Comparison of the Toxicological Effects of Pesticides in Non-Tumorigenic MCF-12A and Tumorigenic MCF-7 Human Breast Cells

Lucia Coppola, Sabrina Tait, Enrica Fabbrizi, Monia Perugini and Cinzia La Rocca
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Lucia Coppola: Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
Sabrina Tait: Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
Enrica Fabbrizi: Pediatric Departmental Simple Operative Unit, Civitanova Marche Hospital, ASUR Marche Area Vasta n. 3, 62100 Macerata, Italy
Monia Perugini: Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Cinzia La Rocca: Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: Humans are exposed to residues of organophosphate and neonicotinoid pesticides, commonly used in agriculture. Children are particularly vulnerable and, among possible adverse outcomes, the increased incidence of premature mammary gland development (thelarche) has raised concern. We evaluated the toxicological effects of chlorpyrifos (CPF), imidacloprid (IMI) and glyphosate (GLY) at exposure concentrations occurring in children on the tumorigenic MCF-7 and non-tumorigenic MCF-12A breast cell lines, as representative of the target organ model, assessing cytotoxicity, apoptosis, necrosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ATP levels, 17?-estradiol secretion and gene expression of nuclear receptors involved in mammary gland development. The pesticides decreased cell vitality in MCF-7 and cell proliferation in MCF-12A cells. ATP levels were decreased in MCF-7 cells by pesticides and apoptosis was increased in MCF-12A cells only by GLY (2.3 nM). ROS production was decreased by pesticides in both cell lines, except IMI (1.6 nM) in MCF-7 cells. Endocrine disrupting activity was highlighted by induction of 17?-estradiol secretion and modulation of the gene expression of estrogen alpha and beta, progesterone, androgen, and aryl hydrocarbon receptors in both cell lines. The use of MCF-7 and MCF-12A cells highlighted dissimilar modes of action of each pesticide at low human relevant concentrations.

Keywords: pesticides; herbicides; endocrine disruptors; nuclear receptors; in vitro model; mammary gland development; idiopathic premature thelarche; MCF-7; MCF-12A (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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