In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An Overview
Xenoestrogens (XEs) are substances that imitate endogenous estrogens to affect the physiologic functions of humans or other animals. As endocrine disruptors, they can be either synthetic or natural chemical compounds derived from diet, pesticides, cosmetics, plastics, plants, industrial byproducts,...
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/8/4013 |
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| author | Li-Hsuan Wang Li-Ru Chen Kuo-Hu Chen |
| author_facet | Li-Hsuan Wang Li-Ru Chen Kuo-Hu Chen |
| author_sort | Li-Hsuan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Xenoestrogens (XEs) are substances that imitate endogenous estrogens to affect the physiologic functions of humans or other animals. As endocrine disruptors, they can be either synthetic or natural chemical compounds derived from diet, pesticides, cosmetics, plastics, plants, industrial byproducts, metals, and medications. By mimicking the chemical structure that is naturally occurring estrogen compounds, synthetic XEs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenol A (BPA), and diethylstilbestrol (DES), are considered the focus of a group of exogenous chemical. On the other hand, nature phytoestrogens in soybeans can also serve as XEs to exert estrogenic activities. In contrast, some XEs are not similar to estrogens in structure and can affect the physiologic functions in ways other than ER-ERE ligand routes. Studies have confirmed that even the weakly active compounds could interfere with the hormonal balance with persistency or high concentrations of XEs, thus possibly being associated with the occurrence of the reproductive tract or neuroendocrine disorders and congenital malformations. However, XEs are most likely to exert tissue-specific and non-genomic actions when estrogen concentrations are relatively low. Current research has reported that there is not only one factor affected by XEs, but opposite directions are also found on several occasions, or even different components stem from the identical endocrine pathway; thus, it is more challenging and unpredictable of the physical health. This review provides a summary of the identification, detection, metabolism, and action of XEs. However, many details of the underlying mechanisms remain unknown and warrant further investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:21:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5af32c5db85d46eaaa98671b7cb438d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:21:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5af32c5db85d46eaaa98671b7cb438d62023-11-21T15:25:38ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-04-01228401310.3390/ijms22084013In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An OverviewLi-Hsuan Wang0Li-Ru Chen1Kuo-Hu Chen2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, Taipei 231, TaiwanDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei 10049, TaiwanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, Taipei 231, TaiwanXenoestrogens (XEs) are substances that imitate endogenous estrogens to affect the physiologic functions of humans or other animals. As endocrine disruptors, they can be either synthetic or natural chemical compounds derived from diet, pesticides, cosmetics, plastics, plants, industrial byproducts, metals, and medications. By mimicking the chemical structure that is naturally occurring estrogen compounds, synthetic XEs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenol A (BPA), and diethylstilbestrol (DES), are considered the focus of a group of exogenous chemical. On the other hand, nature phytoestrogens in soybeans can also serve as XEs to exert estrogenic activities. In contrast, some XEs are not similar to estrogens in structure and can affect the physiologic functions in ways other than ER-ERE ligand routes. Studies have confirmed that even the weakly active compounds could interfere with the hormonal balance with persistency or high concentrations of XEs, thus possibly being associated with the occurrence of the reproductive tract or neuroendocrine disorders and congenital malformations. However, XEs are most likely to exert tissue-specific and non-genomic actions when estrogen concentrations are relatively low. Current research has reported that there is not only one factor affected by XEs, but opposite directions are also found on several occasions, or even different components stem from the identical endocrine pathway; thus, it is more challenging and unpredictable of the physical health. This review provides a summary of the identification, detection, metabolism, and action of XEs. However, many details of the underlying mechanisms remain unknown and warrant further investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/8/4013xenoestrogenbisphenolpolychlorinated biphenylsphytoestrogen |
| spellingShingle | Li-Hsuan Wang Li-Ru Chen Kuo-Hu Chen In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An Overview International Journal of Molecular Sciences xenoestrogen bisphenol polychlorinated biphenyls phytoestrogen |
| title | In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An Overview |
| title_full | In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An Overview |
| title_fullStr | In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An Overview |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An Overview |
| title_short | In Vitro and Vivo Identification, Metabolism and Action of Xenoestrogens: An Overview |
| title_sort | in vitro and vivo identification metabolism and action of xenoestrogens an overview |
| topic | xenoestrogen bisphenol polychlorinated biphenyls phytoestrogen |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/8/4013 |
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