title: Environmental Xenoestrogens Super-Activate a Variant Murine ER Beta in Cholangiocytes.
abstract: High systemic levels of oestrogens are cholestatic and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)-which is characterized by hepatic ductular inflammation-is thought to be triggered by exposure to xenobiotics such as those around landfill sites. Xenoestrogens may be a component of this chemical trigger. We therefore hypothesized that xenoestrogens are present at higher levels in the proximity of landfill sites. To test this hypothesis, soil samples were collected, extracts prepared and biological oestrogenic activity examined using cell-based reporter gene assays. Extracts from several sample sites around a landfill site contained a chemical(s) which activated the human ERα in a dose-dependent manner. Extracts from 3 separate control sampling sites were absent of any detectable activity. The mouse ERα and 2 variant mouse ERβ cDNAs were cloned and extracts from sample sites around a landfill site also activated these receptors. One variant murine ERβ was constitutively active when expressed in cholangiocytes, was readily inactivated by ICI182780 and activated in a dose-responsive, ICI182780-inhibitable manner by oestrogen. However, when this receptor was activated by extracts from landfill site soils, ICI182780 failed to antagonize activation. ERβ was readily detectable in murine cholangiocytes and exposing mice acutely to a pooled ER activating soil extracts also gave rise to a mild cholestatic injury. These data indicate that the environment around landfill sites may contain higher levels of xenoestrogens; that these chemicals have "super-activating" characteristics with a variant ERβ and therefore these chemicals could be a component of a xenobiotic insult that triggers PBC.
authors.affiliation: Institute Cellular Medicine, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Institute Cellular Medicine, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, UK.|Health Protection Research Unit, Wolfson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AA, UK.
authors.forename: Philip M E
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Probert
authors.affiliation: Institute Cellular Medicine, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, UK.
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lakey
authors.affiliation: Institute Cellular Medicine, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, UK.
authors.forename: Alastair C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leitch
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainability, The Key Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TQ, UK.
authors.forename: Lynsay I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: Institute Cellular Medicine, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, UK.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jowsey
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Drummond Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Institute Cellular Medicine, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, UK.|Health Protection Research Unit, Wolfson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AA, UK.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Blain
authors.affiliation: Institute Cellular Medicine, Level 4 Leech, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE24HH, UK.|Health Protection Research Unit, Wolfson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AA, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D065171:Estrogen Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D006113:United Kingdom; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D065171:Estrogen Receptor Antagonists; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: ER; biliary; cholestasis; estrogen; liver; nuclear receptor.