Comperative evaluation of the toxic effects of natural and synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals on adipogenesis-related proteins in 3t3-l1 cells

Bilinmiş, İ. Comparative Evaluation of the Toxic Effects of Natural and Synthetic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on Adipogenesis-Related Proteins in 3T3-L1 Cells, Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Pharmaceutical Toxicology Program, Master Thesis, Ankara, 2024. Obesity, a serious health problem that has been rapidly increasing in the world in recent years, significantly reduces the quality of life. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances that are widely found in the environment and humans are exposed to these chemicals through different routes. Bisphenols are the most notable EDCs among these compounds. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a bisphenol derivative found especially in polycarbonate plastics and its exposure has been associated with many pathological conditions including obesity. Bisphenol F (BPF) is one of the notable analogues among the alternatives to BPA. Some natural compounds are also suspected to have endocrine disrupting properties. Phytoestrogens are the most researched natural endocrine disruptors. However, in recent years, some plant-based compounds such as resveratrol (RV), rosmarinic acid (RA) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have also been suspected to have endocrine disrupting effects. Within the scope of this thesis study, the effects of natural (RV, RA and EGCG) and synthetic (BPA, BPF) EDCs on differentiated and adipocyte-transformed 3T3-L1 fibroblasts were examined by measuring aromatase, fatty acid protective protein (FABP4), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPAR), peroxisome proliferator activating receptor gamma (PPAR) and CCAAT/enhancer protective protein beta (C/EBPβ) levels. According to the results, it was observed that EGCG, BPA and BPF applied at non-cytotoxic concentrations caused significant increases in aromatase, FABP4, PPAR and C/EBPβ levels; EGCG and BPF significantly increased PPAR levels. It was determined that RV and RA did not significantly change the measured parameters. In conclusion, it can be suggested that BPA, BPF and ECGC may cause obesogenic effects, while RV and RA do not interact with proteins that play roles in adipogenesis. Keywords: Endocrine disrupting chemicals, Bisphenol A, Bisphenol F, Rosmarinic acid, Resveratrol, Epigallocatechin gallate