Lin Ting-An, Zhou Changcheng
Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, and Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, U.S.A.
Essays Biochem. 2025 Aug 26. doi: 10.1042/EBC20253022.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Recent studies have implicated a novel link between exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and CVD. EDCs are a group of persistent compounds that can interfere with the body's natural hormonal processes, posing significant risks to both environment and human health. However, the impact and underlying mechanisms of EDC exposures on atherosclerosis are poorly understood, making it difficult to conduct rational exposure assessments. EDCs can affect CVD risk through multiple mechanisms, and epigenetic mechanisms are key mechanisms for environmental factor-elicited chronic diseases. Further, EDC-elicited epigenetic alterations may not only affect atherosclerosis development in exposed individuals but also lead to increased CVD risk in their descendants. In this review, we mainly focus on the current understanding of EDC-mediated epigenetic regulation and epigenetic inheritance of CVD. In addition, EDC-carrying microplastics and nanoplastics have emerged as significant environmental pollutants, and humans are ubiquitously exposed to these particles. We also discuss the potential impact of co-exposures of EDCs and small plastic particles on atherosclerosis and CVD.
动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病（CVD）是全球范围内导致死亡和发病的主要原因。最近的研究表明，接触内分泌干扰化学物质（EDCs）与CVD之间存在一种新的联系。EDCs是一类持久性化合物，它们可以干扰人体的自然激素过程，对环境和人类健康都构成重大风险。然而，人们对EDCs暴露对动脉粥样硬化的影响及其潜在机制了解甚少，这使得进行合理的暴露评估变得困难。EDCs可通过多种机制影响心血管疾病风险，而表观遗传机制是环境因素引发慢性病的关键机制。此外，EDCs引发的表观遗传改变不仅可能影响暴露个体的动脉粥样硬化发展，还可能导致其后代患心血管疾病的风险增加。在这篇综述中，我们主要关注目前对EDCs介导的心血管疾病表观遗传调控和表观遗传遗传的理解。此外，携带EDCs的微塑料和纳米塑料已成为重要的环境污染物，人类普遍暴露于这些颗粒中。我们还讨论了EDCs与小塑料颗粒共同暴露对动脉粥样硬化和心血管疾病的潜在影响。
