Could Kallikrein-Related Serine Peptidase 3 Be an Early Biomarker of Environmental Exposure in Young Women?

Salvatore Raimondo, Mariacira Gentile, Giusy Esposito, Tommaso Gentile, Ida Ferrara, Claudia Crescenzo, Mariangela Palmieri, Felice Cuomo, Stefania De Filippo, Gennaro Lettieri, Marina Piscopo and Luigi Montano
Additional contact information
Salvatore Raimondo: “Gentile s.a.s.” Research Center, 80054 Gragnano, Italy
Mariacira Gentile: “Gentile s.a.s.” Research Center, 80054 Gragnano, Italy
Giusy Esposito: “Gentile s.a.s.” Research Center, 80054 Gragnano, Italy
Tommaso Gentile: “Gentile s.a.s.” Research Center, 80054 Gragnano, Italy
Ida Ferrara: Medical Center “Gunè”, 80011 Acerra, Italy
Claudia Crescenzo: Clinic Center “HERA”, 80014 Giugliano, Italy
Mariangela Palmieri: Clinic Center “HERA”, 80014 Giugliano, Italy
Felice Cuomo: “Gentile s.a.s.” Research Center, 80054 Gragnano, Italy
Stefania De Filippo: “Gentile s.a.s.” Research Center, 80054 Gragnano, Italy
Gennaro Lettieri: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
Marina Piscopo: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
Luigi Montano: Andrology Unit and Service of Lifestyle Medicine in UroAndrology, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, Coordination Unit of the network for Environmental and Reproductive Health (Eco-FoodFertility Project), “Ospedale San Francesco D’Assisi”, Oliveto Citra, 84020 Salerni, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: Bisphenols and phthalates affect androgen receptor-mediated signaling that directly regulates Kallikrein-Related serine Peptidase 3 (KLK3) secretion, indicating that environmental factors may play a role in KLK3 secretion. With the aim of obtaining preliminary data on whether KLK3 could serve as an early marker of environmental pollution effects, in 61 and 58 healthy women living in a high environmental impact (HEI) and low environmental impact (LEI) area, respectively, serum KLK3 levels at different phases of menstrual cycle were measured. KLK3 values resulted in always being higher in the HEI group with respect to the LEI group. These differences were particularly relevant in the ovulatory phase (cycle day 12°–13°) of the menstrual cycle. The differences in KLK3 values during the three phases of the menstrual cycle were significant in the LEI group differently from the HEI group. In addition, higher progesterone levels were observed in the LEI group with respect to the HEI group in the luteal phase, indicating an opposite trend of KLK3 and progesterone in this phase of the menstrual cycle. Although changes in KLK3 could also depend on other factors, these preliminary data could be an early indication of an expanding study of the role of biomarkers in assessing early environmental effects for female reproductive health.

Keywords: KLK3; pollution; menstrual cycle; environmental marker; reproductive health; environmental exposure; Land of Fires; EcoFoodFertility; progesterone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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