Characterizing properties of non-estrogenic substituted bisphenol analogs using high throughput microscopy and image analysis

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 13;12(7):e0180141. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180141. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Animal studies have linked the estrogenic properties of bisphenol A (BPA) to adverse effects on the endocrine system. Because of concerns for similar effects in humans, there is a desire to replace BPA in consumer products, and a search for BPA replacements that lack endocrine-disrupting bioactivity is ongoing. We used multiple cell-based models, including an established multi-parametric, high throughput microscopy-based platform that incorporates engineered HeLa cell lines with visible ERα- or ERβ-regulated transcription loci, to discriminate the estrogen-like and androgen-like properties of previously uncharacterized substituted bisphenol derivatives and hydroquinone. As expected, BPA induced 70-80% of the estrogen-like activity via ERα and ERβ compared to E2 in the HeLa prolactin array cell line. 2,2' BPA, Bisguaiacol F, CHDM 4-hydroxybuyl acrylate, hydroquinone, and TM modified variants of BPF showed very limited estrogen-like or androgen-like activity (< 10% of that observed with the control compounds). Interestingly, TM-BFP and CHDM 4-hydroxybuyl acrylate, but not their derivatives, demonstrated evidence of anti-estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity. Our findings indicate that Bisguaiacol F, TM-BFP-ER and TM-BPF-DGE demonstrate low potential for affecting estrogenic or androgenic endocrine activity. This suggest that the tested compounds could be suitable commercially viable alternatives to BPA.

MeSH terms

  • Benzhydryl Compounds / pharmacology
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / metabolism
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / chemistry
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hydroquinones / pharmacology
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Microscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phenols / pharmacology
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects*

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • ESR1 protein, human
  • ESR2 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Estrogens, Non-Steroidal
  • Hydroquinones
  • Phenols
  • bisphenol A
  • hydroquinone