Relationship between chemical exposure biomarkers and DNA methylation levels in the malformations of external reproductive system of young males

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670327
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Ohsako Seiichiroh 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 准教授 (00274837)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): FUKAMI MAKI 国立生育医療センター研究所, 分子内分泌研究室, 室長 (40265872) ; MIYADO MAMI 国立生育医療センター研究所, 分子内分泌研究室, 研究員 (00386252)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 尿道下裂 / CYP1 / SRD5A2 / バイオマーカー / エピジェネティクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Incidence of hypospadias has been reported to increase owing to fetal stage exposure to environmental pollutants. However, association of chemical exposure with hypospadias is still controversial. In this study, using preputial tissues from patients with hypospadias and phimosis, we analyzed CYP1-family, chemical exposure biomarkers, and SRD5A2 and AR as androgen related genes. Higher expression of CYP1B1, in contrast, lower AR level were observed in the hypospadias groups compared to the phimosis group. Positive correlations between CYP1 family and SRD5A2 expression were found among hypospadias patients. Moreover, negative correlations were also found between the SRD5A2 promoter methylation and the CYP1 family mRNA levels in hypospadias. These results seems to indicate the chemical exposure to patients with hypospadias.

Free Research Field

環境毒性学