Defining the Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on the Cellular Metabolism of Inflammatory Cells

双酚A、邻苯二甲酸酯和二恶英等内分泌干扰化学品（EDCs）存在于农药、增塑剂和药物等多种产品中。它们的广泛使用导致其在环境中的广泛分布，以及在人体组织和血液中的吸收和检测。内分泌干扰物已成为各种健康问题的关注点，包括它们对内分泌系统的影响，以及它们对发育，神经和免疫反应的影响。中性粒细胞和单核细胞是炎症性血细胞，构成了我们抵御细菌，病毒和其他微生物的第一道防线。在过去的几年里，由于这些炎症性血细胞容易暴露于环境危害，因此EDCs和其他化学物质对炎症细胞功能的调节越来越受到关注。适当的代谢反应对于炎性细胞的存活和功能至关重要，并且不能满足细胞需求可能导致功能受损和死亡，或功能增强和高反应性。内分泌干扰物对炎症细胞细胞代谢的影响目前尚不清楚。了解内分泌干扰物对免疫细胞生物能量学的影响将有助于解释这些化学物质如何导致炎症或增加对感染的易感性。这项研究计划可能会导致发现内分泌干扰物的意想不到的不利影响，从而为加拿大未来使用天然或合成环境化合物提供新的建议。

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as bisphenol A, phthalates and dioxins are found in an extensive variety of products such as pesticides, plasticizers and pharmaceutical drugs. Their widespread use leads to their broad distribution in the environment, as well as their uptake and detection in human tissues and blood. EDCs have become of concern for a variety of health issues, including their effects on the endocrine system, as well as their influence on developmental, neurological and immunological responses. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils and monocytes are inflammatory blood cells that constitute our first line of defense against bacteria, viruses and other microbes. The modulation of inflammatory cells' functions by EDCs and other chemicals has gained increasing attention in the past years since these inflammatory blood cells are readily exposed to environmental hazards. Appropriate metabolic responses are pivotal for the survival and functions of inflammatory cells, and failure to match cellular needs can lead to either impaired function and death, or heightened functionality and hyper-reactivity. The impact of EDCs on inflammatory cells' cellular metabolism is currently unknown. Understanding the effects of EDCs on immune cells' bioenergetics will help explain how these chemicals can lead to inflammation or increased susceptibility to infection. This research program could lead to the discovery of unexpected adverse effects of EDCs, leading to new recommendations for future use of natural or synthetic environmental compounds in Canada.**