雙酚A與免疫疾病

Bisphenol A and Immune Disease

環境荷爾蒙又名內分泌干擾物，顧名思義環境荷爾蒙具有類固醇樣作用，可以和荷爾蒙競爭接受器，干擾荷爾蒙正常的生理作用。近年研究發現，工業以及農藥污染的水源會測出環境荷爾蒙，更驚人的是我們日常生活使用的物品也含有環境荷爾蒙的成分，長期接觸這些物質可能會引起體內荷爾蒙的作用失調，影響青少年的發育，甚至可能引起免疫細胞的功能低下。雙酚A被廣泛用於塑膠製品的製程成分，被認定具有環境荷爾蒙的特徵。近年有研究發現，雙酚A有加劇免疫系統疾病的作用，包括對免系統的干擾、過敏與氣喘發作、以及自體免疫疾病的發展都與過度暴露於雙酚A有關，本文將綜合討論有關雙酚A對於免疫相關疾病的研究。

Environmental hormones are also called endocrine disruptors. Environmental hormones have a steroid-like effect and can compete with hormone receptors to interfere with the normal physiological effects of hormones. Many studies have reported that environmental hormones could be detected in industrial and pesticide-contaminated water. Surprisingly, plastic products used in households also contain environmental hormones. Prolonged exposure to these plastic products may cause hormonal dysregulation, affecting the physiological development of teenagers, and may even reduce the function of immune cells. Bisphenol A is a component widely used in the processing of plasticware, and has been recognized as an environmental hormone. In recent years, some studies found that bisphenol A could worsen immune diseases. The effect of bisphenol A on immune related diseases is discussed and summarized in this review.