Endometriosis is the presence and growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Previous studies have suggested that
endocrine disrupting chemicals such as organochlorine pesticides could be a risk factor for
endometriosis.
Hexachlorobenzene (
HCB) is a weak
ligand of the
aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and promotes
metalloproteinase and
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, as well as, c-Src activation in human endometrial stromal cells (T-HESC) and in rat
endometriosis model. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of
HCB exposure on oestrogen receptor (ER) ɑ and β,
progesterone receptor (PR) and
aromatase expression, as well as, on cell migration and invasion in T-HESC and primary cultures of endometrial stromal cells from eutopic endometria of control subjects (ESC). Results show that
HCB increases ERɑ and
aromatase protein levels and reduces PR content in both T-HESC and ESC. However, the
pesticide only increases ERβ expression in ESC, without changes in T-HESC. Moreover, cell migration and invasion are promoted by
pesticide exposure involving the AhR, c-Src, COX-2 and ER pathways in T-HESC.
HCB also triggers ERɑ activation via phosphorylation in Y537 through AhR/c-Src pathway. Our results provide experimental evidence that
HCB induces alterations associated with
endometriosis, suggesting that these mechanisms could contribute to
pesticide exposure-induced
endometriosis development.