Bisphenol A Induces Fatty Liver by an Endocannabinoid-Mediated Positive Feedback Loop

Endocrinology. 2016 May;157(5):1751-63. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1384. Epub 2016 Mar 25.

Abstract

The xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread plasticizer detectable within several ecosystems. BPA is considered a metabolic disruptor, affecting different organs; however, little is known about its mechanism of action in the liver, in which it triggers triglyceride accumulation. Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to BPA developed hepatosteatosis, which was associated with an increase in the liver levels of the obesogenic endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol and anandamide and a concomitant decrease in palmitoylethanolamide. These changes were associated with variations in the expression of key endocannabinoid catabolic and metabolic enzymes and an increase in the expression of the endocannabinoid receptor cnr1. Acute and chronic in vitro treatments with nano- and micromolar BPA doses showed increased anandamide levels in line with decreased activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase, the main anandamide hydrolytic enzyme, and induced triglyceride accumulation in HHL-5 cells in a CB1-dependent manner. We conclude that BPA is able to produce hepatosteatosis in zebrafish and human hepatocytes by up-regulating the endocannabinoid system.

MeSH terms

  • Amides
  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / metabolism*
  • Benzhydryl Compounds*
  • Cell Line
  • Endocannabinoids / metabolism*
  • Endocrine Disruptors*
  • Ethanolamines / metabolism
  • Fatty Liver / chemically induced*
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism*
  • Feedback, Physiological / drug effects*
  • Glycerides / metabolism*
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Palmitic Acids / metabolism
  • Phenols*
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / metabolism
  • Triglycerides / metabolism
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amides
  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Cnr1 protein, zebrafish
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Ethanolamines
  • Glycerides
  • Palmitic Acids
  • Phenols
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Triglycerides
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • palmidrol
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • bisphenol A
  • anandamide