Title:Biomarkers Linking PCB Exposure and Obesity
Volume: 15
Issue: 11
Author(s): Somiranjan Ghosh, Lubica Murinova, Tomas Trnovec, Christopher A. Loffredo, Kareem Washington, Partha S. Mitra and Sisir K. Dutta
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Biomarkers, environmental exposures, gene expression, obesity, PCBs.
Abstract: Recently the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically across much of the world. Obesity, as a complex,
multifactorial disease, and its health consequences probably result from the interplay of environmental, genetic, and behavioral
factors. Several lines of evidence support the theory that obesity is programmed during early development and
that environmental exposures can play a key role. We therefore hypothesize that the current epidemic might associated
with the influence of chemical exposures upon genetically controlled developmental pathways, leading to metabolic disorders.
Some environmental chemicals, such as PCBs and pesticide residues, are widespread in food, drinking water, soil,
and they exert multiple effects including estrogenic on cellular processes; some have been shown to affect the development
of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. To bring these lines of evidence together and
address an important health problem, this narrative review has been primarily designed to address PCBs exposures that
have linked with human disease, obesity in particular, and to assess the effects of PCBs on gene expression in a highlyexposed
population. The results strongly suggest that further research into the specific mechanisms of PCBs-associated
diseases is warranted.