Cellular and Molecular Effects of Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in Testicular Cancer

Abstract

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are known testicular toxicants, used commonly as industrial plasticizers that are found in everyday items. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most abundant phthalate in the environment, and its primary metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) is ten-fold more potent. The purpose of this study is to examine the cellular and molecular effects of MEHP in the development of testicular cancer. Proliferation was measured for NT2 cells exposed to 10µM and 100µM MEHP at 24 and 48 hours and for cells under controlled conditions. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to determine the methylation status of the promoter region of key testicular genes post exposure to MEHP. MEHP caused a dose-dependent negative effect on proliferation and significantly altered methylation levels for key testicular genes following exposure to 10µM MEHP and 100µM, as compared to controls. This suggests that MEHP alters proliferation and methylation of testicular tumour cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.