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Kashobwe L, Sadrabadi F, Brunken L, Coelho ACMF, Sandanger TM, Braeuning A, Buhrke T, Öberg M, Hamers T, Leonards PEG. Legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alter the lipid profile of HepaRG cells. Toxicology 2024; 506:153862. [PMID: 38866127 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products. They have gained attention due to their ubiquitous occurrence in the environment and potential for adverse effects on human health, often linked to immune suppression, hepatotoxicity, and altered cholesterol metabolism. This study aimed to explore the impact of ten individual PFAS, 3 H-perfluoro-3-[(3-methoxypropoxy) propanoic acid] (PMPP/Adona), ammonium perfluoro-(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (HFPO-DA/GenX), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) on the lipid metabolism in human hepatocyte-like cells (HepaRG). These cells were exposed to different concentrations of PFAS ranging from 10 µM to 5000 µM. Lipids were extracted and analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC- MS-QTOF). PFOS at 10 µM and PFOA at 25 µM increased the levels of ceramide (Cer), diacylglycerol (DAG), N-acylethanolamine (NAE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and triacylglycerol (TAG) lipids, while PMPP/Adona, HFPO-DA/GenX, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, and PFHxS decreased the levels of these lipids. Furthermore, PFOA and PFOS markedly reduced the levels of palmitic acid (FA 16.0). The present study shows distinct concentration-dependent effects of PFAS on various lipid species, shedding light on the implications of PFAS for essential cellular functions. Our study revealed that the investigated legacy PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFBA, PFDA, PFHxA, PFHxS, and PFNA) and alternative PFAS (PMPP/Adona, HFPO-DA/GenX and PFBS) can potentially disrupt lipid homeostasis and metabolism in hepatic cells. This research offers a comprehensive insight into the impacts of legacy and alternative PFAS on lipid composition in HepaRG cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lackson Kashobwe
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Faezeh Sadrabadi
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Brunken
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ana Carolina M F Coelho
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Torkjel M Sandanger
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Albert Braeuning
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Buhrke
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mattias Öberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Timo Hamers
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pim E G Leonards
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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2
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Qin W, Escher BI, Huchthausen J, Fu Q, Henneberger L. Species Difference? Bovine, Trout, and Human Plasma Protein Binding of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9954-9966. [PMID: 38804966 PMCID: PMC11171458 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) strongly bind to proteins and lipids in blood, which govern their accumulation and distribution in organisms. Understanding the plasma binding mechanism and species differences will facilitate the quantitative in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation and improve risk assessment of PFAS. We studied the binding mechanism of 16 PFAS to bovine serum albumin (BSA), trout, and human plasma using solid-phase microextraction. Binding of anionic PFAS to BSA and human plasma was found to be highly concentration-dependent, while trout plasma binding was linear for the majority of the tested PFAS. At a molar ratio of PFAS to protein ν < 0.1 molPFAS/molprotein, the specific protein binding of anionic PFAS dominated their human plasma binding. This would be the scenario for physiological conditions (ν < 0.01), whereas in in vitro assays, PFAS are often dosed in excess (ν > 1) and nonspecific binding becomes dominant. BSA was shown to serve as a good surrogate for human plasma. As trout plasma contains more lipids, the nonspecific binding to lipids affected the affinities of PFAS for trout plasma. Mass balance models that are parameterized with the protein-water and lipid-water partitioning constants (chemical characteristics), as well as the protein and lipid contents of the plasma (species characteristics), were successfully used to predict the binding to human and trout plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Qin
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, UFZ—Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental
Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Beate I. Escher
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, UFZ—Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental
Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Huchthausen
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, UFZ—Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental
Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Qiuguo Fu
- Department
of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, UFZ—Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Luise Henneberger
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, UFZ—Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
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3
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Zhou Y, Zhang L, Li Q, Wang P, Wang H, Shi H, Lu W, Zhang Y. Prenatal PFAS exposure, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and neurobehavioral development in childhood. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133920. [PMID: 38457972 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Studies on the role of the gut microbiota in the associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and adverse neurodevelopment are limited. Umbilical cord serum and faeces samples were collected from children, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was conducted. Generalized linear models, linear mixed-effects models, multivariate analysis by linear models and microbiome regression-based kernel association tests were used to evaluate the associations among PFAS exposure, the gut microbiota, and neurobehavioural development. Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) exposure was associated with increased scores for conduct problems and externalizing problems, as well as altered gut microbiota alpha and beta diversity. PFHxS concentrations were associated with higher relative abundances of Enterococcus spp. but lower relative abundances of several short-chain fatty acid-producing genera (e.g., Ruminococcus gauvreauii group spp.). PFHxS exposure was also associated with increased oxidative phosphorylation. Alpha and beta diversity were found significantly associated with conduct problems and externalizing problems. Ruminococcus gauvreauii group spp. abundance was positively correlated with prosocial behavior scores. Increased alpha diversity played a mediating role in the associations of PFHxS exposure with conduct problems. Our results suggest that the gut microbiota might play an important role in PFAS neurotoxicity, which may have implications for PFAS control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Zhou
- Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Liyi Zhang
- Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Putuo District Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Shanghai 200333, China
| | - Pengpeng Wang
- Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hang Wang
- Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Huijing Shi
- Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenwei Lu
- School of Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yunhui Zhang
- Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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4
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative cross-species comparison of serum albumin binding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from five structural classes. Toxicol Sci 2024; 199:132-149. [PMID: 38518100 PMCID: PMC11057469 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8000 chemicals, many of which are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and the perfluoroalkyl ether acid congener bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model, and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive bioaccumulation and toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Kylie D Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA
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5
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Lamichhane HB, Arrigan DWM. Modulating the ion-transfer electrochemistry of perfluorooctanoate with serum albumin and β-cyclodextrin. Analyst 2024; 149:2647-2654. [PMID: 38546701 DOI: 10.1039/d3an02164e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are durable synthetic pollutants that persist in the environment and resist biodegradation. Ion-transfer electrochemistry at aqueous-organic interfaces is a simple strategy for the detection of ionised PFAS. Herein, we investigate the modulation of the ion transfer voltammetry of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) at liquid-liquid micro-interface arrays by aqueous phase bovine serum albumin (BSA) or β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and examine the determination of association constants for these binding interactions. By tracking the ion transfer current due to ionised, uncomplexed PFOA as a function of BSA or β-CD concentration, titration curves are produced. Fitting of a binding isotherm to these data provides the association constants. The association constant of PFOA with the BSA determined in this way was ca. 105 M-1 assuming a 1 : 1 binding. Likewise, the association constant for PFOA with β-CD was ca. 104 M-1 for a 1 : 1 β-CD-PFOA complex. Finally, the simultaneous effect of both BSA and β-CD on the ion transfer voltammetry of PFOA was studied, showing clearly that PFOA bound to BSA is released (de-complexed) upon addition of β-CD. The results presented here show ion transfer voltammetry as a simple strategy for the study of molecular and biomolecular binding of ionised PFAS and is potentially useful in understanding the affinity of different PFAS with aqueous phase binding agents such as proteins and carbohydrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hum Bahadur Lamichhane
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
| | - Damien W M Arrigan
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
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Ryu S, Burchett W, Zhang S, Modaresi SMS, Agudelo Areiza J, Kaye E, Fischer FC, Slitt AL. Species-Specific Unbound Fraction Differences in Highly Bound PFAS: A Comparative Study across Human, Rat, and Mouse Plasma and Albumin. TOXICS 2024; 12:253. [PMID: 38668476 PMCID: PMC11054487 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of fluorinated compounds which have yet to undergo comprehensive investigation regarding potential adverse health effects and bioaccumulative properties. With long half-lives and accumulative properties, PFAS have been linked to several toxic effects in both non-clinical species such as rat and mouse as well as human. Although biological impacts and specific protein binding of PFAS have been examined, there is no study focusing on the species-specific fraction unbound (fu) in plasma and related toxicokinetics. Herein, a presaturation equilibrium dialysis method was used to measure and validate the binding of 14 individual PFAS with carbon chains containing 4 to 12 perfluorinated carbon atoms and several functional head-groups to albumin and plasma of mouse (C57BL/6 and CD-1), rat, and human. Equivalence testing between each species-matrix combination showed positive correlation between rat and human when comparing fu in plasma and binding to albumin. Similar trends in binding were also observed for mouse plasma and albumin. Relatively high Spearman correlations for all combinations indicate high concordance of PFAS binding regardless of matrix. Physiochemical properties of PFAS such as molecular weight, chain length, and lipophilicity were found to have important roles in plasma protein binding of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangwoo Ryu
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340, USA; (W.B.); (S.Z.)
| | - Woodrow Burchett
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340, USA; (W.B.); (S.Z.)
| | - Sam Zhang
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340, USA; (W.B.); (S.Z.)
| | - Seyed Mohamad Sadegh Modaresi
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Juliana Agudelo Areiza
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Emily Kaye
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
| | - Fabian Christoph Fischer
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Angela L. Slitt
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA; (S.R.); (S.M.S.M.); (J.A.A.); (E.K.)
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7
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Chen X, Lv Z, Yang Y, Yang R, Shan G, Zhu L. Screening Novel Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Human Blood Based on Nontarget Analysis and Underestimated Potential Health Risks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:150-159. [PMID: 38153813 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Nontarget analysis has gained prominence in screening novel perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the environment, yet remaining limited in human biological matrices. In this study, 155 whole blood samples were collected from the general population in Shijiazhuang City, China. By nontarget analysis, 31 legacy and novel PFASs were assigned with the confidence level of 3 or above. For the first time, 11 PFASs were identified in human blood, including C1 and C3 perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs), C4 ether PFSA, C8 ether perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (ether PFCA), C4-5 unsaturated perfluoroalkyl alcohols, C9-10 carboxylic acid-perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (CA-PFSMs), and C1 perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide. It is surprising that the targeted PFASs were the highest in the suburban population which was impacted by industrial emission, while the novel PFASs identified by nontarget analysis, such as C1 PFSA and C9-11 CA-PFSMs, were the highest in the rural population who often drank contaminated groundwater. Combining the toxicity prediction results of the bioaccumulation potential, lethality to rats, and binding affinity to target proteins, C3 PFSA, C4 and C7 ether PFSAs, and C9-11 CA-PFSMs exhibit great health risks. These findings emphasize the necessity of broadening nontarget analysis in assessing the PFAS exposure risks, particularly in rural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Zixuan Lv
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Rongyan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Guoqiang Shan
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
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8
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Mikołajczyk S, Warenik-Bany M, Pajurek M. Occurrence of perfluoroalkyl substances in cow's, goat's and sheep's milk - dietary intake and risk assessment. J Vet Res 2023; 67:593-602. [PMID: 38130456 PMCID: PMC10730547 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2023-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Milk from cows, goats and sheep was analysed in terms of content of fourteen perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Material and Methods Altogether, 73 milk samples from cows (n = 38), goats (n = 20) and sheep (n = 15) were collected from various regions of Poland. Concentrations of analytes were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results The lower-bound sum of four PFAS (∑4 PFASs) concentrations (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) were highest in sheep's (0.0055 μg/kg), lower in goat's (0.0046 μg/kg), and lowest in cow's milk (0.0008 μg/kg). Goat's and sheep's milk was statistically significantly more contaminated than cow's milk. None of the samples exceeded the indicative values set by Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/1431, and even the maximum detected concentrations were an order of magnitude lower. The most frequently detected was linear PFOS, which was found in 33%, 76% and 93% of cow's, goat's and sheep's milk samples, respectively. Based on mean upper-bound ∑4 PFAS concentrations and average milk consumption, the estimated intake of ∑4 PFASs ranged from 0.153 to 0.266 ng/kg body weight (b.w.) for children and from 0.050 to 0.88 ng/kg b.w. for adults, which indicates that exposure is very low and is merely <7% of the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for children and <2% of the TWI for adults. Conclusion Regardless of the milk type, the intake of PFASs via consumption of Polish milk does not contribute significantly to the overall PFAS intake of either adults or children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szczepan Mikołajczyk
- Radiobiology Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100Puławy, Poland
| | | | - Marek Pajurek
- Radiobiology Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100Puławy, Poland
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9
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Starnes HM, Jackson TW, Rock KD, Belcher SM. Quantitative Cross-Species Comparison of Serum Albumin Binding of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Five Structural Classes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566613. [PMID: 38014292 PMCID: PMC10680784 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 8,000 chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Serum protein binding affinity is instrumental in understanding PFAS toxicity, yet experimental binding data is limited to only a few PFAS congeners. Previously, we demonstrated the usefulness of a high-throughput, in vitro differential scanning fluorimetry assay for determination of relative binding affinities of human serum albumin for 24 PFAS congeners from 6 chemical classes. In the current study, we used this differential scanning fluorimetry assay to comparatively examine differences in human, bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin binding of 8 structurally informative PFAS congeners from 5 chemical classes. With the exception of the fluorotelomer alcohol 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanol (6:2 FTOH), each PFAS congener bound by human serum albumin was also bound by bovine, porcine, and rat serum albumin. The critical role of the charged functional headgroup in albumin binding was supported by the inability of serum albumin of each species tested to bind 6:2 FTOH. Significant interspecies differences in serum albumin binding affinities were identified for each of the bound PFAS congeners. Relative to human albumin, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids were bound with greater affinity by porcine and rat serum albumin, and perfluoroalkyl ether congeners bound with lower affinity to porcine and bovine serum albumin. These comparative affinity data for PFAS binding by serum albumin from human, experimental model and livestock species reduce critical interspecies uncertainty and improve accuracy of predictive toxicity assessments for PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Starnes
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Thomas W. Jackson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kylie D. Rock
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Scott M. Belcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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10
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Bai Y, Wang Q, Li J, Zhou B, Lam PKS, Hu C, Chen L. Significant Variability in the Developmental Toxicity of Representative Perfluoroalkyl Acids as a Function of Chemical Speciation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:14904-14916. [PMID: 37774144 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Current toxicological data of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are disparate under similar exposure scenarios. To find the cause of the conflicting data, this study examined the influence of chemical speciation on the toxicity of representative PFAAs, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorobutane carboxylic acid (PFBA), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). Zebrafish embryos were acutely exposed to PFAA, PFAA salt, and a pH-negative control, after which the developmental impairment and mechanisms were explored. The results showed that PFAAs were generally more toxic than the corresponding pH control, indicating that the embryonic toxicity of PFAAs was mainly caused by the pollutants themselves. In contrast to the high toxicity of PFAAs, PFAA salts only exhibited mild hazards to zebrafish embryos. Fingerprinting the changes along the thyroidal axis demonstrated distinct modes of endocrine disruption for PFAAs and PFAA salts. Furthermore, biolayer interferometry monitoring found that PFOA and PFBS acids bound more strongly with albumin proteins than did their salts. Accordingly, the acid of PFAAs accumulated significantly higher concentrations than their salt counterparts. The present findings highlight the importance of chemical forms to the outcome of developmental toxicity, calling for the discriminative risk assessment and management of PFAAs and salts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yachen Bai
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bingsheng Zhou
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Paul K S Lam
- Department of Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chenyan Hu
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Lianguo Chen
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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11
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Song Y, Wu Y, Wu D, Ma X, Jiang S, Peng Z, Zhang C, Yin Y, Guo R. Fluorine-tailed glass fibers for adsorption of volatile perfluorinated compounds via F-F interaction. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108205. [PMID: 37717520 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and their short-chain derivatives are contaminants found globally. Adsorption research on volatile perfluorinated compounds (VPFCs), which are the main PFCs substances that undergo transfer and migration, is particularly important. In this study, new fluorine-containing tail materials (FCTMs) were prepared by combining fluorine-containing tail organic compounds with modified glass fibers. The adsorption effects of these FCTMs were generally stronger than that of pure activated glass fibers without fluorine- tailed, with an adsorption efficiency of up to 86% based on F-F interactions. The results showed that the FCTMs had improved desorption efficiency and reusability, and higher adsorption efficiency compared with that of polyurethane foam. FTGF was applied to the active sampler, and the indoor adsorption of perfluorovaleric acid was up to 2.45 ng/m3. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm simulation results showed that the adsorption process of typical perfluorinated compounds conformed to the second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. Furthermore, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) results showed that the chemical shift in the fluorine spectrum was significantly changed by F-F interactions. This research provides basic theoretical data for the study of VPFCs, especially short-chain VPFCs, facilitating improved scientific support for the gas phase analysis of VPFCs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Song
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yawen Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Di Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Xiaofan Ma
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Shaohua Jiang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Zhihao Peng
- School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Chunmei Zhang
- Institute of Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Rui Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China.
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12
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Qin W, Henneberger L, Huchthausen J, König M, Escher BI. Role of bioavailability and protein binding of four anionic perfluoroalkyl substances in cell-based bioassays for quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolations. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 173:107857. [PMID: 36881956 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and pose a risk to human health. High throughput screening (HTS) cell-based bioassays may inform risk assessment of PFAS provided that quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) can be developed. The QIVIVE ratio is the ratio of nominal (Cnom) or freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) in human blood to Cnom or Cfree in the bioassays. Considering that the concentrations of PFAS in human plasma and in vitro bioassays may vary by orders of magnitude, we tested the hypothesis that anionic PFAS bind to proteins concentration-dependently and therefore the binding differs substantially between human plasma and bioassays, which has an impact on QIVIVE. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) with C18-coated fibers served to quantify the Cfree of four anionic PFAS (perfluorobutanoate (PFBA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)) in the presence of proteins and lipid, medium components, cells and human plasma over five orders of magnitude in concentrations. The C18-SPME method was used to quantify the non-linear binding to proteins, human plasma and medium, and the partition constants to cells. These binding parameters were used to predict Cfree of PFAS in cell bioassays and human plasma by a concentration-dependent mass balance model (MBM). The approach was illustrated with a reporter gene assay indicating activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ-GeneBLAzer). Blood plasma levels were collected from literature for occupational exposure and the general population. The QIVIVEnom ratios were higher than the QIVIVEfree ratios due to the strong affinity to proteins and large differences in protein contents between human blood and bioassays. For human health risk assessment, the QIVIVEfree ratios of many in vitro assays need to be combined to cover all health relevant endpoints. If Cfree cannot be measured, they can be estimated with the MBM and concentration-dependent distribution ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Qin
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr, 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Luise Henneberger
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Julia Huchthausen
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr, 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maria König
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr, 94-96, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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13
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Liu D, Tang B, Nie S, Zhao N, He L, Cui J, Mao W, Jin H. Distribution of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and their precursors in human blood. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 441:129908. [PMID: 36115093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have examined per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in human blood. However, the distribution of PFASs in human blood remains not well known, especially for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) precursors. In this study, human blood samples (n = 162) were collected from general Chinese population, and then the isomer-specific partitioning of PFASs between human plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) were investigated. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and PFOS were consistently the predominant PFASs in both human plasma and RBCs. In human blood, among C4-C7 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), the calculated mean mass fraction in plasma (Fp) values increased from 0.76 to 0.82 with the increasing chain length. C7-C13 PFCAs exhibited a trend of gradually decreasing mean Fp with chain length. Among PFAS precursors, 6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate diester had the highest mean Fp value (0.87 ± 0.11). Calculated Fp values of N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (N-MeFOSA) and N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (N-EtFOSA) were 0.66 ± 0.13 and 0.70 ± 0.12, respectively. Individual branched isomers consistently had greater Fp values than their corresponding linear isomers for PFOA, PFHxS, and perfluoroctane sulfonamide. To our knowledge, this study first reports the distribution of N-MeFOSA and N-EtFOSA in human blood, contributing to the better understanding of the occurrence and fate of PFASs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daxi Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Technology, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China
| | - Bo Tang
- College of Environmental Science and Technology, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China
| | - Saisai Nie
- College of Environmental Science and Technology, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China
| | - Li He
- College of Environmental Science and Technology, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China
| | - Jiansheng Cui
- College of Environmental Science and Technology, Hebei University of Science & Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China.
| | - Weili Mao
- Department of Pharmacy, Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang 324000, PR China
| | - Hangbiao Jin
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, PR China.
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14
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Lack of interaction of the fluorosurfactant C6O4 with human renal transporters: In vitro/in silico analysis. Toxicology 2022; 476:153257. [PMID: 35835357 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2022.153257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
C6O4 is a water soluble perfluoroether carboxylic acid ammonium salt used as surfactant in the synthesis of fluoropolymers. Available experimental data in rats exposed by the oral route indicate it is eliminated in urine. Previous studies with various linear perfluorocarboxylic acids have suggested that these compounds are substrates of renal membrane transporters in rats and humans, and that the interaction with basal and apical membrane transporters can influence the elimination kinetic by these organisms and explain, in part, the observed differences in the respective half-lives. In particular, apical transporters may contribute to the reuptake of these exogenous compounds from the tubule lumen. The present study was designed to investigate the uptake of C6O4 in two renal cell lines transiently transfected with the human apical membrane transporters, organic anion transporter 4 (OAT4), and urate transporter 1 (URAT1). The uptake of the linear perfluorohexanoic acid (PFC6) was evaluated in parallel. While the uptake of the conjugated steroid estrone-3-sulfate (E3S), a known substrate for renal transporters, and of PFC6 was clearly observed in both cell types transfected with either OAT4 or URAT1, no significant uptake of C6O4 was measured under the same test conditions. The results of the transporter's functionality measured in vitro were consistent with molecular docking simulations. Both outward and inward models of the transporters showed a reduced interaction between C6O4 and URAT1 or OAT4. In contrast, more stable interactions were predicted for PFC6 and PFOA, as well as for the E3S substrate, as shown by the respective docking scores reflecting the binding strength and by the poses assumed in the transporter channels. Altogether, the in vitro and in silico modeling results showed a low reuptake potential and limited interactions of C6O4 molecule with two human apical membrane transporters, contrasting with the more efficient reuptake of PFC6 from the tubule lumen. These results suggest reabsorption from the proximal tubule by apical renal transporters is not likely to interfere with the elimination pathway of C6O4 in humans.
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15
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Ma D, Lu Y, Liang Y, Ruan T, Li J, Zhao C, Wang Y, Jiang G. A Critical Review on Transplacental Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Prenatal Exposure Levels, Characteristics, and Mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:6014-6026. [PMID: 34142548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has aroused public concerns as it can pose multiple health threats to pregnant women and cause adverse birth outcomes for fetuses. In previous studies, the prenatal exposure levels and transplacental transfer efficiencies (TTE) of PFASs have been reported and discussed. Specifically, the binding affinities between PFASs and some transporters were determined, demonstrating that the TTE values of PFASs are highly dependent on their binding behaviors. To summarize primary findings of previous studies and propose potential guidance for future research, this article provides a systematic overview on levels and characteristics of prenatal exposure to PFASs worldwide, summarizes relationships between TTE values and structures of PFASs, and discusses possible transplacental transfer mechanisms, especially for the combination between PFASs and transporters. Given the critical roles of transporters in the transplacental transfer of PFASs, we conducted molecular docking to further clarify the binding behaviors between PFASs and the selected transporters. We proposed that the machine learning can be a superior method to predict and reveal behaviors and mechanisms of the transplacental transfer of PFASs. In total, this is the first review providing a comprehensive overview on the prenatal exposure levels and transplacental transfer mechanisms of PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Ting Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Juan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Chunyan Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yawei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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16
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Zheng P, Liu Y, An Q, Yang X, Yin S, Ma LQ, Liu W. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to emerging and legacy per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances: Levels and transfer in maternal serum, cord serum, and breast milk. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:152446. [PMID: 34952085 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Gestation and lactation are critical and vulnerable stages for fetuses and newborns. During these periods, per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) accumulated in mothers can be transferred to newborns through placenta and/or breastfeeding, causing potential health risks. To investigate the pre- and postnatal PFAS exposure of newborns, we analyzed 21 emerging and legacy PFASs in 60 sets of matched maternal serum, cord serum, and breast milk samples. In serum, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates (6:2 Cl-PFESA) were the most predominant PFASs, while PFOA, PFOS and 6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate diester (6:2 diPAP) contributed most to breast milk. For most PFASs, the levels followed the order of maternal serum > cord serum > breast milk. The 6:2 Cl-PFESA was positively associated with birth weight and ponderal index (p < 0.05). The breastfeeding transfer efficiencies (RBM, median: 0.02-0.10) of most PFASs were 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than transplacental transfer efficiencies (RCM, median: 0.40-1.45), except for perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) showing high transfer efficiency both through placenta (median at 0.89) and breastfeeding (median at 0.86). The one-month postnatal exposure to PFASs via breastfeeding was much higher than prenatal exposure in utero. This study enhances the understanding of transplacental and breastfeeding transfer of PFASs and provides assessments of prenatal and postnatal exposure of newborns to emerging and legacy PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zheng
- MOE Key Lab. of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yingxue Liu
- MOE Key Lab. of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qi An
- MOE Key Lab. of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaomeng Yang
- MOE Key Lab. of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shanshan Yin
- Zhejiang Province (ZJP) Key Lab. of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Lena Q Ma
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- Zhejiang Province (ZJP) Key Lab. of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; MOE Key Lab. of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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17
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Cao H, Zhou Z, Hu Z, Wei C, Li J, Wang L, Liu G, Zhang J, Wang Y, Wang T, Liang Y. Effect of Enterohepatic Circulation on the Accumulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Evidence from Experimental and Computational Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3214-3224. [PMID: 35138827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The pharmacokinetic characteristics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect their distribution and bioaccumulation in biological systems. The enterohepatic circulation leads to reabsorption of certain chemicals from bile back into blood and the liver and thus influences their elimination, yet its influence on PFAS bioaccumulation remains unclear. We explored the role of enterohepatic circulation in PFAS bioaccumulation by examining tissue distribution of various PFAS in wild fish and a rat model. Computational models were used to determine the reabsorbed fractions of PFAS by calculating binding affinities of PFAS for key transporter proteins of enterohepatic circulation. The results indicated that higher concentrations were observed in blood, the liver, and bile compared to other tissues for some PFAS in fish. Furthermore, exposure to a PFAS mixture on the rat model showed that the reabsorption phenomenon appeared during 8-12 h for most long-chain PFAS. Molecular docking calculations suggest that PFAS can bind to key transporter proteins via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Further regression analysis adds support to the hypothesis that binding affinity of the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter is the most important variable to predict the human half-lives of PFAS. This study demonstrated the critical role of enterohepatic circulation in reabsorption, distribution, and accumulation of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiming Cao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zhe Hu
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Cuiyun Wei
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jie Li
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Guangliang Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yawei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Thanh Wang
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro 70182, Sweden
| | - Yong Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
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18
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Alesio JL, Slitt A, Bothun GD. Critical new insights into the binding of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to albumin protein. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:131979. [PMID: 34450368 PMCID: PMC8612954 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
With an increasing number of health-related impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being reported, there is a pressing need to understand PFAS transport within both the human body and the environment. As proteins can serve as a primary transport mechanism for PFAS, understanding PFAS binding to proteins is essential for predictive physiological models where accurate values of protein binding constants are vital. In this work we present a critical analysis of three common models for analyzing PFAS binding to bovine serum albumin (BSA) based on fluorescence quenching: the Stern-Volmer model, the modified Stern-Volmer model, and the Hill equation. The PFAS examined include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and the replacement compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate (HFPO-DA or GenX). While all three models capture the general effects of hydrophobicity and steric limitations to PFAS binding, the Hill equation highlighted a unique relationship between binding cooperativity and the number of fluorinated carbons, with PFOA exhibiting the greatest binding cooperativity. The significance of steric limitations was confirmed by comparing results obtained by fluorescence quenching, which is an indirect method based on specific binding, to those obtained by equilibrium dialysis where PFAS binding directly correlated with traditional measures of hydrophobicity. Finally, the binding constants were correlated with PFAS physicochemical properties where van der Waals volume best described the steric limitations observed by fluorescence quenching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Alesio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 2 East Alumni Ave, Kingston, RI, 02881, United States
| | - Angela Slitt
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, 7 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI, 02881, United States
| | - Geoffrey D Bothun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 2 East Alumni Ave, Kingston, RI, 02881, United States.
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19
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Annunziato KM, Marin M, Liang W, Conlin SM, Qi W, Doherty J, Lee J, Clark JM, Park Y, Timme-Laragy AR. The Nrf2a pathway impacts zebrafish offspring development with maternal preconception exposure to perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132121. [PMID: 34509758 PMCID: PMC8765597 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Since the voluntary phaseout of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), smaller congeners, such as perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) have served as industrial replacements and been detected in contaminated aquifers. This study sought to examine the effects of a maternal preconception PFBS exposure on the development of eggs and healthy offspring. Adult female zebrafish received a one-week waterborne exposure of 0.08, 0.14, and 0.25 mg/L PFBS. After which, females were bred with non-exposed males and embryos collected over 5 successful breeding events. PFBS concentrations were detected in levels ranging from 99 to 253 pg/embryo in the first collection but were below the limit of quantitation by fourth and fifth clutches. Therefore, data were subsequently binned into early collection embryos in which PFBS was detected and late collections, in which PFBS was below quantitation. In the early collection, embryo 24 h survival was significantly reduced. In the late collection, embryo development was impacted with unique patterns emerging between Nrf2a wildtype and mutant larvae. Additionally, the impact of nutrient loading into the embryos was assessed through measurement of fatty acid profiles, total cholesterol, and triglyceride content. There were no clear dose-dependent effects, but again unique patterns were observed between the genotypes. Preconception PFBS exposures were found to alter egg and embryo development, which is mediated by direct toxicant loading in the eggs, nutrient loading into eggs, and the function of Nrf2a. These findings provide insight into the reproductive and developmental effects of PFBS and identify maternal preconception as a novel critical window of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Annunziato
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Marjorie Marin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA; Biotechnology Training Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Wenle Liang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Sarah M Conlin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Weipeng Qi
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jeffery Doherty
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jonghwa Lee
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - John M Clark
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Yeonhwa Park
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Alicia R Timme-Laragy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
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20
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Delva-Wiley J, Jahan I, Newman RH, Zhang L, Dong M. Computational Analysis of the Binding Mechanism of GenX and HSA. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:29166-29170. [PMID: 34746605 PMCID: PMC8567346 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
One PFOS alternative, ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy) propanoate, known as GenX, was created to replace one of the original PFAS. This small and tough molecule has been found in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, rainwater, and air emissions in some areas in the United States. Recently, GenX has been shown to have an impact on several disease-related proteins in humans, and just like PFOS, it binds to human protein human serum albumin (HSA). In this paper, we reported four binding sites of GenX on HSA protein via docking and molecular dynamics simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Delva-Wiley
- Department
of Chemistry, North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, United States
- Department
of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, United States
| | - Israt Jahan
- Department
of Nanoengineering, North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, United States
| | - Robert H. Newman
- Department
of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, United States
| | - Lifeng Zhang
- Department
of Nanoengineering, North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, United States
- . Phone: 336-285-2875
| | - Ming Dong
- Department
of Chemistry, North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, United States
- . Phone: 336-285-2234
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21
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Zhalimov V, Gritsyna Y, Morenkov O. The effect of apolipoprotein A-I and perfluorocarbon emulsion on the production of specific antibodies in mice. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2021; 10:259-263. [PMID: 34703809 PMCID: PMC8511586 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2021.10.3.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Adjuvants are often required to improve the potentially low immunogenicity of vaccines. In this study, it is proposed to use an emulsion based on fluorocarbons as an adjuvant. Since this emulsion adsorbs only a small range of proteins, apolipoprotein A-I (ApoAI) was used as an anchor. Antigen and ApoAI were combined by creating a fusion construct. Results showed that the combined use of a perfluorocarbon emulsion and ApoAI during immunization significantly increases the specific antibody titer in mice and in its effectiveness this system is close to the incomplete Freund's adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitaly Zhalimov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Yuliya Gritsyna
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Oleg Morenkov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
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22
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Reardon AJF, Rowan-Carroll A, Ferguson SS, Leingartner K, Gagne R, Kuo B, Williams A, Lorusso L, Bourdon-Lacombe JA, Carrier R, Moffat I, Yauk CL, Atlas E. Potency Ranking of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using High-Throughput Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Liver Spheroids. Toxicol Sci 2021; 184:154-169. [PMID: 34453843 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are some of the most prominent organic contaminants in human blood. Although the toxicological implications of human exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are well established, data on lesser-understood PFAS are limited. New approach methodologies (NAMs) that apply bioinformatic tools to high-throughput data are being increasingly considered to inform risk assessment for data-poor chemicals. The aim of this study was to compare the potencies (ie, benchmark concentrations: BMCs) of PFAS in primary human liver microtissues (3D spheroids) using high-throughput transcriptional profiling. Gene expression changes were measured using TempO-seq, a templated, multiplexed RNA-sequencing platform. Spheroids were exposed for 1 or 10 days to increasing concentrations of 23 PFAS in 3 subgroups: carboxylates (PFCAs), sulfonates (PFSAs), and fluorotelomers and sulfonamides. PFCAs and PFSAs exhibited trends toward increased transcriptional potency with carbon chain-length. Specifically, longer-chain compounds (7-10 carbons) were more likely to induce changes in gene expression and have lower transcriptional BMCs. The combined high-throughput transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses support the capability of NAMs to efficiently assess the effects of PFAS in liver microtissues. The data enable potency ranking of PFAS for human liver cell spheroid cytotoxicity and transcriptional changes, and assessment of in vitro transcriptomic points of departure. These data improve our understanding of the possible health effects of PFAS and will be used to inform read-across for human health risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J F Reardon
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Rowan-Carroll
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen S Ferguson
- Biomolecular Screening Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karen Leingartner
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Remi Gagne
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Byron Kuo
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luigi Lorusso
- Chemicals and Environmental Health Management Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie A Bourdon-Lacombe
- Water and Air Quality Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Carrier
- Water and Air Quality Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ivy Moffat
- Water and Air Quality Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carole L Yauk
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ella Atlas
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Reardon AJF, Rowan-Carroll A, Ferguson SS, Leingartner K, Gagne R, Kuo B, Williams A, Lorusso L, Bourdon-Lacombe JA, Carrier R, Moffat I, Yauk CL, Atlas E. Potency Ranking of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using High-Throughput Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Liver Spheroids. Toxicol Sci 2021; 184:154-169. [PMID: 34453843 DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.20.347328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are some of the most prominent organic contaminants in human blood. Although the toxicological implications of human exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are well established, data on lesser-understood PFAS are limited. New approach methodologies (NAMs) that apply bioinformatic tools to high-throughput data are being increasingly considered to inform risk assessment for data-poor chemicals. The aim of this study was to compare the potencies (ie, benchmark concentrations: BMCs) of PFAS in primary human liver microtissues (3D spheroids) using high-throughput transcriptional profiling. Gene expression changes were measured using TempO-seq, a templated, multiplexed RNA-sequencing platform. Spheroids were exposed for 1 or 10 days to increasing concentrations of 23 PFAS in 3 subgroups: carboxylates (PFCAs), sulfonates (PFSAs), and fluorotelomers and sulfonamides. PFCAs and PFSAs exhibited trends toward increased transcriptional potency with carbon chain-length. Specifically, longer-chain compounds (7-10 carbons) were more likely to induce changes in gene expression and have lower transcriptional BMCs. The combined high-throughput transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses support the capability of NAMs to efficiently assess the effects of PFAS in liver microtissues. The data enable potency ranking of PFAS for human liver cell spheroid cytotoxicity and transcriptional changes, and assessment of in vitro transcriptomic points of departure. These data improve our understanding of the possible health effects of PFAS and will be used to inform read-across for human health risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J F Reardon
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Rowan-Carroll
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen S Ferguson
- Biomolecular Screening Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karen Leingartner
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Remi Gagne
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Byron Kuo
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luigi Lorusso
- Chemicals and Environmental Health Management Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie A Bourdon-Lacombe
- Water and Air Quality Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Carrier
- Water and Air Quality Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ivy Moffat
- Water and Air Quality Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carole L Yauk
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ella Atlas
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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24
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Jackson TW, Scheibly CM, Polera ME, Belcher SM. Rapid Characterization of Human Serum Albumin Binding for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using Differential Scanning Fluorimetry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:12291-12301. [PMID: 34495656 PMCID: PMC8651256 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of synthetic chemicals that accumulate in the environment. Many proteins, including the primary human serum transport protein albumin (HSA), bind PFAS. The predictive power of physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling approaches is currently limited by a lack of experimental data defining albumin-binding properties for most PFAS. A novel thermal denaturation assay was optimized to evaluate changes in the thermal stability of HSA in the presence of increasing concentrations of known ligands and a structurally diverse set of PFAS. Assay performance was initially evaluated for fatty acids and HSA-binding drugs ibuprofen and warfarin. Concentration-response relationships were determined and dissociation constants (Kd) for each compound were calculated using regression analysis of the dose-dependent changes in HSA melting temperature. Estimated Kd values for HSA binding of octanoic acid, decanoic acid, hexadecenoic acid, ibuprofen, and warfarin agreed with established values. The binding affinities for 24 PFAS that included perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (C4-C12), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (C4-C8), mono- and polyether perfluoroalkyl ether acids, and polyfluoroalkyl fluorotelomer substances were determined. These results demonstrate the utility of this differential scanning fluorimetry assay as a rapid high-throughput approach for determining the relative protein-binding properties and identification of chemical structures involved in binding for large numbers of structurally diverse PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Jackson
- Center for Human Health and The Environment Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus, P.O. Box 7617, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Chris M Scheibly
- Center for Human Health and The Environment Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus, P.O. Box 7617, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - M E Polera
- Center for Human Health and The Environment Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus, P.O. Box 7617, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Center for Human Health and The Environment Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 127 David Clark Labs Campus, P.O. Box 7617, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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25
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Myhre O, Zimmer KE, Hudecova AM, Hansen KEA, Khezri A, Berntsen HF, Berg V, Lyche JL, Mandal S, Duale N, Ropstad E. Maternal exposure to a human based mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) affect gene expression related to brain function in mice offspring hippocampus. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 276:130123. [PMID: 33714876 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Male and female mice pups were exposed to a low and high dose of a human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during pregnancy and lactation. Most compounds detected in the dams were found in offspring brains. The mice offspring exhibited changed expression of hippocampal genes involved in cognitive function (Adora2a, Auts2, Crlf1, Chrnb2, Gdnf, Gnal, Kcnh3), neuroinflammation (Cd47, Il1a), circadian rhythm (Per1, Clock), redox signalling (Hmox2) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation (Cyp1b1). A few genes were differentially expressed in males versus females. Mostly, similar patterns of gene expression changes were observed between the low and high dose groups. Effects on learning and memory function measured in the Barnes maze (not moving, escape latency) were found in the high dose group when combined with moderate stress exposure (air flow from a fan). Mediation analysis indicated adaptation to the effects of exposure since gene expression compensated for learning disabilities (escape latency, walking distance and time spent not moving in the maze). Additionally, random forest analysis indicated that Kcnh3, Gnal, and Crlf1 were the most important genes for escape latency, while Hip1, Gnal and the low exposure level were the most important explanatory factors for passive behaviour (not moving). Altogether, this study showed transfer of POPs to the offspring brains after maternal exposure, modulating the expression level of genes involved in brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oddvar Myhre
- Section of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P. O. Box 222 Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Karin E Zimmer
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Physiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway.
| | - Alexandra M Hudecova
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway.
| | - Kristine E A Hansen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway.
| | - Abdolrahman Khezri
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Physiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway.
| | - Hanne F Berntsen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway; National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Vidar Berg
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway.
| | - Jan L Lyche
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway.
| | | | - Nur Duale
- Section of Molecular Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P. O. Box 222 Skøyen, N-0213, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Erik Ropstad
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, 1433 Ås, Norway.
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26
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Wei C, Zhou Z, Wang L, Huang Z, Liang Y, Zhang J. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) disturbs fatty acid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans: Evidence from chemical analysis and molecular mechanism exploration. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 277:130359. [PMID: 34384190 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant that might induce disorders in fatty acid (FA) metabolism, but the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism can synthesize polyunsaturated FAs de novo via the polyunsaturated FA synthesis pathway. In this study, synchronized L1 C. elegans were exposed to 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 μM PFOS for 72 h. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to establish a sensitive and reliable analysis method for PFASs in exposed nematode, the instrument detection limits of nine fatty acid methyl esters examined ranged between 1.11 and 27.6 ng/mL, with satisfactory reproducibility (RSD < 10%) observed. Methyl pentadecanoate (C15:0) was used as an internal standard, the linearity of the calibration (0.1-10 μg/mL) nine FAs from the nematode were quantitatively analyzed. Comparing with the control group, PFOS exposure caused significantly decreased levels of C18:0 while significantly increased levels of C18:3n6. A decrease in the C18:3n6: C18:2n6 ratio was observed. Consistently, expression of the FA desaturation gene fat-3 was significantly down-regulated. These findings suggest that the FA disorder is associated with decrease in mRNA expression of Δ6-desaturase genes in C. elegans. Simultaneously, the disorders in FA metabolism were found to disrupt mitochondrial function with a reduction in ATP synthesis, as determined by the luciferase method. In summary, the results of the study provide insights into the adverse effects of PFOS on FA metabolism in living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiyun Wei
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China; Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China; Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Zichun Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
| | - Jie Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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27
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Nassab CN, Arooj M, Shehadi IA, Parambath JBM, Kanan SM, Mohamed AA. Lysozyme and Human Serum Albumin Proteins as Potential Nitric Oxide Cardiovascular Drug Carriers: Theoretical and Experimental Investigation. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:7750-7762. [PMID: 34232651 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c04614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide-containing drugs present a critical remedy for cardiovascular diseases. Nitroglycerin (NG, O-NO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (SNG, S-NO) are the most common nitric oxide drugs for cardiovascular diseases. Insights regarding the binding affinity of NO drugs with lysozyme and human serum albumin (HSA) proteins and their dissociation mechanism will provide inquisitive information regarding the potential of the proteins as drug carriers. For the first time, the binding interactions and affinities are investigated using molecular docking, conventional molecular dynamics, steered molecular dynamics, and umbrella sampling to explore the ability of both proteins to act as nitric oxide drug carriers. The molecular dynamics simulation results showed higher stability of lysozyme-drug complexes compared to HSA. For lysozyme, cardiovascular drugs were bound in the protein cavity mainly by the electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions with residues ASP53, GLN58, ILE59, ARG62, TRP64, ASP102, and TRP109. For HSA, key binding residues were ARG410, TYR411, LYS414, ARG485, GLU450, ARG486, and SER489. The free energy profiles produced from umbrella sampling also suggest that lysozyme-drug complexes had better binding affinity than HSA-drug. Binding characteristics of nitric oxide-containing drugs NG and SNG to lysozyme and HSA proteins were studied using fluorescence and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The relative change in the fluorescence intensity as a function of drug concentrations was analyzed using Stern-Volmer calculations. This was also confirmed by the change in the UV-vis spectra. Fluorescence quenching results of both proteins with the drugs, based on the binding constant values, demonstrated significantly weak binding affinity to NG and strong binding affinity to SNG. Both computational and experimental studies provided important data for understanding protein-drug interactions and will aid in developing potential drug carrier systems in cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chahlaa N Nassab
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, UAE
| | - Mahreen Arooj
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, UAE
| | - Ihsan A Shehadi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, UAE
| | - Javad B M Parambath
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, UAE
| | - Sofian M Kanan
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, UAE
| | - Ahmed A Mohamed
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, UAE
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28
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Robuck AR, McCord JP, Strynar MJ, Cantwell MG, Wiley DN, Lohmann R. Tissue-specific distribution of legacy and novel per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in juvenile seabirds. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2021; 8:457-462. [PMID: 34527758 PMCID: PMC8437152 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Of the thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, few have been investigated in detail. In this study, we analyzed 36 legacy and emerging PFAS in multiple seabird tissues collected from individuals from Massachusetts Bay, Narragansett Bay and the Cape Fear River Estuary. PFOS was the dominant compound across multiple tissues, while long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) dominated in brain (mean = 44% of total concentrations). Emerging perfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs)-Nafion byproduct-2 and PFO5DoDA - were detected in greater than 90% of tissues in birds obtained from a nesting region downstream from a major fluorochemical production site. Compound ratios, relative body burden calculations, and electrostatic surface potential calculations were used to describe partitioning behavior of PFEAs in different tissues. Novel PFEAs preferentially partition into blood compared to liver, and were documented in brain for the first time. PFO5DoDA showed a reduced preference for brain compared to PFCAs and Nafion BP2. These results suggest future monitoring efforts and toxicological studies should focus on novel PFAS and long-chain PFCAs in multiple tissues beyond liver and blood, while exploring the unique binding mechanisms driving uptake of multi-ether PFEAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Robuck
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - James P. McCord
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC 27709
| | - Mark J. Strynar
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Durham, NC 27709
| | - Mark G. Cantwell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - David N. Wiley
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Scituate, MA 02066
| | - Rainer Lohmann
- University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
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29
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Associations among perfluorooctanesulfonic/perfluorooctanoic acid levels, nuclear receptor gene polymorphisms, and lipid levels in pregnant women in the Hokkaido study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9994. [PMID: 33976266 PMCID: PMC8113244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89285-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The effect of interactions between perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS)/perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels and nuclear receptor genotypes on fatty acid (FA) levels, including those of triglycerides, is not clear understood. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to analyse the association of PFOS/PFOA levels and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nuclear receptors with FA levels in pregnant women. We analysed 504 mothers in a birth cohort between 2002 and 2005 in Japan. Serum PFOS/PFOA and FA levels were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Maternal genotypes in PPARA (rs1800234; rs135561), PPARG (rs3856806), PPARGC1A (rs2970847; rs8192678), PPARD (rs1053049; rs2267668), CAR (rs2307424; rs2501873), LXRA (rs2279238) and LXRB (rs1405655; rs2303044; rs4802703) were analysed. When gene-environment interaction was considered, PFOS exposure (log10 scale) decreased palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acid levels (log10 scale), with the observed β in the range of - 0.452 to - 0.244; PPARGC1A (rs8192678) and PPARD (rs1053049; rs2267668) genotypes decreased triglyceride, palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acid levels, with the observed β in the range of - 0.266 to - 0.176. Interactions between PFOS exposure and SNPs were significant for palmitic acid (Pint = 0.004 to 0.017). In conclusion, the interactions between maternal PFOS levels and PPARGC1A or PPARD may modify maternal FA levels.
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30
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Tu M, Zheng X, Liu P, Wang S, Yan Z, Sun Q, Liu X. Typical organic pollutant-protein interactions studies through spectroscopy, molecular docking and crystallography: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:142959. [PMID: 33121791 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
With the development of industry and human society, more attention was paid for the toxic effects of organic pollutants that are closely related to human daily life. Previous studies mainly focused on the dose-response relationship and cytotoxic effects of pollutants to organisms,while little research focused on pollutant-protein interactions at molecular level. However, the binding of organic pollutants to biomolecules, especially proteins like transporters, membrane receptor and nuclear receptors, is often the first step of toxic effects. It can make a series of endocrine disrupting and genotoxic effects through cell signaling pathway by binding specific target proteins including serum albumin, thyroid transporter, estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Thus, the research of interactions between organic pollutants and proteins is helpful and necessary to understand the distribution, metabolism and toxicity mechanism of compounds in organisms at the molecular level. This paper reviewed the latest research progress of the interaction types of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), emerging pollutants and some other pollutants with targeted proteins. In addition, we summarized several main experimental techniques for studying pollutant-protein interactions including ultraviolet/visible absorption spectrometry (UV-vis), fluorescence, infrared spectrometry, circular dichroic spectra (CD), molecular docking and X-ray crystallography. This review contributes to the molecular mechanism of the interaction between organic pollutants and biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengchen Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Xin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Peiyuan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Shuping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Zhenguang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Qianhang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
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31
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Li W, Hu Y, Bischel HN. In-Vitro and In-Silico Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Binding to Human Serum Albumin. TOXICS 2021; 9:63. [PMID: 33803062 PMCID: PMC8002870 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9030063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Drinking water contaminated by fluorosurfactant-based aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) is a source of human exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, assessment of bioaccumulation potentials of diverse PFAS in commercial products such as AFFF have been insufficient and challenging, especially due to a lack of analytical standards. Here we explore the value of suspect screening, equilibrium dialysis, and molecular-docking simulations to identify potentially bioaccumulative PFAS. We exposed human serum albumin (HSA) protein to dilutions of a legacy AFFF produced by 3M in 1999 using equilibrium dialysis and screened in-vitro protein-binding affinities using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Through suspect screening, we identified 32 PFAS and 18 hydrocarbon surfactants in the AFFF that bound to HSA. Quantification of noncovalent association constants for 26 PFAS standards confirmed that many PFAS, including the short-chain perfluoropropane sulfonic acid (log Ka= 4.1 ± 0.2 M-1), exhibit strong binding affinities with HSA. At least five PFAS in AFFF (including three PFAS with less than five perfluorocarbons) remained bound to the precipitated HSA pellet after extensive solvent washing-an indication of high PFAS binding potential. Three PFAS (PFBS, PFOS, and PFOA) were confirmed in the protein pellet with analytical standards and quantified after acid digestion-this sample fraction accounted for 5 to 20% of each compound mass in the sample. We calculated pseudo-bioconcentration factors (BCFpseudo) for PFAS that suspect screening flagged as noncovalently bound or potentially covalently bound. Most PFAS exhibiting high BCFpseudo, especially those with seven perfluorocarbons, contained a carboxylic acid or a sulfonic acid. Finally, we used molecular docking to simulate HSA binding affinities for 62 ligands (26 PFAS targets, 18 PFAS qualified in AFFF, and 18 hydrocarbon surfactants qualified in AFFF). We found that molecular docking can effectively separate HSA-binding and -nonbinding compounds in AFFF. In-vitro and in-silico approaches described in this study provide replicable, high-throughput workflows for assessing bioaccumulation potentials of diverse PFAS in commercial products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Heather N. Bischel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (W.L.); (Y.H.)
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De Silva AO, Armitage JM, Bruton TA, Dassuncao C, Heiger-Bernays W, Hu XC, Kärrman A, Kelly B, Ng C, Robuck A, Sun M, Webster TF, Sunderland EM. PFAS Exposure Pathways for Humans and Wildlife: A Synthesis of Current Knowledge and Key Gaps in Understanding. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:631-657. [PMID: 33201517 PMCID: PMC7906948 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 99.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We synthesize current understanding of the magnitudes and methods for assessing human and wildlife exposures to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Most human exposure assessments have focused on 2 to 5 legacy PFAS, and wildlife assessments are typically limited to targeted PFAS (up to ~30 substances). However, shifts in chemical production are occurring rapidly, and targeted methods for detecting PFAS have not kept pace with these changes. Total fluorine measurements complemented by suspect screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry are thus emerging as essential tools for PFAS exposure assessment. Such methods enable researchers to better understand contributions from precursor compounds that degrade into terminal perfluoroalkyl acids. Available data suggest that diet is the major human exposure pathway for some PFAS, but there is large variability across populations and PFAS compounds. Additional data on total fluorine in exposure media and the fraction of unidentified organofluorine are needed. Drinking water has been established as the major exposure source in contaminated communities. As water supplies are remediated, for the general population, exposures from dust, personal care products, indoor environments, and other sources may be more important. A major challenge for exposure assessments is the lack of statistically representative population surveys. For wildlife, bioaccumulation processes differ substantially between PFAS and neutral lipophilic organic compounds, prompting a reevaluation of traditional bioaccumulation metrics. There is evidence that both phospholipids and proteins are important for the tissue partitioning and accumulation of PFAS. New mechanistic models for PFAS bioaccumulation are being developed that will assist in wildlife risk evaluations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:631-657. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Carla Ng
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anna Robuck
- University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI USA
| | - Mei Sun
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC USA
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Maso L, Trande M, Liberi S, Moro G, Daems E, Linciano S, Sobott F, Covaceuszach S, Cassetta A, Fasolato S, Moretto LM, De Wael K, Cendron L, Angelini A. Unveiling the binding mode of perfluorooctanoic acid to human serum albumin. Protein Sci 2021; 30:830-841. [PMID: 33550662 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a toxic compound that is absorbed and distributed throughout the body by noncovalent binding to serum proteins such as human serum albumin (hSA). Though the interaction between PFOA and hSA has been already assessed using various analytical techniques, a high resolution and detailed analysis of the binding mode is still lacking. We report here the crystal structure of hSA in complex with PFOA and a medium-chain saturated fatty acid (FA). A total of eight distinct binding sites, four occupied by PFOAs and four by FAs, have been identified. In solution binding studies confirmed the 4:1 PFOA-hSA stoichiometry and revealed the presence of one high and three low affinity binding sites. Competition experiments with known hSA-binding drugs allowed locating the high affinity binding site in sub-domain IIIA. The elucidation of the molecular basis of the interaction between PFOA and hSA might provide not only a better assessment of the absorption and elimination mechanisms of these compounds in vivo but also have implications for the development of novel molecular receptors for diagnostic and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Maso
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Trande
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, Italy
| | - Stefano Liberi
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, Italy
| | - Giulia Moro
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, Italy.,Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Elise Daems
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sara Linciano
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, Italy
| | - Frank Sobott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Alberto Cassetta
- Istituto di Cristallografia - CNR, Trieste Outstation, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Ligia M Moretto
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, Italy
| | - Karolien De Wael
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Laura Cendron
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Angelini
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Mestre, Italy.,European Centre for Living Technology (ECLT), Venice, Italy
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Bălan SA, Mathrani VC, Guo DF, Algazi AM. Regulating PFAS as a Chemical Class under the California Safer Consumer Products Program. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:25001. [PMID: 33595352 PMCID: PMC7888260 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. The widespread use, large number, and diverse chemical structures of PFAS pose challenges to any sufficiently protective regulation, emissions reduction, and remediation at contaminated sites. Regulating only a subset of PFAS has led to their replacement with other members of the class with similar hazards, that is, regrettable substitutions. Regulations that focus solely on perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are ineffective, given that nearly all other PFAS can generate PFAAs in the environment. OBJECTIVES In this commentary, we present the rationale adopted by the State of California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for regulating PFAS as a class in certain consumer products. DISCUSSION We at the California DTSC propose regulating certain consumer products if they contain any member of the class of PFAS because: a) all PFAS, or their degradation, reaction, or metabolism products, display at least one common hazard trait according to the California Code of Regulations, namely environmental persistence; and b) certain key PFAS that are the degradation, reaction or metabolism products, or impurities of nearly all other PFAS display additional hazard traits, including toxicity; are widespread in the environment, humans, and biota; and will continue to cause adverse impacts for as long as any PFAS continue to be used. Regulating PFAS as a class is thus logical, necessary, and forward-thinking. This technical position may be helpful to other regulatory agencies in comprehensively addressing this large class of chemicals with common hazard traits. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7431.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Andreea Bălan
- Safer Consumer Products Program, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Vivek Chander Mathrani
- Safer Consumer Products Program, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Dennis Fengmao Guo
- Safer Consumer Products Program, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - André Maurice Algazi
- Safer Consumer Products Program, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Sacramento, California, USA
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Jabeen M, Fayyaz M, Irudayaraj J. Epigenetic Modifications, and Alterations in Cell Cycle and Apoptosis Pathway in A549 Lung Carcinoma Cell Line upon Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances. TOXICS 2020; 8:toxics8040112. [PMID: 33238432 PMCID: PMC7711517 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8040112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made compounds with strong C-F bonds, and have been used in various manufacturing industries for decades. PFAS have been reported to deleterious effect on human health, which has led to studies identifying the possible toxicity and toxicity routes of these compounds. We report that these compounds have the potential to cause epigenetic modifications, and to induce dysregulation in the cell proliferation cycle as well as apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells when exposed to 10-, 200- and 400 μM concentrations of each compound. Our studies show that exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) may cause hypomethylation in the epigenome, but changes in the epigenetic makeup are not evident upon exposure to GenX. We establish that exposure to lower doses of these compounds causes the cells' balance to shift to cell proliferation, whereas exposure to higher concentrations shifts the balance more towards apoptosis. Furthermore, the apoptosis pathway upon exposure to GenX, PFOA, and PFOS has also been identified. Our findings suggest that exposure to any of these compounds may have profound effects in patients with pre-existing lung conditions or could trigger lung cancinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musarrat Jabeen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.J.); (M.F.)
- Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Centre at Illinois (CCIL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Muhammad Fayyaz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.J.); (M.F.)
- Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Centre at Illinois (CCIL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph Irudayaraj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.J.); (M.F.)
- Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Centre at Illinois (CCIL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +217-300-0525
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36
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Scinicariello F, Buser MC, Balluz L, Gehle K, Murray HE, Abadin HG, Attanasio R. Perfluoroalkyl acids, hyperuricemia and gout in adults: Analyses of NHANES 2009-2014. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 259:127446. [PMID: 32590180 PMCID: PMC8114790 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported a positive association of perfluoralkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), with hyperuricemia. The objective of the study is to investigate whether there is an association between concurrent serum levels of several PFAAs and gout, serum uric acid (SUA) or hyperuricemia in the U.S. adult population as represented by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014 sample (n = 4917). The PFAAs investigated include PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and PFOS. METHODS This cross-sectional study used multivariate logistic regressions to analyze the association of single PFAAs with hyperuricemia and self-reported gout; the association with SUA was analyzed by multivariate linear regression. Analyses were adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, sex, education, alcohol consumption, smoking, serum cotinine, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and SUA (for gout only). RESULTS Higher quartile values of serum PFOA and PFHxS were associated with increased odds of self-reported gout. There was a positive association of SUA with increased levels of PFOA, PFNA, PFOS, PFHxS and PFDA. Higher quartile values of PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS were associated with higher odds of hyperuricemia. CONCLUSIONS In this population-based cross-sectional analysis, we found an association between selected PFAAs and self-reported gout. We also confirmed previous reports of an association between several PFAAs and hyperuricemia. Our study suggests that exposure to PFAAs may be a risk factor for hyperuricemia and gout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Scinicariello
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA.
| | - Melanie C Buser
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Lina Balluz
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Kimberly Gehle
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - H Edward Murray
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Henry G Abadin
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
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Wang G, Sun S, Wu X, Yang S, Wu Y, Zhao J, Zhang H, Chen W. Intestinal environmental disorders associate with the tissue damages induced by perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 197:110590. [PMID: 32283409 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a recently identified and persistent organic pollutant that becomes enriched in living organisms via bioaccumulation and the food chain. PFOS can induce various disorders, including liver toxicity, neurotoxicity and metabolic dysregulation. Most recent studies have shown a close association of the gut microbiota with the occurrence of diseases. However, few studies have explored the effects of PFOS on the gut environment, including the intestinal flora and barrier. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PFOS in C57BL/6J male mice and explored the relationship between tissue damage and the gut environment. Mice were orally exposed to PFOS for 16 days. Liver damage was assessed by examining the inflammatory reaction in the liver and serum liver enzyme concentrations. Metabolic function was assessed by the hepatic cholesterol level and the serum concentrations of glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Intestinal environmental disorders were assessed by evaluating the gut microbiota, SCFAs production, inflammatory reactions and intestinal tight junction protein expression. Our results indicated that PFOS affected inflammatory reactions in the liver and colon and promoted the development of metabolic disorders (especially of cholesterol and glucose metabolism). Moreover, PFOS dysregulated various populations in the gut microbiota (e.g., Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Clostridiales, Enterobacteriales, Lactobacillales, Erysipelotrichaceae, Rikenellaceae, Ruminococcaceae and Blautia) and induced a loss of gut barrier integrity by reducing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production and intestinal tight junction protein expression. A Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) analysis mainly identified metabolic pathways (e.g., the adipocytokine signalling pathway), endocrine system pathways (e.g., steroid hormone biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis), the latter of which is widely considered to be associated with metabolism. Overall, our results suggest that PFOS damages various aspects of the gut environment, including the microbiota, SCFAs and barrier function, and thereby exacerbates the toxicity associated with liver, gut and metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Shanshan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Xiaobing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Shurong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Yanmin Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China.
| | - Jianxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Probiotics, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou, 225004, PR China.
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou, 225004, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; Wuxi Translational Medicine Research Center and Jiangsu Translational Medicine Research Institute Wuxi Branch, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; Beijing Innovation Centre of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), Beijing, 100048, PR China
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Cousins IT, DeWitt JC, Glüge J, Goldenman G, Herzke D, Lohmann R, Miller M, Ng CA, Scheringer M, Vierke L, Wang Z. Strategies for grouping per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to protect human and environmental health. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1444-1460. [PMID: 32495786 PMCID: PMC7585739 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00147c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Grouping strategies are needed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in part, because it would be time and resource intensive to test and evaluate the more than 4700 PFAS on the global market on a chemical-by-chemical basis. In this paper we review various grouping strategies that could be used to inform actions on these chemicals and outline the motivations, advantages and disadvantages for each. Grouping strategies are subdivided into (1) those based on the intrinsic properties of the PFAS (e.g. persistence, bioaccumulation potential, toxicity, mobility, molecular size) and (2) those that inform risk assessment through estimation of cumulative exposure and/or effects. The most precautionary grouping approach of those reviewed within this article suggests phasing out PFAS based on their high persistence alone (the so-called "P-sufficient" approach). The least precautionary grouping approach reviewed advocates only grouping PFAS for risk assessment that have the same toxicological effects, modes and mechanisms of action, and elimination kinetics, which would need to be well documented across different PFAS. It is recognised that, given jurisdictional differences in chemical assessment philosophies and methodologies, no one strategy will be generally acceptable. The guiding question we apply to the reviewed grouping strategies is: grouping for what purpose? The motivation behind the grouping (e.g. determining use in products vs. setting guideline levels for contaminated environments) may lead to different grouping decisions. This assessment provides the necessary context for grouping strategies such that they can be adopted as they are, or built on further, to protect human and environmental health from potential PFAS-related effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian T Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Silva AV, Ringblom J, Lindh C, Scott K, Jakobsson K, Öberg M. A Probabilistic Approach to Evaluate the Risk of Decreased Total Triiodothyronine Hormone Levels following Chronic Exposure to PFOS and PFHxS via Contaminated Drinking Water. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:76001. [PMID: 32639173 PMCID: PMC7341959 DOI: 10.1289/ehp6654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extensive exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been observed in many countries. Current deterministic frameworks for risk assessment lack the ability to predict the likelihood of effects and to assess uncertainty. When exposure exceeds tolerable intake levels, these shortcomings hamper risk management and communication. OBJECTIVE The integrated probabilistic risk assessment (IPRA) combines dose-response and exposure data to estimate the likelihood of adverse effects. We evaluated the usefulness of the IPRA for risk characterization related to decreased levels of total triiodothyronine (T 3 ) in humans following a real case of high exposure to PFAS via drinking water. METHODS PFAS exposure was defined as serum levels from residents of a contaminated area in Ronneby, Sweden. Median levels were 270 ng / mL [perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)] and 229 ng / mL [perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)] for individuals who resided in Ronneby 1 y before the exposure termination. This data was integrated with data from a subchronic toxicity study in monkeys exposed daily to PFOS. Benchmark dose modeling was employed to describe separate dose-effect relationship for males and females, and extrapolation factor distributions were used to estimate the corresponding human benchmark dose. The critical effect level was defined as a 10% decrease in total T 3 . RESULTS The median probability of critical exposure, following a combined exposure to PFOS and PFHxS, was estimated to be [2.1% (90% CI: 0.4 % - 13.1 % )]. Gender-based analysis showed that this risk was almost entirely distributed among women, namely [3.9% (90% CI: 0.8 % - 21.6 % )]. DISCUSSION The IPRA was compared with the traditional deterministic Margin of Exposure (MoE) approach. We conclude that probabilistic risk characterization represents an important step forward in the ability to adequately analyze group-specific health risks. Moreover, quantifying the sources of uncertainty is desirable, as it improves the awareness among stakeholders and will guide future efforts to improve accuracy. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6654.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antero Vieira Silva
- Unit of Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joakim Ringblom
- Unit of Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Lindh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristin Scott
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mattias Öberg
- Unit of Integrative Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Sheng N, Wang J, Guo Y, Wang J, Dai J. Interactions of Perfluorooctanesulfonate and 6:2 Chlorinated Polyfluorinated Ether Sulfonate with Human Serum Albumin: A Comparative Study. Chem Res Toxicol 2020; 33:1478-1486. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Jinghua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Yong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Jianshe Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
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Ebert A, Allendorf F, Berger U, Goss KU, Ulrich N. Membrane/Water Partitioning and Permeabilities of Perfluoroalkyl Acids and Four of their Alternatives and the Effects on Toxicokinetic Behavior. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:5051-5061. [PMID: 32212724 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The search for alternatives to bioaccumulative perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is ongoing. New, still highly fluorinated alternatives are produced in hopes of reducing bioaccumulation. To better estimate this bioaccumulative behavior, we performed dialysis experiments and determined membrane/water partition coefficients, Kmem/w, of six perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), three perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids, and four alternatives. We also investigated how passive permeation might influence the uptake kinetics into cells, measuring the passive anionic membrane permeability Pion through planar lipid bilayers for six PFAAs and three alternatives. Experimental Kmem/w and Pion were both predicted well by the COSMO-RS theory (log RMSE 0.61 and 0.46, respectively). Kmem/w values were consistent with the literature data, and alternatives showed similar sorption behavior as PFAAs. Experimental Pion values were high enough to explain observed cellular uptake by passive diffusion with no need to postulate the existence of active uptake processes. However, predicted pKa and neutral permeabilities suggest that also the permeation of the neutral species should be significant in case of PFCAs. This can have direct consequences on the steady-state distribution of PFAAs across cell membranes and thus toxicity. Consequently, we propose a model to predict pH-dependent baseline toxicity based on Kmem/w, which considers the permeation of both neutral and anionic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ebert
- Department of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University, Gruberstrasse 40, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | - Flora Allendorf
- Department of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Urs Berger
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kai-Uwe Goss
- Department of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Nadin Ulrich
- Department of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
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Nguyen GTH, Nocentini A, Angeli A, Gratteri P, Supuran CT, Donald WA. Perfluoroalkyl Substances of Significant Environmental Concern Can Strongly Inhibit Human Carbonic Anhydrase Isozymes. Anal Chem 2020; 92:4614-4622. [PMID: 32096628 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) persist and are ubiquitous in the environment. The origins of PFAS toxicity and how they specifically affect the functions of proteins remain unclear. Herein, we report that PFASs can strongly inhibit the activity of human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs), which are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze the hydration of CO2, are abundant in the blood and organs of mammals, and involved in pH regulation, ion homeostasis, and biosynthesis. The interactions between PFASs and hCAs were investigated using stopped-flow kinetic enzyme-inhibition measurements, native mass spectrometry (MS), and ligand-docking simulations. Narrow-bore emitters in native MS with inner diameters of ∼300 nm were used to directly and simultaneously measure the dissociation constants of 11 PFASs to an enzyme, which was not possible using conventional emitters. The data from native MS and stopped-flow measurements were in excellent agreement. Of 15 PFASs investigated, eight can inhibit at least one of four hCA isozymes (I, II, IX, and XII) with submicromolar inhibition constants, including perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonamide, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. Some PFASs, including those with both short and long perfluoromethylene chains, can effectively inhibit at least one hCA isozyme with low nanomolar inhibition constants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giang T H Nguyen
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Alessio Nocentini
- Department NEUROFARBA-Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, University of Firenze, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.,Department NEUROFARBA-Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Firenze, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Andrea Angeli
- Department NEUROFARBA-Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, University of Firenze, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Paola Gratteri
- Department NEUROFARBA-Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Firenze, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- Department NEUROFARBA-Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, University of Firenze, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - William A Donald
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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Investigation of the Interaction Mechanism of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids with Human Serum Albumin by Spectroscopic Methods. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041319. [PMID: 32085632 PMCID: PMC7068604 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are some of the most significant pollutants in human serum, and are reported to be potentially toxic to humans. In this study, the binding mechanism of PFCAs with different carbon lengths to human serum albumin (HSA) was studied at the molecular level by means of fluorescence spectroscopy under simulated physiological conditions and molecular modeling. Fluorescence data indicate that PFCAs with a longer carbon chain have a stronger fluorescence quenching ability. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) had little effect on HSA. Fluorescence quenching of HSA by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) was a static process that formed a PFCA-HSA complex. Electrostatic interactions were the main intermolecular forces between PFOA and HSA, while hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions played important roles in the combination of PFDA and HSA. In fact, the binding of PFDA to HSA was stronger than that of PFOA as supported by fluorescence quenching and molecular docking. In addition, infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that the binding of PFOA/PFDA resulted in a sharp decrease in the β-sheet and α-helix conformations of HSA. Our results indicated that the carbon chain length of PFCAs had a great impact on its binding affinity, and that PFCAs with longer carbon chains bound more strongly.
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Liu S, Yang R, Yin N, Faiola F. The short-chain perfluorinated compounds PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA and PFHxA, disrupt human mesenchymal stem cell self-renewal and adipogenic differentiation. J Environ Sci (China) 2020; 88:187-199. [PMID: 31862060 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2019.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are commonly used in industrial processes and daily life products. Because they are persistent, they accumulate in the environment, wildlife and humans. Although many studies have focused on two of the most representative PFASs, PFOS and PFOA, the potential toxicity of short-chain PFASs has not yet been given sufficient attention. We used a battery of assays to evaluate the toxicity of several four-carbon and six-carbon perfluorinated sulfonates and carboxyl acids (PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA and PFHxA), with a human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) system. Our results demonstrate significant cyto- and potential developmental toxicity for all the compounds analyzed, with shared but also distinct mechanisms of toxicity. Moreover, the effects of PFBS and PFHxS were stronger than those of PFBA and PFHxA, but occurred at higher doses compared to PFOS or PFOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.
| | - Renjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Nuoya Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Francesco Faiola
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Han JS, Jang S, Son HY, Kim YB, Kim Y, Noh JH, Kim MJ, Lee BS. Subacute dermal toxicity of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids: comparison with different carbon-chain lengths in human skin equivalents and systemic effects of perfluoroheptanoic acid in Sprague Dawley rats. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:523-539. [PMID: 31797001 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02634-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are used in various fields but raise concerns regarding human health and environmental consequences. Among PFASs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (SC PFCAs) are detectable in skin-contact consumer products and have dermal absorption potential. Here, we investigated the effects of dermal exposure to PFOA and SC PFCAs using in vitro and in vivo models. Human skin equivalents were topically treated with 0.25 mM and 2.5 mM PFOA and SC PFCAs (perfluoropentanoic acid, PFPeA; perfluorohexanoic acid, PFHxA; and perfluoroheptanoic acid, PFHpA) for 6 days, and cell viability, interleukin (IL)-1α, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, MDA; and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG), and histopathology were examined. MDA levels were significantly higher in the PFASs groups than in controls. Compared with SC PFCAs, 2.5 mM PFOA caused more IL-1α (p < 0.001) release, decreased skin thickness and microscopic abnormalities. To evaluate systemic effects, Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were dermally treated with 250 and 1000 mg/kg PFHpA for 2 weeks and clinical and anatomic pathology were assessed. At 1000 mg/kg, 83% of the rats died, with severe ulcerative dermatitis at the application site. Adverse PFHpA-treated systemic changes were observed in the kidney, liver and testes, and histopathologic lesions such as renal tubular necrosis, hepatocellular necrosis, and germ cell degeneration were seen at 250 and 1000 mg/kg. Our study suggests that SC PFCAs have fewer effects on the skin than PFOA, but SC PFCAs can have adverse effects on major organs with systemic exposure at high concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Seok Han
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sumi Jang
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa-Young Son
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Bum Kim
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Younhee Kim
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Ho Noh
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Jeong Kim
- Research Institute, T&R Biofab Co., Ltd., 242 Pangyo Digital Center, Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13487, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung-Seok Lee
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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46
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Vidal A, Babut M, Garric J, Beaudouin R. Elucidating the fate of perfluorooctanoate sulfonate using a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) physiologically-based toxicokinetic model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 691:1297-1309. [PMID: 31466209 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFAS) are widely found in freshwater ecosystems because of their resistance to degradation. Among them, several long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids bioaccumulate in aquatic vertebrates, but our understanding of the mechanisms of absorption, distribution and elimination is still limited in fish. For this purpose, we developed a 10-compartment physiologically-based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model to elucidate perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) kinetics in adult rainbow trout. This PBTK model included various physiological characteristics: blood perfusion to each organ, plasmatic fraction, PFOS free fraction, and growth of individuals. The parameters were optimized using Bayesian inferences. First, only PFOS absorption by diet was considered in the model as well as its elimination by urine, bile and feces. Then two mechanistic hypotheses, assumed to govern PFOS toxicokinetics in fish, namely the enterohepatic cycle and the absorption and elimination though gills, were tested. Improvement of the model's fit to the data was studied in each organ by comparing predictions with observed data using relative error. The experimental data set was obtained from an exposure experiment, where adult rainbow trout were fed with a PFOS-spiked diet for 42 days, followed by a 35-day depuration period. In all cases, PFOS concentrations were accurately predicted in organs and feces by the model. The results of this PBTK model demonstrated that feces represented the major elimination route for PFOS while urine was a minor route. Also, PFOS branchial uptake can be substantial despite low concentrations of the compound in water, and elimination through gills should not be neglected. Finally, the enterohepatic cycle is likely to play a minor role in PFOS toxicokinetics. Overall, this PBTK model accurately described PFOS distribution in rainbow trout and provides information on the relative contribution of absorption and elimination pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Vidal
- Irstea, UR RIVERLY, 5 Avenue de la Doua, CS20244, 69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Marc Babut
- Irstea, UR RIVERLY, 5 Avenue de la Doua, CS20244, 69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Jeanne Garric
- Irstea, UR RIVERLY, 5 Avenue de la Doua, CS20244, 69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Rémy Beaudouin
- UMR-I 02 SEBIO, Unit of Models for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology (METO), INERIS, 60550 Verneuil en Halatte, France.
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47
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Allendorf F, Berger U, Goss KU, Ulrich N. Partition coefficients of four perfluoroalkyl acid alternatives between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and water in comparison to ten classical perfluoroalkyl acids. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:1852-1863. [PMID: 31475719 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00290a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent, ubiquitous environmental contaminants and their long-chain representatives are bioaccumulative. The phase-out of these compounds (e.g. PFOA and PFOS) shifted the production to alternatives. However, little is known about the bioaccumulative behaviour of the alternatives, which are still highly fluorinated. PFAAs are predominantly detected in blood, where they bind to the transport protein serum albumin. This sorption can be described by the albumin/water partition coefficient. It is unclear whether the partition coefficients of the alternatives are lower than or in the same range as those of classical PFAAs. We determined albumin/water partition coefficients for seven perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, three perfluoroalkane sulfonates and four alternatives by dialysis experiments in a physiologically representative system. Quantification was done by LC-MS/MS and a mass balance approach. Logarithmic albumin/water partition coefficients for PFAAs range from 2.8 to 4.8 [Lwater kgalbumin-1] and increase with increasing chain length. Perfluorinated sulfonates sorb more strongly than their carboxylate counterparts. The albumin/water partition coefficients for the alternatives (HFPO-DA, DONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS and PFECHS) are in the same range as for classical PFAAs. Structural modifications such as the introduction of ether groups into the chain do not reduce sorption to albumin, whereas the chlorine atom in 9Cl-PF3ONS seems to even increase the sorption to albumin. We further investigated whether the sorption strength could be affected in the presence of medium- or long-chain fatty acids. Binding competition between medium-chain fatty acids and PFAAs appeared to be possible. However, the presence of physiologically more relevant long-chain fatty acids should not alter the albumin/water partition coefficients of PFAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Allendorf
- Department of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Urs Berger
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kai-Uwe Goss
- Department of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany. and Institute of Chemistry, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Nadin Ulrich
- Department of Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany.
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48
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Zuo Y, Rui Y, Xu J, Yang L, Yi Z. Multi-spectroscopic and molecular dynamics simulations investigation of the binding mechanism of polybrominated diphenyl ethers to hen egg white lysozyme. LUMINESCENCE 2019; 34:749-758. [PMID: 31264372 DOI: 10.1002/bio.3669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Three PBDEs (BDE25, BDE47, and BDE154) were selected to investigate the interactions between PBDEs and hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) by molecular modeling, fluorescence spectroscopy, and FT-IR spectra. The docking results showed that hydrogen bonds were formed between BDE25 and residue TRP63 and between BDE47 and TRP63 with bond lengths of 2.178 Å and 2.146 Å, respectively. The molecular dynamics simulations indicated that van der Waals forces played a predominant role in the binding of three PBDEs to HEWL. The observed fluorescence quenching can be attributed to the formation of complexes between HEWL and PBDEs, and the quenching mechanism is a static quenching. According to Förster's non-radiative energy transfer theory, the binding distances r were < 7 nm, indicating a high probability of energy transfer from HEWL to the three PBDEs. The synchronous fluorescence showed that the emission maximum wavelength of tryptophan (TRP) residues emerged a red-shift. FT-IR spectra indicated that BDE25, BDE47 and BDE154 induced the α-helix percentage of HEWL decreased from 32.70% ± 1.64% to 28.27% ± 1.41%, 27.50% ± 1.38% and 29.78% ± 1.49%, respectively, whereas the percentage of random coil increased from 26.67% ± 1.33% to 27.60% ± 1.38%, 29.18% ± 1.46% and 30.59% ± 1.53%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiu Zuo
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
| | - Yuefan Rui
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
| | - Jie Xu
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
| | - Lulu Yang
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
| | - Zhongsheng Yi
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
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49
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Characterization of the binding of per- and poly-fluorinated substances to proteins: A methodological review. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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50
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Huang M, Dzierlenga A, Robinson V, Waidyanatha S, DeVito M, Eifrid M, Granville C, Gibbs S, Blystone C. Toxicokinetics of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane-1-sulphonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in male and female Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD rats after intravenous and gavage administration. Toxicol Rep 2019; 6:645-655. [PMID: 31334035 PMCID: PMC6624215 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2019.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In rats, the half-life of perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids decreased with shorter chain lengths. Sex differences in kinetics were found for PFBS and PFHxS but not PFOS. Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids were highly present in the liver but not the brain.
Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants that have been detected in the environment and in humans. With the PFAS chemical class, there are perfluorinated alkyl acids, many of which have been associated with certain toxicities. Because toxicity testing cannot feasibly be conducted for each individual PFAS, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) designed studies to compare toxicities across different subclasses of PFAS and across PFAS of different chain lengths to better understand the structure-toxicity relationship. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in parallel to these toxicity studies to facilitate comparisons across PFAS and to provide context for human relevance. Here, the toxicokinetic parameters of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane-1-sulphonic acid (PFHxS), or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) after a single intravenous or gavage administration in male and female Hsd:Sprague-Dawley rats are reported. Concentrations of these PFAS were measured in the liver, kidney, and brain. Plasma half-life increased with longer chain length after gavage administration: PFBS- males averaged 3.3 h, females 1.3 h; PFHxS- males averaged 16.3 days, females 2.1 days; PFOS- males and females averaged ˜ 20 days. There were dose-dependent changes in clearance and systemic exposure for all administered chemicals and the direction of change was different in PFOS compared to the others. Liver:plasma ratios of PFOS were the highest followed by PFHxS and PFBS, while brain:plasma ratios were low in all three sulfonates. Sex differences in plasma half-life and tissue distribution were observed for PFBS and PFHxS, but not PFOS. These data provide a direct comparison of the kinetics of three different perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids and allow for the contextualization of toxicity data in rats for human risk assessment of this chemical class.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.C. Huang
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - A.L. Dzierlenga
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - V.G. Robinson
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - S. Waidyanatha
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - M.J. DeVito
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - M.A. Eifrid
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, 43201, United States
| | - C.A. Granville
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, 43201, United States
| | - S.T. Gibbs
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, 43201, United States
| | - C.R. Blystone
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
- Corresponding author at: Division of the National Toxicology Program, NIEHS, PO Box 12233 (MD K2-12), Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, United States.
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