EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF METABOLISM-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS ON PANCREATIC alpha-CELL BIOLOGY: A SCREENING TESTING APPROACH

Humans are constantly exposed to many environmental pollutants, some of which have been largely acknowledged as key factors in the development of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. These chemicals have been classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and, more recently, since they can interfere with metabolic functions, they have been renamed as metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs). MDCs are present in many consumer products, including food packaging, personal care products, plastic bottles and containers, and detergents. The scientific literature has ever-increasingly focused on insulin-releasing pancreatic {beta}-cells as one of the main targets for MDCs. Evidence highlights that these substances may disrupt glucose homeostasis, altering pancreatic {beta}-cell physiology. However, their potential impact on glucagon-secreting pancreatic -cells remains poorly known despite the essential role that this cellular type plays in controlling glucose metabolism. In the present study, we have selected seven paradigmatic EDCs representing major toxic classes, including bisphenols, phthalates, perfluorinated compounds, metals, and pesticides. By using an in vitro cell-based model, the pancreatic -cell line TC1-9, we have explored the effects of these compounds on pancreatic -cell viability, gene expression, and secretion. Our results indicated that most of the selected chemicals studied caused functional alterations in pancreatic -cells. Moreover, we revealed, for the first time, their direct effects on key molecular aspects of pancreatic -cell biology.