Effects of environmental pollutants on signaling pathways in rat pituitary GH3 adenoma cells
- Division of Oncological Endocrinology, Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, I-10126 Turin (Italy)
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, I-10126 Turin (Italy)
- Division of Neurosurgery, Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, I-10126 Turin (Italy)
- Neuroendocrinology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Cusano Milanino, (MI), Italy and Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, I-20149 Milan (Italy)
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, I-10126 Turin (Italy)
An increased rate of acromegaly was reported in industrialized areas, suggesting an involvement of environmental pollutants in the pathogenesis and behavior of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Based on these premises, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of some widely diffused pollutants (i.e. benzene, BZ; bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, DEHP and polychlorinated biphenyls, PCB) on growth hormone secretion, the somatostatin and estrogenic pathways, viability and proliferation of rat GH-producing pituitary adenoma (GH3) cells. All the pollutants induced a statistically significant increase in GH secretion and interfered with cell signaling. They all modulated the expression of SSTR2 and ZAC1, involved in the somatostatin signaling, and the expression of the transcription factor FOXA1, involved in the estrogen receptor signaling. Moreover, all the pollutants increased the expression of the CYP1A1, suggesting AHR pathway activation. None of the pollutants impacted on cell proliferation or viability. Present data demonstrate that exposure to different pollutants, used at in vivo relevant concentrations, plays an important role in the behavior of GH3 pituitary adenoma cells, by increasing GH secretion and modulating several cellular signaling pathways. These observations support a possible influence of different pollutants in vivo on the GH-adenoma aggressiveness and biological behavior. - Highlights: • A link between pollutants and biological behavior of pituitary adenomas is proposed. • Different pollutants are able to induce GH secretion in GH3 cells. • Somatostatin receptor 2 and ZAC1 are downregulated. • Transcriptor factor FOXA1, involved in the estrogen receptor signaling, is induced. • AHR pathway is activated.
- OSTI ID:
- 22708037
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Research, Vol. 158; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0013-9351
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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