An insight into sex-specific neurotoxicity and molecular mechanisms of DEHP: A critical review. (1st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yiyun; Guo, Zhiling; Zhu, Ruihong; Gou, Dongzhi; Jia, Pan-Pan; Pei, De-Sheng
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 316(2023)part 2
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Subjects: DEHP -- Neurotoxicity -- Nerve cell damage -- Sex-specific; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120673
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) is often used as an additive in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to give plastics flexibility, which makes DEHP widely used in food packaging, daily necessities, medical equipment, and other products. However, due to the unstable combination of DEHP and polymer, it will migrate to the environment in the materials and eventually contact the human body. It has been recorded that low-dose DEHP will increase neurotoxicity in the nervous system, and the human health effects of DEHP have been paid attention to because of the extensive exposure to DEHP and its high absorption during brain development. In this study, we review the evidence that DEHP exposure is associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities and neurological diseases based on human epidemiological and animal behavioral studies. Besides, we also summarized the oxidative damage, apoptosis, and signal transduction disorder related to neurobehavioral abnormalities and nerve injury, and described the potential mechanisms of neurotoxicity caused by DEHP. Overall, we found exposure to DEHP during the critical developmental period will increase the risk of neurobehavioral abnormalities, depression, and autism spectrum disorders. This effect is sex-specific and will continue to adulthood and even have an intergenerational effect. However, the research results on the sex-dependence of DEHP neurotoxicity are inconsistent, and there is a lack of systematic mechanisms research as theoretical support. Future investigations need to be carried out in a large-scale population and model organisms to produce more consistent and convincing results. And we emphasize the importance of mechanism research, which can enhance the understanding of the environmental and human health risks of DEHP exposure. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: DEHP is more likely to cause neurotoxicity to humans and animals in early life. The neurotoxicity of DEHP has sex-specific, long-term, and transgenerational effects. Oxidative stress and apoptosis are the main mechanisms to cause DEHP neurotoxicity. DEHP can cause nerve cell abnormal enzyme activity and ion channel imbalance. Nerve cell damage is one of the important reasons for DEHP neurotoxicity.