IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i16p5664-d395043.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Molecular Basis for Endocrine Disruption by Pesticides Targeting Aromatase and Estrogen Receptor

Author

Listed:
  • Chao Zhang

    (Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy)

  • Tiziana Schilirò

    (Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Marta Gea

    (Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy)

  • Silvia Bianchi

    (Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy)

  • Angelo Spinello

    (National Research Council-Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) at International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34165 Trieste, Italy)

  • Alessandra Magistrato

    (National Research Council-Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM) at International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34165 Trieste, Italy)

  • Gianfranco Gilardi

    (Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy)

  • Giovanna Di Nardo

    (Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy)

Abstract

The intensive use of pesticides has led to their increasing presence in water, soil, and agricultural products. Mounting evidence indicates that some pesticides may be endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), being therefore harmful for the human health and the environment. In this study, three pesticides, glyphosate, thiacloprid, and imidacloprid, were tested for their ability to interfere with estrogen biosynthesis and/or signaling, to evaluate their potential action as EDCs. Among the tested compounds, only glyphosate inhibited aromatase activity (up to 30%) via a non-competitive inhibition or a mixed inhibition mechanism depending on the concentration applied. Then, the ability of the three pesticides to induce an estrogenic activity was tested in MELN cells. When compared to 17β-estradiol, thiacloprid and imidacloprid induced an estrogenic activity at the highest concentrations tested with a relative potency of 5.4 × 10 −10 and 3.7 × 10 −9 , respectively. Molecular dynamics and docking simulations predicted the potential binding sites and the binding mode of the three pesticides on the structure of the two key targets, providing a rational for their mechanism as EDCs. The results demonstrate that the three pesticides are potential EDCs as glyphosate acts as an aromatase inhibitor, whereas imidacloprid and thiacloprid can interfere with estrogen induced signaling.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao Zhang & Tiziana Schilirò & Marta Gea & Silvia Bianchi & Angelo Spinello & Alessandra Magistrato & Gianfranco Gilardi & Giovanna Di Nardo, 2020. "Molecular Basis for Endocrine Disruption by Pesticides Targeting Aromatase and Estrogen Receptor," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5664-:d:395043
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5664/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5664/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francisco Sánchez-Bayo & Henk A. Tennekes, 2020. "Time-Cumulative Toxicity of Neonicotinoids: Experimental Evidence and Implications for Environmental Risk Assessments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Wissem Mnif & Aziza Ibn Hadj Hassine & Aicha Bouaziz & Aghleb Bartegi & Olivier Thomas & Benoit Roig, 2011. "Effect of Endocrine Disruptor Pesticides: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-39, June.
    3. Nicolas Defarge & Eszter Takács & Verónica Laura Lozano & Robin Mesnage & Joël Spiroux de Vendômois & Gilles-Eric Séralini & András Székács, 2016. "Co-Formulants in Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Disrupt Aromatase Activity in Human Cells below Toxic Levels," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Marta Gea & Chao Zhang & Roberta Tota & Gianfranco Gilardi & Giovanna Di Nardo & Tiziana Schilirò, 2022. "Assessment of Five Pesticides as Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Effects on Estrogen Receptors and Aromatase," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Hannah M. Schluter & Hajar Bariami & Hannah Lui Park, 2024. "Potential Role of Glyphosate, Glyphosate-Based Herbicides, and AMPA in Breast Cancer Development: A Review of Human and Human Cell-Based Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Neeranuch Suwannarin & Tippawan Prapamontol & Tomohiko Isobe & Yukiko Nishihama & Yuki Hashimoto & Ampica Mangklabruks & Tawiwan Pantasri & Somporn Chantara & Warangkana Naksen & Shoji F. Nakayama, 2021. "Exposure to Organophosphate and Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Its Association with Steroid Hormones among Male Reproductive-Age Farmworkers in Northern Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-16, May.
    4. Lucia Coppola & Sabrina Tait & Enrica Fabbrizi & Monia Perugini & Cinzia La Rocca, 2022. "Comparison of the Toxicological Effects of Pesticides in Non-Tumorigenic MCF-12A and Tumorigenic MCF-7 Human Breast Cells," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Monica Lopes-Ferreira & Adolfo Luis Almeida Maleski & Leticia Balan-Lima & Jefferson Thiago Gonçalves Bernardo & Lucas Marques Hipolito & Ana Carolina Seni-Silva & Joao Batista-Filho & Maria Alice Pim, 2022. "Impact of Pesticides on Human Health in the Last Six Years in Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-19, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eva Matisová & Svetlana Hrouzková, 2012. "Analysis of Endocrine Disrupting Pesticides by Capillary GC with Mass Spectrometric Detection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-31, September.
    2. Songhee Lee & Eun Ko & Hyojin Lee & Ki-Tae Kim & Moonsung Choi & Sooim Shin, 2021. "Mixed Exposure of Persistent Organic Pollutants Alters Oxidative Stress Markers and Mitochondrial Function in the Tail of Zebrafish Depending on Sex," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Cliff Zinyemba & Emma Archer & Hanna-Andrea Rother, 2020. "Climate Change, Pesticides and Health: Considering the Risks and Opportunities of Adaptation for Zimbabwean Smallholder Cotton Growers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Michalis Koureas & George Rachiotis & Andreas Tsakalof & Christos Hadjichristodoulou, 2017. "Increased Frequency of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Allergic Rhinitis among Pesticide Sprayers and Associations with Pesticide Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-8, August.
    5. Ken Sexton & Jennifer J. Salinas & Thomas J. McDonald & Rose M. Z. Gowen & Rebecca P. Miller & Joseph B. McCormick & Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, 2013. "Biomarkers of Maternal and Fetal Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides Measured in Pregnant Hispanic Women from Brownsville, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Mária Mörtl & Ágnes Vehovszky & Szandra Klátyik & Eszter Takács & János Győri & András Székács, 2020. "Neonicotinoids: Spreading, Translocation and Aquatic Toxicity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    7. René Viñas & Yow-Jiun Jeng & Cheryl S. Watson, 2012. "Non-Genomic Effects of Xenoestrogen Mixtures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-21, July.
    8. Hannah M. Schluter & Hajar Bariami & Hannah Lui Park, 2024. "Potential Role of Glyphosate, Glyphosate-Based Herbicides, and AMPA in Breast Cancer Development: A Review of Human and Human Cell-Based Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-20, August.
    9. A Strouhova & J Velisek & A Stara, 2023. "Selected neonicotinoids and associated risk for aquatic organisms," Veterinární medicína, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(8), pages 313-336.
    10. Suphaphat Kwonpongsagoon & Chanokwan Katasila & Pornpimol Kongtip & Susan Woskie, 2021. "Application Intensity and Spatial Distribution of Three Major Herbicides from Agricultural and Nonagricultural Practices in the Central Plain of Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    11. Pornpimol Kongtip & Noppanun Nankongnab & Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul & Ariya Bunngamchairat & Jutharak Yimsabai & Aranya Pataitiemthong & Susan Woskie, 2018. "A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Biomarkers among Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
    12. Marta Gea & Chao Zhang & Roberta Tota & Gianfranco Gilardi & Giovanna Di Nardo & Tiziana Schilirò, 2022. "Assessment of Five Pesticides as Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Effects on Estrogen Receptors and Aromatase," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-10, February.
    13. Muyesaier Tudi & Huada Daniel Ruan & Li Wang & Jia Lyu & Ross Sadler & Des Connell & Cordia Chu & Dung Tri Phung, 2021. "Agriculture Development, Pesticide Application and Its Impact on the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-23, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5664-:d:395043. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.