Mechanisms of action, chemical characteristics, and model systems of obesogens

Abstract

There is increasing evidence for the role of environmental endocrine disrupting contaminants, coined obesogens, in exacerbating the rising obesity epidemic. Obesogens can be found in everyday items ranging from pesticides to food packaging. Although research shows that obesogens can have effects on adipocyte size, phenotype, metabolic activity, and hormone levels, much remains unknown about these chemicals. This review will discuss what is currently known about the mechanisms of obesogens, including expression of the PPARs, hormone interference, and inflammation. Strategies for identifying obesogenic chemicals and their mechanisms through chemical characteristics and model systems will also be discussed. Ultimately, research should focus on improving models to discern precise mechanisms of obesogenic action and to test therapeutics targeting these mechanisms.

Keywords: Chemical characteristics; Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Hormone interference; In vitro models; In vivo models; Inflammation; Model systems; Obesogenic mechanisms; Obesogens.

Fig. 1

Obesogens have characteristics that make them well-suited to enter cells including small molecular weight (a) and lipophilicity (b). These properties allow obesogens to easily pass through cell membranes to influence cellular responses and gene expression

Fig. 2

Obesogens can interfere with endocrine function by direct hormone interference or activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in adipocytes. Obesogens can also alter appetite and satiety through neuroendocrine mechanisms