The Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Benzophenone-3 in Concentrations Ranging from 0.001 to 10 µM Does Not Affect the Human Decidualization Process in an In Vitro Setting

Résumé fourni par la source

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as benzophenone-3 (BP-3) can have severe consequences for human reproduction by affecting critical processes during pregnancy. To shed further light on potential harmful BP-3 actions, our current study addressed the impact of BP-3 on decidualization and trophoblast invasion. Decidualization was initiated in human endometrial stromal cells (THESC) upon treatment with a mixture of cAMP, progesterone, and estradiol. In parallel to hormonal treatment, the cells were exposed to different BP-3 concentrations ranging from 0.001 µM to 10 µM. The expression of decidualization and invasion markers was determined. Moreover, trophoblastic spheroids derived from JEG-3 cells were transferred to decidualized THESC after BP-3 exposure, and spheroid attachment and invasion were analyzed. Hormonal treatment successfully initiated decidualization in THESC, which was confirmed by increased prolactin levels and IGFBP1 and NCOA-3 mRNA expression. Notably, BP-3 exposure did not affect these markers. Furthermore, BP-3 changed neither THESC proliferation nor viability nor the frequency of cells expressing MMP2/9 or TIMP1/3. Trophoblastic spheroid attachment and outgrowth into THESC were not altered through any of the BP-3 concentrations applied. Our results do not provide evidence for an influence of BP-3 on the decidualization process and the capability of trophoblast cells to adhere and invade into endometrial stromal cells.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.