Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
Biju Balakrishnan, Anna Ponnampalam and Murray D Mitchell
University of Auckland, New Zealand
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
University of Queensland, Australia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Toxicol
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine active chemical present in polycarbonate plastics. BPA has been detected in human placental tissues at a concentration that could potentially regulate expression of genes responsible for placental functions/ development. In an ex vivo perfused placental perfusion model we have reported that BPA at environmentally relevant concentrations rapidly transferred from maternal to fetal compartment. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether BPA at environmentally relevant concentrations could affect expression of estrogen-responsive genes and cytokine production in human placental tissues. Villous and chorio-decidual explants were isolated from term placentae and treated with environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA (1 to 1000000 pM) for 24 hours. Explants and media were then collected and gene expression and cytokine production were investigated using real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. mRNA expressions of estrogen receptor â�� �±, - �² (ERâ�� �±, - �²), estrogen related receptorâ�� �³ (ERR-�³), artemin, aromatase and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were investigated. In villous explants, BPA at 10 nM concentration down regulated ER-�±, -�², artemin and IGF-1 and at 1pM concentration up regulated aromatase while in chorio-decidulal explants BPA at 10 nM concentration down regulated ER-�±, ERR-�³ and BPA at 100pm and 1pM up regulated artemin and IGF-1 mRNAs respectively. BPA exposure also showed a trend towards increased IL-1�² and decreased IL-10 production in villous explants suggesting the possibility for a shift in the TH1/TH2 cytokine production by term placenta.