Phthalate alternative may harm brain development and health
Acetyl tributyl citrate, a leading phthalate alternative, found to
disrupt neuron-like cells

Date:
March 28, 2023
Source:
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Summary:
Growing concerns over the potential health effects of exposure to
phthalates have led to a search for safer alternatives. Researchers
found that the chemical acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) might not
be the best replacement.


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FULL STORY ========================================================================== Growing concerns over the potential health effects of exposure to
phthalates, a component of many plastics and also known as a plasticizer,
have led to a search for safer alternatives. In a new study conducted
in cell cultures, researchers found that the chemical acetyl tributyl
citrate (ATBC) might not be the best replacement because it appears to interfere with the growth and maintenance of neurons.


==========================================================================
"In the past, industries have promptly shifted away from the usage of
toxic chemicals only to produce an equally toxic chemical, so this is
something we are actively trying to avoid repeating," said Kyle Sease,
a graduate student at Central Washington University in Ellensburg,
Washington. "Our study suggests that ATBC, but not other non-phthalate alternatives, could interfere with cells that maintain brain health. We
think this finding warrants further testing of ATBC at different doses,
in different settings and in whole organism models." Sease will present
the new research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American
Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, March 25-28 in Seattle.

Phthalates are used in hundreds of products, often to enhance durability
or allow materials to bend and stretch. Studies have shown that phthalate exposure can affect the reproductive system and early development
in a range of animals, although the health impacts in humans are not
clear. ATBC has emerged as a leading phthalate alternative as companies
seek to shift away from phthalates and is currently used in a variety
of materials and products, including food and food packaging.

For the study, researchers grew cultures of neuroblastoma cells, which,
in terms of growth and division, behave similarly to the glial cells that support and protect neurons in the brain. They then used molecular methods
to study how ATBC and other chemicals affect genes and processes involved
in cellular division. They found that neuroblastoma cells exposed to ATBC increased their expression of two genes associated with cellular stress
(known as Nrf2 and p53) and also increased their production of an enzyme associated with cellular senescence (B-galactosidase), which can cause
cells to stop growing and dividing.

The findings suggest that ATBC could interfere with the ability for glial
cells to regenerate, which can reduce their ability to protect neural
cells and lead to neurodegeneration and accelerated aging. It is also
possible that ATBC exposure during early development -- when neurons
are actively growing and dividing -- could affect neurons directly and interfere with brain development, the researchers said. Since neurons
do not typically regrow once damaged, any effects on the brain likely
would be permanent.

Two other phthalate alternatives, bis (2-ethylhexyl)-1,
4-benzenedicarboxylate (GPO) and dioctyl adipate (DOA), did not show the
same effects as ATBC. "We found that two other plasticizers did not appear
to affect cell division in these cells, so further understanding the
different effects of different plasticizers will allow us to understand
better how to make safe ones," Sease said.

Kyle Seasewillpresent this research from 4:30-6:30 p.m. PDT on Monday,
March 27, in Exhibit Hall 4AB of the Seattle Convention Center(Poster
Board No. 141) (abstract).

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========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Society_for_Biochemistry_and_Molecular_Biology.

Original written by Anne Frances Johnson. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


==========================================================================


Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230328145501.htm

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