Endometrial Cells Acutely Exposed to Phthalates In Vitro Do Not Phenocopy Endometriosis

Roberto Gonzalez-Martin, Roberto González-Martín, Andrea Palomar, Yassmin Medina-Laver, Alicia Quiñonero, Francisco Domı́nguez
International journal of molecular sciences · 2022 · vol. 23(19) , pp. 11041 · doi:10.3390/ijms231911041 · PMID:36232341 · PMC9569573 · W4296745035
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

Acute in vitro DEHP exposure did not alter endometrial cell viability, marker expression, or steroid receptors, but significantly increased stromal cell invasiveness, suggesting a potential link to endometriosis.

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Abstract

Environmental factors that have been linked to an increased endometriosis risk include exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine disruptor. This study aims to investigate whether DEHP in vitro exposure in primary endometrial stromal cells (EnSC), primary endometrial epithelial cells (EnEC), and the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line Ishikawa properly mimics alterations described in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Primary EnSC and EnEC, isolated from six fertile egg donors, and Ishikawa cells were exposed to DEHP (0.1, 1, and 10 µM) and were assessed for viability, endometriosis markers (IL-6, VEGF-A, HOXA10, EZH2, and LSD1), steroid receptor gene expressions (ER-1, ER-2, PR-T, PR-B, and PGRMC1), and invasive capacity. Viability after 72 h of DEHP exposure was not significantly affected. None of the endometriosis markers studied were altered after acute DEHP exposure, nor was the expression of steroid receptors. The invasive capacity of EnSC was significantly increased after 10 µM of DEHP exposure. In conclusion, acute DEHP exposure in primary endometrial cells does not fully phenocopy the changes in the viability, expression of markers, or steroidal receptors described in endometriosis. However, the significant increase in EnSC invasiveness observed after DEHP exposure could be a link between DEHP exposure and increased endometriosis likelihood.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Diethylhexyl Phthalate Endocrine Disruptors Endocrine Disruptors Endocrine Disruptors Endocrine Disruptors

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