The different effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on estrogen receptor-mediated transcription through interaction with coactivator TRAP220 in uterine tissue

An endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) can alter endocrine functions through a variety of mechanisms, including nuclear receptor-mediated changes in protein synthesis, interference with membrane receptor binding, steroidogenesis or synthesis of other hormones. Although major chemicals have been shown to disrupt estrogenic actions mainly through their binding to estrogen receptor (ER) or androgen receptor, it is not clear how EDCs affect endocrine functions in vivo. We present evidence that the EDCs bisphenol A and phthalate activate ER-mediated transcription through interaction with TRAP220. Moreover, bisphenol A had positive effects on the interaction between ER-β and TRAP220 and on the expression of ER-β and TRAP220 compared with phthalate and estradiol in uterine tissue. These data suggested that some EDCs might alter endocrine function through the change of the receptor and coactivator levels in uterine tissue and through the different effect on the interaction between ERs and coactivator TRAP220.