n-Butyl Benzyl Phthalate Exposure Promotes Lesion Survival in a Murine Endometriosis Model

Pooja Sharma, Jo-Yu Lynn Lee, Eing-Mei Tsai, Yu Chang and Jau-Ling Suen
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Pooja Sharma: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Jo-Yu Lynn Lee: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Eing-Mei Tsai: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Yu Chang: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
Jau-Ling Suen: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Endometriosis is an inflammatory and estrogen-dependent gynecological disease associated with exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors. n-Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), a ubiquitous plasticizer, has weak estrogenic activity, and exposure to BBP is associated with endometriosis. We aimed to elucidate the immunomodulatory effect of BBP on endometriosis development. We previously established a surgery-induced endometriosis-like murine model. In the present study, we exposed those mice to BBP 10 days prior to surgery and 4 weeks after surgery at physiologically relevant doses to mimic human exposure. Chronic exposure to BBP did not promote the growth of endometriotic lesions; however, the lesion survival rate in BBP-treated mice did increase significantly compared with control mice. Multiparametric flow cytometry showed that BBP exposure did not affect the homeostasis of infiltrated immune subsets in lesions but did enhance CD44 (adhesion marker) expression on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Blocking CD44 interactions locally inhibited endometriotic lesion growth. Immunofluorescence results further confirmed that CD44 blocking inhibited pDC infiltration and reduced the frequency of CD44 + pDCs in endometriotic tissues. BBP also disrupted the estrus cycle in these mice. This study suggests that chronic exposure to low-dose BBP may promote survival of endometriotic tissue through CD44-expressing pDCs.

Keywords: n-Butyl benzyl phthalate; CD44; dendritic cell; endometriosis (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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