Could Kallikrein-Related Serine Peptidase 3 Be an Early Biomarker of Environmental Exposure in Young Women?

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-08, Vol.18 (16), p.8833
• Main Authors: Raimondo, Salvatore, Gentile, Mariacira, Esposito, Giusy, Gentile, Tommaso, Ferrara, Ida, Crescenzo, Claudia, Palmieri, Mariangela, Cuomo, Felice, De Filippo, Stefania, Lettieri, Gennaro, Piscopo, Marina, Montano, Luigi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Androgens; Biomarkers; Environmental effects; Environmental Exposure; Environmental factors; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Estradiol; Estrogens; Ethics; Female; Female reproductive system; Genomes; Hormones; Humans; Kallikrein; Kallikreins; Luteal Phase; Male; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Peptidases; Physiology; Plasma; Pollution effects; Progesterone; Prostate; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Reproduction; Reproductive health; Secretion; Serine; Serine peptidase; Steroids; Vagina; Womens health
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168833

Bisphenols and phthalates affect androgen receptor-mediated signaling that directly regulates Kallikrein-Related serine Peptidase 3 (KLK3) secretion, indicating that environmental factors may play a role in KLK3 secretion. With the aim of obtaining preliminary data on whether KLK3 could serve as an early marker of environmental pollution effects, in 61 and 58 healthy women living in a high environmental impact (HEI) and low environmental impact (LEI) area, respectively, serum KLK3 levels at different phases of menstrual cycle were measured. KLK3 values resulted in always being higher in the HEI group with respect to the LEI group. These differences were particularly relevant in the ovulatory phase (cycle day 12°-13°) of the menstrual cycle. The differences in KLK3 values during the three phases of the menstrual cycle were significant in the LEI group differently from the HEI group. In addition, higher progesterone levels were observed in the LEI group with respect to the HEI group in the luteal phase, indicating an opposite trend of KLK3 and progesterone in this phase of the menstrual cycle. Although changes in KLK3 could also depend on other factors, these preliminary data could be an early indication of an expanding study of the role of biomarkers in assessing early environmental effects for female reproductive health.