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Alijagic A, Sinisalu L, Duberg D, Kotlyar O, Scherbak N, Engwall M, Orešič M, Hyötyläinen T. Metabolic and phenotypic changes induced by PFAS exposure in two human hepatocyte cell models. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108820. [PMID: 38906088 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
PFAS are ubiquitous industrial chemicals with known adverse health effects, particularly on the liver. The liver, being a vital metabolic organ, is susceptible to PFAS-induced metabolic dysregulation, leading to conditions such as hepatotoxicity and metabolic disturbances. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic and metabolic responses of PFAS exposure using two hepatocyte models, HepG2 (male cell line) and HepaRG (female cell line), aiming to define phenotypic alterations, and metabolic disturbances at the metabolite and pathway levels. The PFAS mixture composition was selected based on epidemiological data, covering a broad concentration spectrum observed in diverse human populations. Phenotypic profiling by Cell Painting assay disclosed predominant effects of PFAS exposure on mitochondrial structure and function in both cell models as well as effects on F-actin, Golgi apparatus, and plasma membrane-associated measures. We employed comprehensive metabolic characterization using liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). We observed dose-dependent changes in the metabolic profiles, particularly in lipid, steroid, amino acid and sugar and carbohydrate metabolism in both cells as well as in cell media, with HepaRG cell line showing a stronger metabolic response. In cells, most of the bile acids, acylcarnitines and free fatty acids showed downregulation, while medium-chain fatty acids and carnosine were upregulated, while the cell media showed different response especially in relation to the bile acids in HepaRG cell media. Importantly, we observed also nonmonotonic response for several phenotypic features and metabolites. On the pathway level, PFAS exposure was also associated with pathways indicating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Taken together, our findings on PFAS-induced phenotypic and metabolic disruptions in hepatocytes shed light on potential mechanisms contributing to the broader comprehension of PFAS-related health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andi Alijagic
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Lisanna Sinisalu
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Daniel Duberg
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Oleksandr Kotlyar
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Centre for Applied Autonomous Sensor Systems (AASS), Mobile Robotics and Olfaction Lab (MRO), Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Nikolai Scherbak
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Magnus Engwall
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
| | - Matej Orešič
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Tuulia Hyötyläinen
- Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden.
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Hari A, AbdulHameed MDM, Balik-Meisner MR, Mav D, Phadke DP, Scholl EH, Shah RR, Casey W, Auerbach SS, Wallqvist A, Pannala VR. Exposure to PFAS chemicals induces sex-dependent alterations in key rate-limiting steps of lipid metabolism in liver steatosis. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1390196. [PMID: 38903859 PMCID: PMC11188372 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1390196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxicants with the potential to bioaccumulate in humans and animals have long been a cause for concern, particularly due to their association with multiple diseases and organ injuries. Per- and polyfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are two such classes of chemicals that bioaccumulate and have been associated with steatosis in the liver. Although PFAS and PAH are classified as chemicals of concern, their molecular mechanisms of toxicity remain to be explored in detail. In this study, we aimed to identify potential mechanisms by which an acute exposure to PFAS and PAH chemicals can induce lipid accumulation and whether the responses depend on chemical class, dose, and sex. To this end, we analyzed mechanisms beginning with the binding of the chemical to a molecular initiating event (MIE) and the consequent transcriptomic alterations. We collated potential MIEs using predictions from our previously developed ToxProfiler tool and from published steatosis adverse outcome pathways. Most of the MIEs are transcription factors, and we collected their target genes by mining the TRRUST database. To analyze the effects of PFAS and PAH on the steatosis mechanisms, we performed a computational MIE-target gene analysis on high-throughput transcriptomic measurements of liver tissue from male and female rats exposed to either a PFAS or PAH. The results showed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α targets to be the most dysregulated, with most of the genes being upregulated. Furthermore, PFAS exposure disrupted several lipid metabolism genes, including upregulation of fatty acid oxidation genes (Acadm, Acox1, Cpt2, Cyp4a1-3) and downregulation of lipid transport genes (Apoa1, Apoa5, Pltp). We also identified multiple genes with sex-specific behavior. Notably, the rate-limiting genes of gluconeogenesis (Pck1) and bile acid synthesis (Cyp7a1) were specifically downregulated in male rats compared to female rats, while the rate-limiting gene of lipid synthesis (Scd) showed a PFAS-specific upregulation. The results suggest that the PPAR signaling pathway plays a major role in PFAS-induced lipid accumulation in rats. Together, these results show that PFAS exposure induces a sex-specific multi-factorial mechanism involving rate-limiting genes of gluconeogenesis and bile acid synthesis that could lead to activation of an adverse outcome pathway for steatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Hari
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mohamed Diwan M. AbdulHameed
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | - Deepak Mav
- Sciome LLC, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | | | | | - Warren Casey
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Scott S. Auerbach
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Anders Wallqvist
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
| | - Venkat R. Pannala
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, United States
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Li Y, Xu C, Zhou X, Li J, Xu S, Tu Y, Mu X, Huang J, Huang Q, Kang L, Wang H, Zhang M, Yuan Y, Wu C, Zhang J. DNA adductomics aided rapid screening of genotoxic impurities using nucleosides and 3D bioprinted human liver organoids. Talanta 2024; 273:125902. [PMID: 38508126 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125902] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Current genotoxicity assessment methods are mainly employed to verify the genotoxic safety of drugs, but do not allow for rapid screening of specific genotoxic impurities (GTIs). In this study, a new approach for the recognition of GTIs has been proposed. It is to expose the complex samples to an in vitro nucleoside incubation model, and then draw complete DNA adduct profiles to infer the structures of potential genotoxic impurities (PGIs). Subsequently, the genotoxicity is confirmed in human by 3D bioprinted human liver organoids. To verify the feasibility of the approach, lansoprazole chloride compound (Lanchlor), a PGI during the synthesis of lansoprazole, was selected as the model drug. After confirming genotoxicity by Comet assay, it was exposed to different models to map and compare the DNA adduct profiles by LC-MS/MS. The results showed Lanchlor could generate diverse DNA adducts, revealing firstly its genotoxicity at molecular mechanism of action. Furthermore, the largest variety and content of DNA adducts were observed in the nucleoside incubation model, while the human liver organoids exhibited similar results with rats. The results showed that the combination of DNA adductomics and 3D bioprinted organoids were useful for the rapid screening of GTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Xueting Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jinhong Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Shiting Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yuanbo Tu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Xue Mu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jiajun Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Qing Huang
- Devision of Inspection Technology Research, Jiangsu Institute for Food and Drug Control, Nanjing, 210019, China
| | - Lifeng Kang
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Huaisong Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Devision of Inspection Technology Research, Jiangsu Institute for Food and Drug Control, Nanjing, 210019, China
| | - Yaozuo Yuan
- Devision of Inspection Technology Research, Jiangsu Institute for Food and Drug Control, Nanjing, 210019, China.
| | - Chunyong Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Junying Zhang
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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Li F, Yang R, Lu L, Hua W, Sun Y, Tian M, Lu Y, Huang Q. Comparative steroidogenic effects of hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA): Regulation of histone modifications. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 350:124030. [PMID: 38663511 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124030] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
As a widely used alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) has been detected in the environment and humans; however, little is known regarding its male reproductive toxicity. To compare the effects of HFPO-TA on steroid hormone synthesis with PFOA, we exposed Leydig cells (MLTC-1) to non-lethal doses (0.1, 1, and 10 μM) of PFOA and HFPO-TA for 48 h. It was found that the levels of steroid hormones, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (OHP), androstenedione (ASD), and testosterone (T) were significantly increased in 1 and 10 μM of PFOA and HFPO-TA groups, with greater elevation being observed in the HFPO-TA groups than in the PFOA groups at 10 μM. We further showed that the two rate-limiting steroidogenic genes (Star and Cyp11a1) were up-regulated, while Hsd3b, Cyp17a1, and Hsd17b were down-regulated or unchanged after PFOA/HFPO-TA exposure. Moreover, PFOA exposure significantly up-regulated histone H3K4me1/3 and H3K9me1, while down-regulated H3K4me2 and H3K9me2/3 levels. By contrast, H3K4me2/3 and H3K9me2/3 were enhanced, while H3K4me1 and H3K9me1 were repressed after HFPO-TA treatment. It was further confirmed that H3K4me1/3 were increased and H3K9me2 was decreased in Star and Cyp11a1 promoters by PFOA, while HFPO-TA increased H3K4me2/3 and decreased H3K9me1 in the two gene promoters. Therefore, we propose that low levels of PFOA/HFPO-TA enhance the expression of Star and Cyp11a1 by regulating H3K4 and H3K9 methylation, thus stimulating the production of steroid hormones in MLTC-1 cells. Collectively, HFPO-TA exhibits stronger effects on steroidogenesis compared to PFOA, which may be ascribed to the distinct regulation of histone modifications. These data suggest that HFPO-TA does not appear to be a safer alternative to PFOA on the aspect of male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuping Li
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Weizhen Hua
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meiping Tian
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yanyang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Qingyu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
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Chen P, Zhao N, Wang R, Chen G, Hu Y, Dou Z, Ban C. Hepatotoxicity and lipid metabolism disorders of 8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester in zebrafish: In vivo and in silico evidence. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133807. [PMID: 38412642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133807] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
8:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester (8:2 diPAP) has been shown to accumulate in the liver, but whether it induces hepatotoxicity and lipid metabolism disorders remains largely unknown. In this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 8:2 diPAP for 7 d. Hepatocellular hypertrophy and karyolysis were noted after exposure to 0.5 ng/L 8:2 diPAP, suggesting suppressed liver development. Compared to the water control, 8:2 diPAP led to significantly higher triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, but markedly lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, implying disturbed lipid homeostasis. The levels of two peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes (pparα and pparγ) involved in hepatotoxicity and lipid metabolism were significantly upregulated by 8:2 diPAP, consistent with their overexpression as determined by immunohistochemistry. In silico results showed that 8:2 diPAP formed hydrogen bonds with PPARα and PPARγ. Among seven machine learning models, Adaptive Boosting performed the best in predicting the binding affinities of PPARα and PPARγ on the test set. The predicted binding affinity of 8:2 diPAP to PPARα (7.12) was higher than that to PPARγ (6.97) by Adaptive Boosting, which matched well with the experimental results. Our results revealed PPAR - mediated adverse effects of 8:2 diPAP on the liver and lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Chen
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China.
| | - Na Zhao
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
| | - Ruihan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Geng Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuxi Hu
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
| | - Zhichao Dou
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
| | - Chenglong Ban
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
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Sen P, Fan Y, Schlezinger JJ, Ehrlich SD, Webster TF, Hyötyläinen T, Pedersen O, Orešič M. Exposure to environmental toxicants is associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis, insulin resistance and obesity. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108569. [PMID: 38522229 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108569] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Environmental toxicants (ETs) are associated with adverse health outcomes. Here we hypothesized that exposures to ETs are linked with obesity and insulin resistance partly through a dysbiotic gut microbiota and changes in the serum levels of secondary bile acids (BAs). Serum BAs, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and additional twenty-seven ETs were measured by mass spectrometry in 264 Danes (121 men and 143 women, aged 56.6 ± 7.3 years, BMI 29.7 ± 6.0 kg/m2) using a combination of targeted and suspect screening approaches. Bacterial species were identified based on whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) of DNA extracted from stool samples. Personalized genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) of gut microbial communities were developed to elucidate regulation of BA pathways. Subsequently, we compared findings from the human study with metabolic implications of exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in PPARα-humanized mice. Serum levels of twelve ETs were associated with obesity and insulin resistance. High chemical exposure was associated with increased abundance of several bacterial species (spp.) of genus (Anaerotruncus, Alistipes, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, Dorea, Eubacterium, Escherichia, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Roseburia, Subdoligranulum, and Veillonella), particularly in men. Conversely, females in the higher exposure group, showed a decrease abundance of Prevotella copri. High concentrations of ETs were correlated with increased levels of secondary BAs including lithocholic acid (LCA), and decreased levels of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In silico causal inference analyses suggested that microbiome-derived secondary BAs may act as mediators between ETs and obesity or insulin resistance. Furthermore, these findings were substantiated by the outcome of the murine exposure study. Our combined epidemiological and mechanistic studies suggest that multiple ETs may play a role in the etiology of obesity and insulin resistance. These effects may arise from disruptions in the microbial biosynthesis of secondary BAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partho Sen
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520, Turku, Finland; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Yong Fan
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jennifer J Schlezinger
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stanislav D Ehrlich
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3RX, UK
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tuulia Hyötyläinen
- MTM Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden.
| | - Oluf Pedersen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Herlev-Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Matej Orešič
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520, Turku, Finland; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden.
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Sadrabadi F, Alarcan J, Sprenger H, Braeuning A, Buhrke T. Impact of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and PFAS mixtures on lipid metabolism in differentiated HepaRG cells as a model for human hepatocytes. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:507-524. [PMID: 38117326 PMCID: PMC10794458 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03649-3] [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] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmental contaminants with various adverse health effects in humans including disruption of lipid metabolism. Aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of PFAS-mediated effects on lipid metabolism in human cells. Here, we examined the impact of a number of PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFHxS, PFBS, HFPO-DA, and PMPP) and of some exposure-relevant PFAS mixtures being composed of PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS on lipid metabolism in human HepaRG cells, an in vitro model for human hepatocytes. At near cytotoxic concentrations, the selected PFAS and PFAS mixtures induced triglyceride accumulation in HepaRG cells and consistently affected the expression of marker genes for steatosis, as well as PPARα target genes and genes related to lipid and cholesterol metabolism, pointing to common molecular mechanisms of PFAS in disrupting cellular lipid and cholesterol homeostasis. PPARα activation was examined by a transactivation assay in HEK293T cells, and synergistic effects were observed for the selected PFAS mixtures at sum concentrations higher than 25 µM, whereas additivity was observed at sum concentrations lower than 25 µM. Of note, any effect observed in the in vitro assays occurred at PFAS concentrations that were at least four to five magnitudes above real-life internal exposure levels of the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Sadrabadi
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jimmy Alarcan
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Sprenger
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Albert Braeuning
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Buhrke
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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Zhang Q, Wang Y, Shen X, Zhan M, Zhang J, Tian Y, Chen X. Environmental exposure to per- and perfluoroalkyl substances in early pregnancy and newborn anogenital distance: A prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:99704-99712. [PMID: 37615915 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29446-0] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, ubiquitous pollutants, and the current epidemiological evidence regarding the impact of in utero exposure to PFAS on anogenital distance (AGD) is limited and inconclusive. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the potential associations between maternal exposure to PFAS during pregnancy and AGD in newborns. A total of 2273 mother-child pairs were recruited for this study, and both PFAS levels and AGD were measured. Multiple linear regression models were utilized to explore the relationships between individual PFAS and AGD. Additionally, quantile-based g-computation (QGC) was employed to assess the joint effects of mixtures of PFAS on AGD. Our findings showed that maternal exposure to PFOS (β = 0.518, 95% CI: 0.093, 0.942), PFNA (β = 0.487, 95% CI: 0.037, 0.937), PFDA (β = 0.443, 95% CI: 0.048, 0.838), PFUA (β = 0.434, 95% CI: 0.031, 0.838), and PFBS (β = 0.444, 95% CI: 0.124, 0.763) during early pregnancy had a significant positive association with AGD in boys. Similarly, in girls, maternal exposure to PFOS (β = 0.423, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.841), PFNA (β = 0.641, 95% CI: 0.207, 1.074), PFDA (β = 0.670, 95% CI: 0.306, 1.033), PFUA (β = 0.895, 95% CI: 0.509, 1.281), and PFBS (β = 0.474, 95% CI: 0.178, 0.770) had a positive association with AGD, while PFOA (β = -1.254, 95% CI: -1.786, -0.723) had a negative association. QGC models further confirmed that PFAS mixtures were positively associated with AGD. Moreover, PFBS was the primary contributor to the joint effects of PFAS mixtures on AGD. In summary, our study has provided further corroboration for the possibility that PFAS exposure can have an impact on AGD in both boys and girls. The use of AGD as a promising biomarker for endocrine disruption highlights the significance of our findings, which may have valuable clinical implications for reproductive diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianlong Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaoli Shen
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ming Zhan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200135, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, 200135, China
- Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Shanghai, 200135, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ying Tian
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiangfeng Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200135, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, 200135, China.
- Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Shanghai, 200135, China.
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Murase W, Kubota A, Ikeda-Araki A, Terasaki M, Nakagawa K, Shizu R, Yoshinari K, Kojima H. Effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on gene expression profiles via nuclear receptors in HepaRG cells: Comparative study with in vitro transactivation assays. Toxicology 2023:153577. [PMID: 37302725 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a synthetic perfluorinated eight-carbon organic chemical, has been reported to induce hepatotoxicity, including increased liver weight, hepatocellular hypertrophy, necrosis, and increased peroxisome proliferation in rodents. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated associations between serum PFOA levels and various adverse effects. In this study, we investigated the gene expression profiles of human HepaRG cells exposed to 10 and 100 μM PFOA for 24h. Treatment with 10 and 100 μM PFOA significantly modulated the expression of 190 genes and 996 genes, respectively. In particular, genes upregulated or downregulated by 100µM PFOA included peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling genes related to lipid metabolism, adipocyte differentiation, and gluconeogenesis. In addition, we identified the "Nuclear receptors-meta pathways" following the activation of other nuclear receptors: constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR), and the transcription factor, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The expression levels of some target genes (CYP4A11, CYP2B6, CYP3A4, CYP7A1, and GPX2) of these nuclear receptors and Nrf2 were confirmed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Next, we performed transactivation assays using COS-7 or HEK293 cells to investigate whether these signaling-pathways were activated by the direct effects of PFOA on human PPARα, CAR, PXR, FXR and Nrf2. PFOA activated PPARα in a concentration-dependent manner, but did not activate CAR, PXR, FXR, or Nrf2. Taken together, these results suggest that PFOA affects the hepatic transcriptomic responses of HepaRG cells through direct activation of PPARα and indirect activation of CAR, PXR FXR and Nrf2. Our finding indicates that PPARα activation found in the "Nuclear receptors-meta pathways" functions as a molecular initiating event for PFOA, and indirect activation of alternative nuclear receptors and Nrf2 also provide important molecular mechanisms in PFOA-induced human hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Murase
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan
| | - Atsuhito Kubota
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ikeda-Araki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Masaru Terasaki
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan; Advanced Research Promotion Center, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan
| | - Koji Nakagawa
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan; Advanced Research Promotion Center, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan
| | - Ryota Shizu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | - Kouichi Yoshinari
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kojima
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan; Advanced Research Promotion Center, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan.
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