Wagner Martin, Kienle Cornelia, Vermeirssen Etiënne L M, Oehlmann Jörg
Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany.
Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology, Eawag-EPFL, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol. 2017;157:1-58. doi: 10.1007/10_2016_2.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are man-made compounds interfering with hormone signaling. Omnipresent in the environment, they can cause adverse effects in a wide range of wildlife. Accordingly, Endocrine Disruption is one focal area of ecotoxicology. Because EDCs induce complex response patterns in vivo via a wide range of mechanisms of action, in vitro techniques have been developed to reduce and understand endocrine toxicity. In this review we revisit the evidence for endocrine disruption in diverse species and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Based on this, we examine the battery of in vitro bioassays currently in use in ecotoxicological research and discuss the following key questions. Why do we use in vitro techniques? What endpoints are we looking at? Which applications are we using in vitro bioassays for? How can we put in vitro data into a broader context? And finally, what is the practical relevance of in vitro data? In critically examining these questions, we review the current state-of-the-art of in vitro (eco)toxicology, highlight important limitations and challenges, and discuss emerging trends and future research needs.
内分泌干扰化学物质（EDCs）是干扰激素信号传导的人造化合物。它们在环境中无处不在，可对多种野生动物造成不利影响。因此，内分泌干扰是生态毒理学的一个重点领域。由于EDCs通过多种作用机制在体内诱导复杂的反应模式，因此已开发出体外技术来降低和了解内分泌毒性。在本综述中，我们重新审视了不同物种内分泌干扰的证据及其潜在的分子机制。在此基础上，我们研究了目前生态毒理学研究中使用的一系列体外生物测定方法，并讨论以下关键问题。我们为什么使用体外技术？我们关注哪些终点？我们将体外生物测定用于哪些应用？我们如何将体外数据置于更广泛的背景中？最后，体外数据的实际相关性是什么？在严格审视这些问题时，我们回顾了当前体外（生态）毒理学的现状，强调了重要的局限性和挑战，并讨论了新兴趋势和未来的研究需求。
