Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are key elements in vascular homeostasis. Their function is regulated by estrogens and estrogen receptors (ERs), but the effect of estrogenic compounds such as bisphenol A (BPA; an agonist of ER-β and agonist and antagonist of ER-α) and (R,R)-5,11-diethyl-5,6,11,12-tetrahydro-2,8-chrysenediol (THC; an agonist of ER-α and antagonist of ER-β) on human EPCs is unknown. We analyzed whether BPA and THC influence the migration of human EPCs, an essential process in endothelial regeneration, in both male and female EPCs.
Methods: EPCs isolated from healthy adult men and women were assayed for ER expression by Western blotting and chemotaxis assay.
Results: Male and female EPCs similarly expressed ERs and did not differ in basal migration. Interestingly, 17-β-estradiol (10(-9) and 10(-10) M) significantly inhibited migration in female EPCs but not in males. Moreover, both 10(-5) M THC and 10(-8) M BPA blocked migration in female EPCs, allowing us to hypothesize that the effect is mediated by ER-α.
Conclusions: Estrogenic compounds have a sex divergent effect which could help in understanding differences in the pathophysiology of endothelial function observed between men and women.
© 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.