphenol A (BPA 10 microg/kg), or the estrogenic insecticide methoxychlor (MXC 20 microg/kg) from gestation day 11 to postpartum day 8. Their male and female offspring were examined at different ages to examine several components of explorative and emotional behaviors in 3 experimental paradigms: a novelty test before puberty and, as adults, a free-exploratory open-field test and the elevated plus maze test. The main results are sex differences in control mice on a number of behavioral responses at both ages and in all experimental paradigms, while perinatal exposure to BPA or MXC decreased or eliminated such sex differences. The present findings are evidence of long-term consequences of developmental exposure to BPA and MXC on neurobehavioral development and suggest a differential effect of low-dose exposure to these estrogenic chemicals in males and females.     

Bisphenol-A suppresses neurite extension due to inhibition of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in PC12 cells

An endocrine disrupter, bisphenol-A is widely used in the production of plastics and coatings. Recently, it was reported that bisphenol-A affected neurotransmitters in the mammalian brain. On the basis of these reports, it was considered that bisphenol-A affected neuronal differentiation. In this study, the morphological changes in nerve growth factor (NFG)-induced differentiation caused by bisphenol-A were confirmed using a PC12 cell system. When a low concentration of bisphenol-A was added to medium containing NGF, it inhibited neurite extension. In addition, to clarify whether bisphenol-A affects the early and late stages of the NGF-signaling pathway in cell differentiation, changes of phosphorylation of MAP kinases and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) in PC12 cells treated with and without BPA in medium containing NGF were investigated using western blot analysis. As results, bisphenol-A significantly inhibited phosphorylation of CREB and ERK1/2 MAPK.     

Maternal and developmental toxicity of Bisphenol-A in SWR/J mice

Bisphenol-A (BPA), an organic compound with two phenol functional groups, is a widely used industrial plasticizer with known estrogenic properties. It is used in the manufacture of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. This study was designed to evaluate and assess the possible toxicity arising from the oral administration of BPA to pregnant mice. Pregnant SWR/J mice (15 mice/group) were administrated oral doses of BPA (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day) over the course of five-day intervals during gestation (D1-5, D6-10 and D11-15), while control groups received only corn oil. The results indicated that BPA was associated with a reduction in the body weight of the pregnant mice from around 2–3 days after administration until the end of gestation. The greatest effects were evident when the BPA was given during the later stages of pregnancy, and with higher doses. They also showed marked reduction in food intake and, to a lesser extent, in water intake. Furthermore, doses of BPA induced a reduction in implantation sites, lower foetal body weight and increased mortality rates. Abortion and foetal resorption rates were not affected by BPA administration, however. The above findings were concluded by discussing the possible mechanisms involved in producing these effects.     

围产期母体染毒双酚A对雄性子代脑内雌激素β受体和芳香酶表达的影响

为了探讨环境雌激素双酚A (bisphenol-A,BPA)对子代发育期脑内雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER）和芳香化酶P450arom表达的影响,对妊娠第7天至哺乳期(仔鼠出生后21天)的母鼠灌胃染毒BPA(200、50、5、0.5mg·kg-1/d),用Western-blot法分别检测出生后4、7、14、21、56天雄性仔鼠的海马及前皮层ERβ和P450arom蛋白表达。结果显示,BPA剂量依赖性地上调前皮层和海马P450arom表达,抑制ERβ蛋白表达。在皮层,出生后4~56天各时间点的P450arom和ERβ表达对BPA都很敏感,其中200、50 或5mg·kg原1/d BPA组与对照组相比有显著差异(P＜0.05,P＜0.01 或P＜0.001);在海马内,BPA对生后发育早期P450arom和ERβ表达的影响更为明显,出生后2周内,200 和50mg·kg-1/d BPA组与对照组相比有显著差异(P＜0.05,P＜0.01或P＜0.001)。以上结果提示,母体围产期BPA暴露可通过上调P450arom而促进雄性子鼠皮层和海马的雌激素合成,并由此抑制ERβ表达。这可能是BPA影响雄性子代脑发育的机制之一。