Analysis of Estrogenic Activity in Maryland Coastal Bays Using the MCF-7 Cell Proliferation Assay

Rehab Elfadul, Roman Jesien, Ahmed Elnabawi, Paulinus Chigbu and Ali Ishaque
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Rehab Elfadul: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1 Backbone Road, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
Roman Jesien: Maryland Coastal Bays Program, 8219 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Berlin, MD 21811, USA
Ahmed Elnabawi: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1 Backbone Road, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
Paulinus Chigbu: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1 Backbone Road, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA
Ali Ishaque: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1 Backbone Road, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) with estrogenic or estrogenic-like activity have been increasingly detected in aquatic environments and have been an issue of global concern due to their potential negative effects on wildlife and human health. This study used the MCF-7 cell proliferation assay (E-Screen) to assess the estrogenic activity profiles in Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs), a eutrophic system of estuaries impacted by human activities. Estrogenic activity was observed in all study sites tested. Water samples from MCBs increased MCF-7 cell proliferation above the negative control from 2.1-fold at site 8, located in Sinepuxent Bay close to the Ocean City Inlet, to 6.3-fold at site 6, located in Newport Bay. The proliferative effects of the sediment samples over the negative control ranged from 1.9-fold at the Assateague Island National Seashore site to 7.7-fold at the Public Landing site. Moreover, elevated cell proliferation ( p < 0.05) was observed when cells were co-exposed with 17ß-Estradiol (E2), while reduction in cell proliferation was observed when cells were co-exposed with the antagonist ICI 182, 780 suggesting that cell proliferative effects were primarily mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER). These results suggest the occurrence of some estrogenic or hormonal-like compounds in the MCBs and are consistent with our previous findings based on vitellogenin analyses.

Keywords: cell proliferation; estrogenicity; MCF-7; agonist; antagonist ICI 182, 780; ER mediated (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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