EFFECTS OF SEX HORMONE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS ON GUT-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID TISSUES

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The effect of environmental endocrine disruptors (EDC)on the immune organ (Peyer s patch) from castrated female mice was examined by molecular biologic, microscopic and flow cytometric techniques.Our findings were as follows : (a) using a monoclonal antibody to estrogen receptor-alpha (ER), ER level in the EDC-treated Peyer's patch was almost 1.2〜2.5 times that in oil-treated controls, respectively ; (b) an electron microscopic observation indicated EDC treatment to bring about apoptosis of lymphocytes which were embraced by stromal cells (i.e. macrophages) ; (c) flow cytometric analysis demonstrated EDC to induce the change of lymphocyte subsets : an increase in the suppressor/cytotoxic (CD4-CD8+) cells with decrease in the helper/inducer (CD4+CD8-) cells in Peyer s patch.It follows from the above findings that EDC may cause morphologic changes in the murine immune organs closely related to T cell function. In addition, these changes appear to derive mainly from EDC-induced tissuespeciic gene expression. The results of the present study suggest that we must recognize the possibility that a lowdose EDC can affect the various immune responses in the capacity of immune disruptors.