Thursday, 21 May 2020 11:56

E-Morph-Assay for the investigation of endocrine disrupting substances Featured

Scientists at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin have developed a test based on a human cell line with which chemicals can be tested for their hormone activity.


The test is called "E-morph". With this test, substances with estrogen effects similar to hormones as well as conflicting effects can be detected. The test is used to determine if and how a test substance (chemical or pharmaceutical active substance) has an effect on the protein E-cadherin. This protein is an adhesion-molecule that connects the membranes of neighboring epithelial cells with each other making them cohesive.

Estrogens or estrogen-like substances can break down the bonds between the cells of the mammary gland. This is what the scientists investigating in the test. In their patent-pending assay, they use an MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The test is to be used as a supplement to a test strategy for the safety assessment of
hormone-active substances.

Sources:
https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/ein-test-entlarvt-heimliche-hormone.pdf
https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/screening-method-for-estrogenic-and-anti-estrogenic-activity-background-information.pdf