Faculty Advisor(s)

Angela Asirvatham

Download

Download Full Text (2.1 MB)

Abstract

Schwann cells are glial cells in the peripheral nervous system that maintain nerve function and myelination. Peripheral nerve myelination is dependent on intact Schwann cell proliferation. Schwann cell proliferation can be adversely affected by environmental pollutants such as Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical found in plastic water bottles, receipt paper, containers, and many everyday products. Studies on BPA exposure showed that it stimulated cellular proliferation in neural stem cells. A commonly used manufactured derivative of BPA, Bisphenol S (BPS), has posed similar concerns. Previous research has found that BPS promotes the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by accelerating the cell cycle. Based on these studies, it was hypothesized that BPS treatment would stimulate Schwann cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. To test this hypothesis, Schwann cells were treated with control media (N2) or N2 with incremental concentrations of BPS at 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µM. Using the EdU proliferation assay, it was found that cells treated with BPS increased in proliferation in comparison to those without treatment. For instance, the percentage of cells proliferated to 81.9%±0.0379 at 0.1 µM, 84%±0.0322 at 1 µM, 77.5%±0.0239 at 10 µM, and 88.7%±0.0927 at 100 µM in comparison to the control at 70.6%±0.1245 implying an increase in proliferation for all treatments. Qualitatively, a change in the morphology of cells treated with BPS was observed. Schwann cells treated with BPS appear to be smaller than non-treated cells. These results suggest that BPS stimulates Schwann cell proliferation. An overproduction of Schwann cells due to the use of BPS in the environment has the potential to cause cancer, autoimmunity and limit their capacity to support endogenous repair.

Publication Date

2024

Document Type

Poster

Department

Biology

Keywords

BPS, Schwann cells, cell proliferation, peripheral nervous system

Disciplines

Biology | Cell Biology | Medicine and Health Sciences

The Effects of Bisphenol S on Glial Cells of the Peripheral Nervous System

Share

COinS