The polybrominated flame retardant BDE‐47 increases steroidogenesis and alters mitochondrial activity and morphology in the HAC15 human adrenocortical cell line

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Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are a class of flame retardants with wide industrial and domestic use that are known to disrupt endocrine function. Because of their long half‐life in the environment and ability to bioaccumulate in fatty tissues, there is significant interest in understanding their long‐term effects on human health. Our research investigates the effects of a particular PBDE, BDE‐47, in a steroid‐producing human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line (HAC15). We found that BDE‐47 exposure in HAC15 cells significantly increases aldosterone and cortisol production. Furthermore, BDE‐47 increased both ATP levels and the activity of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, but the activities of glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase) were unchanged. Sublethal concentrations of BDE‐47 caused overt morphological changes by producing shorter and rounded mitochondria. These studies will further investigate mitochondrial pathways that contribute to increased steroid synthesis in adrenal cortical cells and will help elucidate the long‐term effects of flame retardants on human cardiovascular health. Support or Funding Information Supported by Midwestern University intramural funding. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .
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  • Midwestern University