Trichloroethylene induces methylation of the Serca2 promoter in H9c2 cells and embryonic heart.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a halogenated hydrocarbon used as a solvent in industrial settings and in house-cleaning products. Exposure to TCE has been linked to increased risk for congenital heart malformations in both human and animal models. Previous studies showed TCE exposure reduced the expression and function of the ATP-dependent calcium pump, Serca2a, which is important for regulating calcium flux in myocytes and maintaining physiological cardiac function.

Gene expression profiling in the fetal cardiac tissue after folate and low-dose trichloroethylene exposure.

Background: Previous studies show gene expression alterations in rat embryo hearts and cell lines that correspond to the cardio-teratogenic effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) in animal models. One potential mechanism of TCE teratogenicity may be through altered regulation of calcium homeostatic genes with a corresponding inhibition of cardiac function. It has been suggested that TCE may interfere with the folic acid/methylation pathway in liver and kidney and alter gene regulation by epigenetic mechanisms.