title: Assessment of estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities of the  mycotoxin zearalenone and its metabolites using in vitro  receptor-specific bioassays.
abstract: Zearalenone (ZEN) is a well-known mycotoxin present in numerous agricultural products. Humans and animals are therefore at a risk of exposure to zearalenone through consumption of contaminated food. After intake, ZEN is reduced to α- and β-zearalenol (α-ZEL and β-ZEL), zearalanone (ZAN), and α- and β-zearalanol (α-ZAL and β-ZAL). Although their estrogenicity has been well characterized, much less is known about their interaction with other nuclear receptors. This study was undertaken to investigate interactions of ZEN and its five metabolites, with the human androgen receptor (hAR) and estrogen receptor alpha (hERα). Their ability to induce hAR-mediated reporter gene expression was examined in androgen-sensitive PALM cells, whereas the effects on hERα function were assessed in MCF-7 cells using the E-Screen bioassay. We confirm that ZEN and its metabolites are full agonists for hERα and demonstrate that all six compounds tested possess hAR-mediated antagonistic activity in PALM cells, in which ZAN, α-ZAL, and β-ZAL were the most effective hAR antagonists. Overall, the observed estrogenic and anti-androgenic potencies of ZEN and its metabolites suggest that these compounds may interfere with the endocrine system by various modes of action and that further investigation is warranted into their role as endocrine disrupters in animals and humans.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Investigations, San Cecilio University Hospital, University of Granada, Granada E-18012, Spain.
authors.forename: José-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Molina-Molina
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Real
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Diaz
authors.forename: Hidaya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Belhassen
authors.forename: Abderazzak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hedhili
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torné
authors.forename: Mariana F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olea
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000187:drug effects; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D015025:Zearalenone; D008156:Luciferases; C022616:thiazolyl blue