Oestradiol potentiates the effects of certain pyrethroid compounds in the MCF7 human breast carcinoma cell line.
Pyrethroids are the most widely used insecticides for indoor pest control, so human exposure to them is common. The main target of pyrethroids is the nervous system, but their endocrine disrupting capabilities may also be of toxicological concern. In the present study, the proliferation of the breast cancer cell line, MCF7, was studied after a 7-day exposure to various concentrations of pyrethrin, permethrin and cypermethrin. The effects of oestradiol and the combined effects of oestradiol (0.10 nM) and pyrethroids (0.1-100 microM) on MCF7 cell proliferation were also evaluated. Proliferation and cell toxicity were studied by measuring the ATP content with a luminescence method, and mitochondrial metabolic enzyme activity with the WST-1 test. In the ATP test, low concentrations (0.1-1 microM) of pyrethroids in co-exposure with oestradiol caused a clear statistically significant increase in the proliferation of MCF7 cells. This was evident when compared to the proliferative effect caused by 0.1 nM oestradiol alone. High concentrations were cytotoxic, and the greatest cell toxicity was that of cypermethrin, which has a cyano group in its molecular structure.
Kakko
Irma
I
Cell Research Centre, Medical School, University of Tampere, Finland. irma.kakko@uta.fi
Toimela
Tarja
T
Tähti
Hanna
H
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D049449:Luminescence; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017160:cypermethrin; D004958:Estradiol; D026023:Permethrin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010088:Oxidoreductases