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Published on: July 3, 2019
The H295R system for evaluation of endocrine-disrupting effects
Tannia Gracia1, Klara Hilscherova, Paul D Jones
1Department of Zoology, 218C National Food Safety and Toxicology Center, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1311, USA. gracia@msu.edu
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|August 29, 2006
Summary
The H295R system effectively assesses chemical impacts on steroidogenesis by measuring gene and hormone changes. However, predicting mixture effects solely from individual chemical actions is unreliable, highlighting the assay
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Toxicology
- In vitro assay development
Background:
- Steroidogenesis is a complex process crucial for various physiological functions.
- Assessing chemical disruption of steroidogenesis is vital for environmental and health risk evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the H295R cell line system as an in vitro assay for chemical modulation of steroidogenesis.
- To examine the effects of model chemicals and their mixtures on steroidogenic gene expression and hormone production.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the H295R cell line for in vitro exposure studies.
- Assessed the expression of ten steroidogenic genes and production of three steroid hormones.
- Conducted exposures with individual model chemicals and their binary mixtures.
Main Results:
- Responses generally reflected known chemical modes of action but predicting mixture effects was challenging.
- Hormone production did not always correlate directly with gene expression levels.
- The H295R system captured integrated effects, including those from signal transduction pathways.
Conclusions:
- The H295R system is a valuable tool for examining chemical effects on steroidogenesis, integrating gene and hormone data.
- Designating chemicals as solely specific inducers or inhibitors is not advisable due to complex interactions.
- Chemical mixture effects on steroidogenesis can be unpredictable based on individual compound actions.
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