In utero exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, maternal factors and alterations in the epigenetic landscape underlying later-life health effects

Christy Lite; Glancis Luzeena Raja; Melita Juliet; Vasisht Varsh Sridhar; K Divya Subhashree; Praveen Kumar; Paromita Chakraborty; Jesu Arockiaraj

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2021.103779

In utero exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, maternal factors and alterations in the epigenetic landscape underlying later-life health effects

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2022 Jan:89:103779. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103779. Epub 2021 Nov 27.

Authors

Christy Lite¹, Glancis Luzeena Raja², Melita Juliet³, Vasisht Varsh Sridhar², K Divya Subhashree², Praveen Kumar⁴, Paromita Chakraborty⁵, Jesu Arockiaraj⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Biotechnology and Integrative Physiology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulatur, Chennai 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, SRM Kattankulathur Dental College and Hospital, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulatur, Chennai 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
⁴ Department of Medical Biotechnology and Integrative Physiology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India.
⁵ Environmental Science and Technology Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai 603203, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of Biotechnology, College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulatur, Chennai 603203, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 34843942
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103779

Abstract

Widespread persistence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment has mandated the need to study their potential effects on an individual's long-term health after both acute and chronic exposure periods. In this review article a particular focus is given on in utero exposure to EDCs in rodent models which resulted in altered epigenetic programming and transgenerational effects in the offspring causing disrupted reproductive and metabolic phenotypes. The literature to date establishes the impact of transgenerational effects of EDCs potentially associated with epigenetic mediated mechanisms. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of epigenetic programming and it's regulation in mammals, primarily focusing on the epigenetic plasticity and susceptibility to exogenous hormone active chemicals during the early developmental period. Further, we have also in depth discussed the epigenetic alterations associated with the exposure to selected EDCs such as Bisphenol A (BPA), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and vinclozlin upon in utero exposure especially in rodent models.

Keywords: Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Epigenetic mechanism; Human health; Metabolic outcomes; Reproduction; in utero exposure.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Endocrine Disruptors / toxicity*
Epigenesis, Genetic*
Female
Mammals
Maternal Inheritance
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*

Substances

Endocrine Disruptors