# Novel effects of xenoestrogens and gut microbiota derived estrogenic compounds in colonic inflammation

> **NIH NIH R56** · TEXAS ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION · 2022 · $374,998

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The overall goal of the proposed work is to investigate the effects of xenoestrogens (XEs) on intestinal health.
XEs, including bisphenol A (BPA), are an important classification of environmental contaminants that have the
potential to influence gastrointestinal health. The role of estrogenic compounds on influencing colonic
inflammation is complicated, but clinical and experimental data suggest that XEs exacerbate symptoms and
markers of ulcerative colitis (UC), which is a highly prevalent disease state that requires medical intervention
throughout life. Furthermore, data suggests that estrogenic compounds may serve as promoters of a subset of
inflammation-associated colon tumors. While the effects of some estrogenic compounds (i.e. BPA) on the
intestinal epithelium have begun to be explored, the extent to which microbiota influence their effects during
inflammation remains an unresolved question. Identifying the role for the microbiota and discovering novel
microbiota-derived estrogen receptor (ER) ligands would provide new evidence for an active role of the intestinal
microbiota in mediating the effects of XEs through the ER beta (ERβ). The central hypothesis is that the
intestinal microbiota plays a critical role in mediating the effects of XEs on intestinal health through de novo
production and/or modification of ER ligands. Using wild type and ERβ intestinal specific knockout mice in
conjunction with in vitro cultures and state-of-the-art metabolomics tools, the investigators will examine the
microbiota-dependent and independent effects of XEs on intestinal health. The Specific Aims are: (i) Investigate
the microbiota’s role in generating ER ligands following XE exposure; (ii) Determine the ER-mediated
effects of XEs and microbiota-derived metabolites (MDMs) on colonic epithelial function; and (iii)
Investigate the effect of XEs and microbiota-derived estrogens in exacerbating intestinal inflammation
and subsequent colon tumor progression through the ER.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10662075
- **Project number:** 1R56ES033052-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Clinton D Allred
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $374,998
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-06 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10662075

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10662075, Novel effects of xenoestrogens and gut microbiota derived estrogenic compounds in colonic inflammation (1R56ES033052-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10662075. Licensed CC0.

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