Estrogenic Effects of Fluorotelomer Alcohols for Human Estrogen Receptor Isoforms α and β in Vitro(Communications to the Editor)

The present study demonstrates the estrogenic effects of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs). In a yeast two-hybrid assay, treatment with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctan-1-ol (6:2 FTOH), 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoro-decan-1-ol (8:2 FTOH) and 2,2,3,3,4,-4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-nonadecafluoro-1-decanol (NFDH) showed a dose-dependent interaction between the human estrogen receptor (hER) isoforms hERα or hERβ ligand-binding domain and coactivator TIF2, whereas there were no estrogenic effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for these hERs. The strogenic effects of FTOHs on hERα were higher than those on hERβ, indicating a differential responsiveness of hERs to FTOHs. The relative ranks of tested chemicals on the estrogenic effects for hERα and hERβ descended in the order of estradiol-17β>>>6:2 FTOH>NFDH>8:2 FTOH. These results suggest that certain FTOHs including 6:2 FTOH, 8:2 FTOH and NFDH interact with hER isoforms α and β in vitro. Further studies are necessary to investigate contamination levels, potential biological effects and the risks of these compounds on human health.