The pesticide hexachlorobenzene disrupts hormonal signaling and induces cell migration and invasion in human endometrial stromal cells

CHIAPPINI F; CEBALLOS L; OLIVARES C; BASTÓN JI; PONTILLO C; MIRET N; ZÁRATE L; FARINA M; SINGLA JJ; MERESMAN G; ANDREA R

Congreso; . Reunión Anual de Sociedades de Biociencias, SAIC,; 2021

Endometriosis is a chronic illness defined by the presence and growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Progesterone and estrogen signaling are disrupted, commonly resulting in progesterone resistance and estrogen dominance. Several studies suggested that endocrine disrupting chemicals such as organochlorine pesticides could be a risk factor for endometriosis. Previously, we reported that Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) acts as an endocrine disruptor in uterus and mammary gland, modulating the hormonal signaling. Is a weak ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and promotes metalloproteinase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, as well as, c-Src kinase activation in human endometrial stromal cells (T-HESC) and in rat endometriosis model. Our aim was to evaluate the HCB effect on hormonal pathways, studying Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors (ERɑ; PR) expression and activation (WB), aromatase levels (WB), and on cell migration (scratch motility assay) and invasion (transwell assay) in endometrial stromal cells (T-HESC). Moreover, we examine the dependence of AhR, c-Src, COX-2 and ER on these events. T-HESC cells were exposed to HCB (0.005, 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μM) at different lapse of time. Results show that HCB increases ERɑ levels at 0.5 and 5 µM (p