Neonatal Bisphenol A Exposure Affects the IgM Humoral Immune Response to 4T1 Breast Carcinoma Cells in Mice

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor of estrogenic nature. During the early stages of development, any exposure to BPA can have long-term effects. In this work, we study the potential alterations to the humoral antitumor immune (IgM) response in adult life after a single neonatal exposure to BPA. Female syngeneic BALB/c mice were exposed to a single dose of BPA of 250 μg/kg. Once sexual maturity was reached, a breast tumor was induced. After 25 days, the serum was obtained, and the populations of B cells in the spleen and lymph nodes were analyzed by flow cytometry. The reactivity of IgM was evaluated by 2D immunoblots. No significant changes were found in the B cell populations in the peripheral lymph nodes and the spleen. The level of ERα expression was not significantly different. However, the IgM reactivity was affected. In individuals treated with BPA, a decrease in the number of IgMs that recognize tumor antigens was observed. The possibility that these antibodies are the high affinity products of the adaptive response is discussed. The recognition of IgG was also evaluated but a null recognition was found in the controls as in the individuals treated with the 4T1 cells.