In vitro evaluation for estrogenic mechanisms of the disinfectant benzalkonium chloride as an emerging contaminant

Autor: Songyi Wei, Xianmin Hu, Xinyi Hu, Yisheng Wan, Guangquan Fan, Jun Wang
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, Vol 56 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1414-431X
1414-431x
DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x2023e12784
Popis: This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the possible mechanisms underlying the estrogenic potential of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) as a disinfectant emerging contaminant. Effects of BAC at the environmentally-relevant concentrations on estrogen synthesis and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling were assessed using the H295R steroidogenesis assay and the MCF-7 proliferation assay, respectively. Results showed that exposure to BAC at concentrations of 1.0-1.5 mg/L for 48 h significantly increased estradiol production of H295R cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Transcription of steroidogenic genes 3β‐HSD2, 17β‐HSD1, 17β‐HSD4, and CYP19A were significantly enhanced by BAC. In ER-positive MCF-7 cells, exposure to 0.5-1.5 mg/L BAC for 48 h significantly promoted cell proliferation and increased the expressions of ERα and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 0.5-1.5 mg/L BAC significantly decreased the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase, increased the percentage in S phase, and BAC at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.5 mg/L increased the G2/M phase cells. Findings of the study suggested that BAC at environmentally-relevant concentrations might act as a xenoestrogen through its inhibitory effect on steroidogenesis and ER-mediated mechanism.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals