Plastic in the ocean degrades to
microplastic, thereby enhancing the leaching of incorporated
plasticizers due to the increased particle surface. The uptake of
microplastic-derived
plasticizers by marine animals and the subsequent entry in the food chain raises concerns for adverse health effects in human beings. Frequently used
plasticizers as the
organophosphate ester tri-o-cresyl phosphate (
TOCP) are known to affect the male reproductive system. However, the overall endocrine potential of
TOCP and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive as yet. In this study, we investigated the molecular effects of
TOCP on
estrogen receptor α (ERα)-transfected HEK-ESR1 cells and the human
breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Applying virtual screening and molecular docking, we identified
TOCP as potent
ligand of ERα in silico. Microscale thermophoresis confirmed the binding in vitro with similar intensity as the natural
ligand 17-β-estradiol. To identify the molecular mechanisms of
TOCP-mediated effects, we used next-generation sequencing to analyze the gene expression pattern of
TOCP-treated MCF-7 cells.
RNA-sequencing revealed 22 differently expressed genes associated with ESR1 as upstream regulator:
CYP1A1, SLC7A11, RUNX2, DDIT4, STC2, KLHL24, CCNG2, CEACAM5, SLC7A2,
MAP1B,
SLC7A5, IGF1R, CD55, FOSL2, VEGFA, and HSPA13 were upregulated and PRKCD, CCNE1, CEBPA, SFPQ, TNFAIP2, KRT19 were downregulated. The affected genes promote
tumor growth by increasing angiogenesis and nutritional supply, favor invasion and
metastasis, and interfere with the cell cycle. Based on the gene expression pattern, we conclude
TOCP to mediate endocrine effects on MCF-7 cells by interacting with ERα.