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  3. The role of estrogen receptors (ERs)-Notch pathway in thyroid toxicity induced by Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure: Population data and in vitro studies

The role of estrogen receptors (ERs)-Notch pathway in thyroid toxicity induced by Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure: Population data and in vitro studies

  • Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Dec 1:269:115727. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115727.
Xueting Zhang 1,  Yuezhu Zhang 1,  Xin Feng 1,  Haotang Zhao 1,  Hui Ye 1,  Xiaoqi Fang 1,  Jianwei Cui 1,  Wen Qi 2,  Lin Ye 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China.
  • 2 Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China. Electronic address: 287715230@qq.com.
  • 3 Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China. Electronic address: jlyelin@163.com.
PMID: 38042133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115727
Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess the exposure level and risk of Di-2-ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) among adults in Jilin Province, China, clarify the impact of DEHP on human thyroid function, and to explore the role of estrogen receptors (ERs)-Notch signaling pathway in the effect of DEHP metabolites on thyroid Hormones based on population data and in vitro experiments.

Methods: 312 adults participated in this study. Urinary DEHP metabolites were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS). Two pharmacokinetic models were used to evaluate the estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) of the adults. Multiple linear regression and mediating effect models were used to evaluate the target associations. In cell experiments, thyroid follicular epithelial (Nthy-ori3-1) cells were exposed to mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) for testing. The inhibitions of ERα and Notch pathway were conducted by siRNA and Notch pathway inhibitor DAPT.

Results: The detection rate of five DEHP metabolites was 97.1∼100.0%. The HQ value of 0.3% of adults was higher than 1. The levels of urinary DEHP metabolites were significantly correlated with thyrotropin (TSH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) and gene (Estrogen Receptor α (ERα), Notch1, Dll4) levels. The ERα-Notch pathway played a mediating role in the association between DEHP metabolite levels and FT4. The cell results showed, the levels of FT3 and FT4 in cell supernatant decreased after MEHP exposure, and the downward trend was reversed after ERα and Notch pathways were inhibited, Notch pathway genes also decreased after ERα inhibition.

Conclusion: Adults in the Jilin Province of China were widely exposed to DEHP. ERs-Notch pathway played an important role in the effect of DEHP metabolites on thyroid Hormones.

Keywords

DEHP metabolites; Estrogen receptor; Notch; Risk assessment.

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