Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences: Pilot Project: Elucidating Reproductive Cell Responses to Environmentally Prevalent Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are persistent in consumer products and the environment. Exposure to EDCs disrupts critical biological processes leading to the onset and/or enhancing the severity of diseases, such as endometriosis and endometrial cancer. Endometriosis and endometrial cancer are worldwide medical concerns affecting the female reproductive cells in the uterine epithelium. These cells also play a critical role in defense of foreign particles, such as EDCs. However, much of the research surrounding EDC effects on the female reproductive system focus on the ovaries and hormone signaling and ignore the critical function of epithelial cells as a first-line of defense. In this proposal, we aim to investigate the effects of two model EDCs on uterine epithelial cells. We anticipate that following the pilot round of funding this work will be expanded into an R01 proposal with primary uterine epithelial cells. We also anticipate that the findings in these studies will impact knowledge of women’s health diseases and will provide knowledge applicable to other epithelial cells, such as those found in the lung and impacted with inhaled exposure.