title: Effect of estradiol and bisphenol A on human hepatoblastoma cell viability and telomerase activity.
abstract: Sex hormones from environmental and physiological sources might play a major role in the pathogenesis of hepatoblastoma in children. This study investigated the effects of estradiol and bisphenol A on the proliferation and telomerase activity of human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. The cells were divided into 6 treatment groups: control, bisphenol A, estradiol, anti-estrogen ICI 182,780 (hereinafter ICI), bisphenol A+ICI, and estradiol+ICI. Cell proliferation was measured based on average absorbance using the Cell Counting-8 assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptotic index were determined by flow cytometry. Telomerase activity was detected by polymerase chain reaction and a telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. A higher cell density was observed in bisphenol A (P<0.01) and estradiol (P<0.05) groups compared with the control group. Cell numbers in S and G2/M phases after treatment for 48 h were higher (P<0.05), while the apoptotic index was lower (P<0.05) and telomerase activities at 48 and 72 h (P<0.05) were higher in these groups than in the control group. The cell density was also higher in bisphenol A+ICI (P<0.01) and estradiol+ICI (P<0.05) groups compared with the ICI group. Furthermore, cell numbers were increased in S and G2/M phases (P<0.05), while the apoptotic index was lower (P<0.05) and telomerase activities at 48 and 72 h were higher (P<0.05) in these groups than in the ICI group. Therefore, bisphenol A and estradiol promote HepG2 cell proliferation in vitro by inhibition of apoptosis and stimulation of telomerase activity via an estrogen receptor-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Q Z
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065171:Estrogen Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D056945:Hep G2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007399:Interphase / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004958:Estradiol; D065171:Estrogen Receptor Antagonists; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D010636:Phenols; D019098:Telomerase; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds