Bisphenol a exposure promotes the migration of NCM460 cells via estrogen receptor-mediated integrin β1/MMP-9 pathway

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial chemical and also an environmental endocrine disruptor (EED), which serves as a monomer in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. BPA enters human body mainly through oral intake, and has been reported as being linked to oncogenesis in many tissues. However, the association of BPA intake with gastrointestinal cancer, such as colon cancer, has received less attention. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of BPA on the migration of normal colon epithelial cells (NCM460 cells) and further elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Our data showed that 1 × 10(-8) M (equivalent to environmental concentration) of BPA potently promoted the migration of NCM460 cells. Interestingly, BPA treatment induced an increase of integrin β1 expression, and the functional blocking of integrin β1 abolished the migration-promoting effects of BPA. Moreover, the results showed that it was estrogen receptor β but not estrogen receptor α that was involved in this migration promotion. In addition, cellular exposure of BPA stimulated the expression and activity of MMP-9, a well-known factor of cell migration. Taken together, these results indicate that environmental concentration of BPA exposure promotes cell migration through activating ERβ-mediated integrin β1/MMP-9 pathway, suggesting exposure to BPA in the colon may present a potential cancer risk. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 799-807, 2016.