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Metabolites
Special Issues
Effects of Chemical Exposure on Endocrine and Reproductive Functions
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Effects of Chemical Exposure on Endocrine and Reproductive Functions

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 5705

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Renata Marino Romano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Reproductive Toxicology, Department of Medicine, State University of Centro-Oeste (UNICENTRO), Rua Simeão Camargo Varela de Sa, 03, Parana 85040-080, Brazil
Interests: endocrine-disrupting chemicals; male reproductive biology; thyroid hormones; hypothalamic-pituitary testicular and thyroid axes
Dr. Caroline Serrano-Nascimento

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Interests: thyroid physiology and pathology; endocrine disruptors; epigenetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been implicated as the cause of several disorders, both in the reproductive sphere and in endocrine aspects such as metabolic regulation. Today, the recognized drop in fertility of the male population and the increasing incidence of female reproductive pathologies, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, has been associated with exposure to endocrine disruptors that affect individuals from conception and pregnancy to puberty and throughout adulthood as well. Furthermore, the increased incidence of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes, may also be associated with exposure to these agents. For example, these compounds may interfere with the normal mechanisms for regulating glycemic homeostasis or producing hormones that regulate basal metabolism. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to explore the association between exposure to EDCs and the possible development of endocrinopathies. We will accept submissions of reviews, basic sciences, and clinical studies.

Prof. Dr. Renata Marino Romano
Dr. Caroline Serrano-Nascimento
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure impact on metabolic diseases
  • reproductive failure
  • infertility
  • endocrine disorders

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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16 pages, 2868 KiB  
Article
A System Biology Approach Reveals New Targets for Human Thyroid Gland Toxicity in Embryos and Adult Individuals
by Jeane Maria Oliveira, Jamilli Zenzeluk, Caroline Serrano-Nascimento, Marco Aurelio Romano and Renata Marino Romano
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040226 - 16 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1975
Abstract
Compounds of natural or synthetic origin present in personal care products, food additives, and packaging may interfere with hormonal regulation and are called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The thyroid gland is an important target of these compounds. The objective of this study was to [...] Read more.
Compounds of natural or synthetic origin present in personal care products, food additives, and packaging may interfere with hormonal regulation and are called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The thyroid gland is an important target of these compounds. The objective of this study was to analyze public data on the human thyroid transcriptome and investigate potential new targets of EDCs in the embryonic and adult thyroid glands. We compared the public transcriptome data of adult and embryonic human thyroid glands and selected 100 up- or downregulated genes that were subsequently subjected to functional enrichment analysis. In the embryonic thyroid, the most highly expressed gene was PRMT6, which methylates arginine-4 of histone H2A (86.21%), and the downregulated clusters included plasma lipoprotein particles (39.24%) and endopeptidase inhibitory activity (24.05%). For the adult thyroid gland, the most highly expressed genes were related to the following categories: metallothionein-binding metals (56.67%), steroid hormone biosynthetic process (16.67%), and cellular response to vascular endothelial growth factor stimulus (6.67%). Several compounds ranging from antihypertensive drugs to enzyme inhibitors were identified as potentially harmful to thyroid gland development and adult function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Chemical Exposure on Endocrine and Reproductive Functions)
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Other

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48 pages, 1847 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Relationship Between Maternal Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and the Incidence of Congenital Heart Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Yasir Hassan Elhassan, Fahad Alahmadi, Emad Ali Albadawi, Abdullah Albarakati, Azizah Hendi Aljohany, Naweed SyedKhaleel Alzaman and Muayad Albadrani
Metabolites 2024, 14(12), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14120709 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1461
Abstract
Background: Congenital heart diseases are among the most common birth defects, significantly impacting infant health. Recent evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may contribute to the incidence of congenital heart diseases. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the association between maternal endocrine-disrupting [...] Read more.
Background: Congenital heart diseases are among the most common birth defects, significantly impacting infant health. Recent evidence suggests that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may contribute to the incidence of congenital heart diseases. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the association between maternal endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure and congenital heart diseases. Methodology: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA guidelines. We included studies assessing the link between maternal exposure to various endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the incidence of congenital heart diseases without restricting the study design or exposure assessment methods. Data were extracted from four databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, up to June 2024. Quality assessment of observational studies was conducted using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan software version 5.3, presenting results as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Fifty-nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed a significant association between maternal endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure and the incidence of congenital heart diseases when measured using human samples (odds ratio = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [1.35–1.97], p < 0.00001). Notably, exposure to heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and perfluoroalkyl compounds was strongly associated with congenital heart diseases. However, non-sample-based methods showed no significant overall correlation (odds ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [0.93–1.26], p = 0.30), except for housing renovation compounds, which were linked to a higher incidence of congenital heart diseases. Conclusions: Maternal exposure to specific endocrine-disrupting chemicals, particularly heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, significantly increases the risk of congenital heart diseases. These findings underscore the need for preventive measures to reduce endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure during pregnancy and further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Chemical Exposure on Endocrine and Reproductive Functions)
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20 pages, 1956 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Association between Maternal Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Exposure during Pregnancy and the Incidence of Male Urogenital Defects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Emad Ali Albadawi, Naweed SyedKhaleel Alzaman, Yasir Hassan Elhassan, Heba M. Eltahir, Mekky M. Abouzied and Muayad Saud Albadrani
Metabolites 2024, 14(9), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14090477 - 29 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1695
Abstract
The increasing incidence of hypospadias and cryptorchidism, coupled with the widespread presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), has raised concerns about the potential impact of these environmental factors on male urogenital development. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between maternal [...] Read more.
The increasing incidence of hypospadias and cryptorchidism, coupled with the widespread presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), has raised concerns about the potential impact of these environmental factors on male urogenital development. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between maternal exposure to various EDCs and the risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases from inception until May 2024. We included case-control and cohort studies that examined the association between maternal EDC exposure and hypospadias or cryptorchidism, reporting adjusted odds ratios (aOR) or crude odds ratios (cOR). Data were extracted and pooled using a random effects model, and heterogeneity was assessed using the Q test and I-square statistics. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). A total of 48 studies were included in the systematic review, with 46 studies included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed a significant association between maternal EDC exposure and an increased risk of hypospadias (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18–1.35, p < 0.0001) and cryptorchidism (aOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.19–1.57, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that exposure to pesticides, phthalates, alkyl phenolic compounds (ALKs), and heavy metals significantly increased the risk of hypospadias. In contrast, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) did not show a significant association. Significant associations were found with pesticide and PCB exposure for cryptorchidism, but not with phthalate, ALK, or heavy metal exposure. Maternal exposure to certain EDCs is associated with an increased risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism in male children. These findings underscore the importance of addressing environmental and occupational exposures during pregnancy to mitigate potential risks. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which EDCs affect urogenital development and to develop effective interventions to reduce exposure among vulnerable populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Chemical Exposure on Endocrine and Reproductive Functions)
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