Abstract: Objective To study the effects of Decabrominated biphenyl ether (BDE-209) and/or Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on imprinting gene expression in human embryonic stem cell neural differentiation. Methods Neuroprogenitor cells were derived from human embryonic stem cell line FY-hES-10 cells by using Small-molecule inhibitors, and were exposed to BDE-209 and/or BPA for 11 days. Nestin, imprinting genes(SNRPN, KCNK9, UBE3A and PEG10) expression were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Q-PCR. Results Compared with the solvent control group, the Nestin positive rate of FY-hES-10 derived neuroprogenitors cells in BDE-209 and/or BPA exposure groups were lower. The expression levels of SNRPN,KCNK9 and UBE3A in BDE-209 and/or BPA exposure groups were lower, the expression levels of PEG10 were also lower in BDE-209 1nmol/L and BDE-209 1nmol/L +BPA 1nmol/L gruops with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The expression level of PEG10 did not change significantly in BPA 1nmol/L exposure group. Conclusions BDE-209 and/or BPA may affect imprinting genes expression resulting in neurodevelopmental toxicity.

Key words: decabrominated biphenyl ether(BDE-209), bisphenol A (BPA), imprinting genes, Human embryonic stem cells, neural differentiation