Cell Bioassays for Detection of Aryl Hydrocarbon (AhR) and Estrogen Receptor (ER)

A review article by Klara Hilscherova et al. on Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. 7 (3) 2000.

Abstract:
In vitro cell bioassays are useful techniques for the determination
of receptor-mediated activities in environmental samples containing
complex mixtures of contaminants. The cell bioassays determine
contamination by pollutants that act through specific modes
of action. This article presents strategies for the evaluation of aryl
hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)- (hereafter referred as dioxin-like)
or estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated activities of potential endocrine
disrupting compounds (EDCs) in complex environmental
mixtures. Extracts from various types of environmental or food
matrices can be tested by this technique to evaluate their 2,3,7,8-
tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TCDD-EQs) or estrogenic
equivalents (E2-EQs) and to identify contaminated samples
that need further investigation using resource-intensive instrumental
analyses. Fractionation of sample extracts exhibiting significant
activities, and subsequent reanalysis with the bioassays can
identify important classes of contaminants that are responsible
for the observed activity. Effect-directed chemical analysis is performed
only for the active fractions to determine the responsible
compounds. Mass-balance estimates of all major compounds contributing
to the observed effects can be calculated to determine if
all of the activity has been identified, and to assess the potential
for interactions such as synergism or antagonism among contaminants
present in the complex mixtures. The bioassay approach is
an efficient (fast and cost effective) screening system to identify
the samples of interest and to provide basic information for further
analysis and risk evaluation.

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