A Cell-Based Method to Detect Agonist and Antagonist Activities of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on GPER

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 Aug 14:11:547. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00547. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that impact endogenous hormonal systems, resulting in adverse health effects. These chemicals can exert their actions by interfering with several pathways. Simple biological systems to determine whether EDCs act positively or negatively on a given receptor are often lacking. Here we describe a low-to-middle throughput method to screen the agonist/antagonist potential of EDCs specifically on the GPER membrane estrogen receptor. Application of this assay to 23 candidate EDCs from different chemical families reveals the existence of six agonists and six antagonists.

Keywords: GPER; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; fibroblasts; pharmacology; screening.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endocrine Disruptors / chemistry*
  • Endocrine Disruptors / classification
  • Endocrine Disruptors / pharmacology*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Receptors, Estrogen / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / agonists*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • GPER1 protein, human
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled