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New insight on “cocktail effect” of endocrine disruptors
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In a recent article published in Nature Communications, researchers identified a molecular mechanism that could contribute to the “cocktail effect” of endocrine disruptors.
“Humans are chronically exposed to multiple exogenous substances, including environmental pollutants, drugs and dietary components,” the researchers wrote. “Many of these compounds are suspected to impact human health, and their combination in complex mixtures could exacerbate their harmful effects.”
Researchers have identified the ability of some estrogens and organochlorine pesticides to bind to a receptor located in the cell nucleus, activating it synergistically. The cooperative bonding can be attributed to strong interactions at the receptor-binding site, inducing a toxic effect at lower concentrations than the individual molecules.
If the results are further confirmed in vivo, important consequences can be expected in the areas of endocrine disruption, toxicology and the evaluation of risks linked with the use of chemicals.
“Our results provide not only new insight as to how low doses of [endocrine-disrupting chemicals] or drugs may affect physiology and homeostasis, but also suggest that the concomitant binding of chemicals stabilizing each other in [nuclear receptor ligand binding domains] likely corresponds to one of the possible mechanisms accounting for the cocktail effect by which compounds’ toxicity is exacerbated.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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