Open AccessEnvironmental Estrogens Induce Mast Cell Degranulation and Enhance IgE-Mediated Release of Allergic Mediators
Author(s) -
Shin Narita,
Randall M. Goldblum,
Cheryl S. Watson,
Edward G. Brooks,
D. Mark Estes,
Edward M. Curran,
Terumi Midoro-Horiuti
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
environmental health perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1552-9924
pISSN - 0091-6765
DOI - 10.1289/ehp.9378
Subject(s) - degranulation , mast cell , immunoglobulin e , chemistry , immunology , biology , receptor , antibody , biochemistry
Prevalence and morbidity of allergic diseases have increased over the last decades. Based on the recently recognized differences in asthma prevalence between the sexes, we have examined the effect of endogenous estrogens on a key element of the allergic response. Some lipophilic pollutants have estrogen-like activities and are termed environmental estrogens. These pollutants tend to degrade slowly in the environment and to bioaccumulate and bioconcentrate in the food chain; they also have long biological half-lives.