Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta.
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malt.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 15;18(2):716. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020716.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterised by insulin resistance and eventual pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, resulting in persistent high blood glucose levels. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) are currently under scrutiny as they are implicated in the development of metabolic diseases, including T2DM. BPA is a pervasive EDC, being the main constituent of polycarbonate plastics. It can enter the human body by ingestion, through the skin, and cross from mother to offspring via the placenta or breast milk. BPA is a xenoestrogen that alters various aspects of beta cell metabolism via the modulation of oestrogen receptor signalling. In vivo and in vitro models reveal that varying concentrations of BPA disrupt glucose homeostasis and pancreatic β-cell function by altering gene expression and mitochondrial morphology. BPA also plays a role in the development of insulin resistance and has been linked to long-term adverse metabolic effects following foetal and perinatal exposure. Several epidemiological studies reveal a significant association between BPA and the development of insulin resistance and impaired glucose homeostasis, although conflicting findings driven by multiple confounding factors have been reported. In this review, the main findings of epidemiological and functional studies are summarised and compared, and their respective strengths and limitations are discussed. Further research is essential for understanding the exact mechanism of BPA action in various tissues and the extent of its effects on humans at environmentally relevant doses.
2 型糖尿病（T2DM）的特征是胰岛素抵抗和最终的胰岛β细胞功能障碍，导致持续的高血糖水平。内分泌干扰化学物质（EDCs），如双酚 A（BPA），目前正受到关注，因为它们与代谢疾病的发展有关，包括 T2DM。BPA 是一种普遍存在的 EDC，是聚碳酸酯塑料的主要成分。它可以通过摄入、皮肤接触和通过胎盘或母乳从母亲转移到后代进入人体。BPA 是一种外源性雌激素，通过调节雌激素受体信号转导，改变β细胞代谢的各个方面。体内和体外模型表明，不同浓度的 BPA 通过改变基因表达和线粒体形态来破坏葡萄糖稳态和胰岛β细胞功能。BPA 还在胰岛素抵抗的发展中起作用，并与胎儿和围产期暴露后的长期不良代谢影响有关。几项流行病学研究表明，BPA 与胰岛素抵抗和葡萄糖稳态受损的发展之间存在显著关联，尽管由于多种混杂因素的存在，报告了相互矛盾的发现。在这篇综述中，总结和比较了流行病学和功能研究的主要发现，并讨论了它们各自的优势和局限性。为了了解 BPA 在各种组织中的作用机制及其在环境相关剂量下对人类的影响程度，还需要进一步研究。
