Endocrine disruption effects of 2,2',4,4',6-pentabromodiphenylether (BDE100) in reporter gene assays

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) constitute an important group of flame retardants. 2,2',4,4',6-Pentabromodiphenylether (BDE100) is a prominent PBDE congener in some human populations. The potential of BDE100 to modulate responses mediated by the estrogen (ER), thyroid hormone (ThR) or androgen receptors (AR) were investigated by use of transactivation reporter gene assays. The African green monkey kidney CV-1 cell transiently transfected with the constructed reporter gene plasmid ERE-TATA-Luc and pUAS-tk-Luc with luciferase (Luc) under control of the estrogen response (ERE), or thyroid hormone response (ThRE) elements were used to evaluate (anti)estrogen and thyroid effects of BDE100. The (anti)androgenic potency of BDE100 was also evaluated by use of MDA-kb2 cells, which were stably transfected with MMTV-luciferase. The assays displayed appropriate responses to known natural estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2), ThR ligand triiodothyronine (T3), and the AR agonist 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 10 or 50 μM BDE100 significantly up-regulated expression of Luc under control of the ER. Antiestrogenic potency was observed for BDE100 (IC50 = 6.21 μM). Co-exposure to 50 μM BDE100 significantly enhanced expression of Luc caused by 5 nM T3. BDE100 was antiandrogenic at 10 and 50 μM with an IC50 of 28.60 μM BDE100. These results suggest that BDE100 can modulate the endocrine system in multiple ways by interfering with several hormonal signaling pathways simultaneously.