Does nonylphenol promote the growth of uterine fibroids?
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect and mechanism of action of nonylphenol (NP), an environmental oestrogen, on uterine leiomyoma (UL) cells.


METHODS
Primary culture and subculture of human UL cells, identified as smooth muscle cells by immunocytochemical staining with a monoclonal anti-α-smooth muscle actin antibody, were performed. The viability of cells treated with various concentrations of NP for 24, 48 and 72h was determined by CCK-8 assay. mRNA expression of oestrogen receptor α (ERα), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression was detected using Western blot analysis for all groups.


RESULTS
NP promoted the growth of UL cells and expression of ERα, IGF-1 and VEGF; this was positively correlated with the concentration and duration of NP treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
NP promotes the growth of UL cells. The mechanism of action appears to be over-expression of IGF-1 and VEGF, up-regulated by ERα, resulting in the growth of UL cells.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: shenyang0924@sina.cn.
Yang
Y
Shen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Mu-Lan
ML
Ren
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Xu
X
Feng
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Yong-Xing
YX
Gao
School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Qian
Q
Xu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Yun-Lang
YL
Cai
D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis
C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D010636:Phenols; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C025256:nonylphenol
ERα; Environmental oestrogen; IGF-1; Nonylphenol; Uterine leiomyoma; VEGF