Abstract:
Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin with endocrine disrupting effects having vast economic
implications in e.g. pig farming. Structurally, ZEN resembles 17 b -estradiol, and thus is able
to bind to estrogen receptors (ER) in target cells. Because of this, it is also classified as
a non-steroidal estrogen, a phytoestrogen, a mycoestrogen, and a growth promoter.
Quantitative proteomic analysis was undertaken using stable-isotope labeling by amino
acids in cell culture (SILAC) upon exposure of the steroidogenesis cell model H295R with
ZEN to elucidate its effect on protein regulation. ZEN significantly regulated 21 proteins,
including proteins with known endocrine disrupting effects and several oncogenes. In
addition, network analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed that ZEN affected the
oxidative phosphorylation pathway and the mitochondrial dysfunction pathway, both
previously reported to be involved in endocrine dysfunction.
