title: Endocrine disrupters, microRNAs, and primordial germ cells: a dangerous cocktail.
abstract: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental pollutants that may change the homeostasis of the endocrine system, altering the differentiation of germ cells with consequences for reproduction. In mammals, germ cell differentiation begins with primordial germ cells (PGCs) during embryogenesis. Primordial germ cell development and gametogenesis are genetically regulated processes, in which the posttranscriptional gene regulation could be mediated by small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we review the deleterious effects of exposure during fetal life to EDCs mediated by deregulation of ncRNAs, and specifically miRNAs on PGC differentiation. Moreover, the environmental stress induced by exposure to some EDCs during the embryonic window of development could trigger reproductive dysfunctions transgenerationally transmitted by epigenetic mechanisms with the involvement of miRNAs expressed in germ line cells.
authors: Center for Reproductive Genomics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
authors: Miguel Angel
authors: MA
authors: Brieño-Enríquez
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Larriba
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jdelmazo@cib.csic.es.
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Del Mazo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Endocrine disruptors; PGCs; miRNAs; reproduction; transgenerational