title: Endocrine disrupting compounds: can they target the immune system of fish?
abstract: Endocrine disruption, in particular disruption by estrogen-active compounds, has been identified as an important ecotoxicological hazard in the aquatic environment. Research on the impact of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) on wildlife has focused on disturbances of the reproductive system. However, there is increasing evidence that EDCs affect a variety of physiological systems other than the reproductive system. Here, we discuss if EDCs may be able to affect the immune system of fish, as this would have direct implications for individual fitness and population growth. Evidence suggesting an immunomodulatory role of estrogens in fish comes from the following findings: (a) estrogen receptors are expressed in piscine immune organs, (b) immune gene expression is modulated by estrogen exposure, and (c) pathogen susceptibility of fish increases under estrogen exposure.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland. ayako.casanova@vetsuisse.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casanova-Nakayama
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burki
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eppler
authors.forename: Aleksei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krasnov
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Segner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005399:Fishes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical