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Polluted Pathways: Mechanisms of Metabolic Disruption by Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Mizuho S Mimoto1, Angel Nadal2, Robert M Sargis3

  • 1Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism; Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Current Environmental Health Reports
|April 23, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Environmental toxicants, known as metabolism disrupting chemicals (MDCs), contribute to the global rise in diabetes. Understanding their molecular mechanisms is key to developing targeted therapies for MDC-mediated diabetes.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Endocrinology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Environmental toxicants are increasingly linked to metabolic health decline.
  • Diabetes is a growing global health concern with complex etiologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of metabolism disrupting chemicals (MDCs) in impairing energy homeostasis.
  • To review the role of MDCs in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, particularly diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on MDCs and metabolic health.
  • Analysis of pathways affected by MDCs in various tissues.
  • Examination of MDCs' impact on developmental windows and circadian rhythms.

Main Results:

  • MDCs perturb various pathways involved in fuel utilization and energy homeostasis.
  • MDCs can potentiate traditional metabolic risk factors like caloric excess.
  • MDCs have deleterious effects on metabolic programming during critical developmental periods.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding MDC mechanisms is crucial for predicting interactions with metabolic risk factors.
  • Targeted therapeutics can be developed to treat MDC-mediated diabetes.
  • Further research into MDCs' role in circadian disruption and developmental programming is warranted.
Keywords:
DiabetesEDCsEndocrine disruptorGlucose intoleranceInsulin resistanceMDCsMetabolic syndromeMetabolismObesity

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