Estrogenic effects of fluorotelomer alcohols for human estrogen receptor isoforms α and β in vitro

The present study demonstrates the estrogenic effects of fluo-rotelomer 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 hER alpha or hER beta ligand-binding domain and coactivator TIF2, whereas there were no estrogenic effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for these hERs. The estrogenic effects of FTOHs on hERa were higher than those on hER beta, indicating. a differential responsiveness of hERs to FTOHs. The relative ranks of tested chemicals on the estrogenic effects for hERa and hER beta descended in the order of estradiol-17 beta >>> 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 a and P in vitro. Further studies are necessary to investigate contamination levels, potential biological effects and the risks of these compounds on human health.