EFFECTS OF BENZOPHENONE 2 (BP2) AND 3 (BP3) ON AUTOPHAGY IN PANCREATIC BETA CELLS IN VITRO

BECU-VILLALOBOS, DAMASIA; FERNANDEZ, MARINA OLGA; ETCHEVERRY-BONEO, LUZ; SORIANELLO, ELEONORA

VIRTUAL por la pandemia de COVID-19

Congreso; IV Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biología de la República Argentina; 2020

Sociedades de Biología de Cuyo, Córdoba y Tucumán con la participación de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología, la Sociedad de Biología de Rosario y la Sociedad Chilena de Reproducción y Desarrollo

Benzophenones, frequently used in sunscreens and food packaging as UV blockers, are considered endocrine disruptors because they bind to estrogen receptors. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of benzophenones 2 (BP2) and 3 (BP3) on pancreatic beta cell function, focusing on autophagy. Therefore, mouse pancreatic beta cell line MIN6B1 was treated with 10 µM BP2 or BP3 in the presence or absence of the autophagy-inhibitor Chloroquine (CQ, 10 µM) during 24 h. BP3 inhibited basal insulin secretion, and Ulk1 transcription. But additional effects were uncovered when autophagy was modified by CQ. CQ decreased basal insulin secretion, without preventing BP3 insulin inhibition. Both, BP2 and BP3 counteracted CQ-induced Lamp2 expression but did not compensate CQ-induced Sqstm1/p62 gene transcription. Neither BP2 nor BP3 did alter the autophagic flux when analyzed by Immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blot. In silico analysis of the regulatory regions of the genes dysregulated by BP2 or BP3 showed the presence of estrogen receptor binding sites. In conclusion, benzophenones affect cellular adaptive responses related to autophagy, and lysosomal biogenesis, and hormone secretion in pancreatic beta cells. Therefore, BP2 and BP3 are able to alter beta cell homeostasis and could lead to beta cell dysfunction. This work was supported by CONICET, ANPCyT, Fundación René Barón, and Fundación Williams. Poster: BM22. Biocell Vol 45, Supl 3, pág 19, Abstract A38, 2021.