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Sdougkou K, Papazian S, Bonnefille B, Xie H, Edfors F, Fagerberg L, Uhlén M, Bergström G, Martin LJ, Martin JW. Longitudinal Exposomics in a Multiomic Wellness Cohort Reveals Distinctive and Dynamic Environmental Chemical Mixtures in Blood. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:16302-16315. [PMID: 39236221 PMCID: PMC11411717 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c05235] [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: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Chemical exposomes can now be comprehensively measured in human blood, but knowledge of their variability and longitudinal stability is required for robust application in cohort studies. Here, we applied high-resolution chemical exposomics to plasma of 46 adults, each sampled 6 times over 2 years in a multiomic cohort, resulting in 276 individual exposomes. In addition to quantitative analysis of 83 priority target analytes, we discovered and semiquantified substances that have rarely or never been reported in humans, including personal care products, pesticide transformation products, and polymer additives. Hierarchical cluster analysis for 519 confidently annotated substances revealed unique and distinctive coexposures, including clustered pesticides, poly(ethylene glycols), chlorinated phenols, or natural substances from tea and coffee; interactive heatmaps were publicly deposited to support open exploration of the complex (meta)data. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for all annotated substances demonstrated the relatively low stability of the exposome compared to that of proteome, microbiome, and endogenous small molecules. Implications are that the chemical exposome must be measured more frequently than other omics in longitudinal studies and four longitudinal exposure types are defined that can be considered in study design. In this small cohort, mixed-effect models nevertheless revealed significant associations between testosterone and perfluoroalkyl substances, demonstrating great potential for longitudinal exposomics in precision health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliroi Sdougkou
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
| | - Stefano Papazian
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
- National Facility for Exposomics, Metabolomics Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna 171 65, Sweden
| | - Bénilde Bonnefille
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
- National Facility for Exposomics, Metabolomics Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna 171 65, Sweden
| | - Hongyu Xie
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Edfors
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 100 44, Sweden
| | - Linn Fagerberg
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 100 44, Sweden
| | - Mathias Uhlén
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 100 44, Sweden
| | - Göran Bergström
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg 413 45, Sweden
| | | | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
- National Facility for Exposomics, Metabolomics Platform, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna 171 65, Sweden
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Medina H, Farmer C. Current Challenges in Monitoring Low Contaminant Levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Water Matrices in the Field. TOXICS 2024; 12:610. [PMID: 39195712 PMCID: PMC11358922 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12080610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States recently released the first-ever federal regulation on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) for drinking water. While this represents an important landmark, it also brings about compliance challenges to the stakeholders in the drinking water industry as well as concerns to the general public. In this work, we address some of the most important challenges associated with measuring low concentrations of PFASs in drinking water in the field in real drinking water matrices. First, we review the "continuous monitoring for compliance" process laid out by the EPA and some of the associated hurdles. The process requires measuring, with some frequency, low concentrations (e.g., below 2 ppt or 2 ng/L) of targeted PFASs, in the presence of many other co-contaminants and in various conditions. Currently, this task can only (and it is expected to) be accomplished using specific protocols that rely on expensive, specialized, and laboratory-scale instrumentation, which adds time and increases cost. To potentially reduce the burden, portable, high-fidelity, low-cost, real-time PFAS sensors are desirable; however, the path to commercialization of some of the most promising technologies is confronted with many challenges, as well, and they are still at infant stages. Here, we provide insights related to those challenges based on results from ab initio and machine learning studies. These challenges are mainly due to the large amount and diversity of PFAS molecules and their multifunctional behaviors that depend strongly on the conditions of the media. The impetus of this work is to present relevant and timely insights to researchers and developers to accelerate the development of suitable PFAS monitoring systems. In addition, this work attempts to provide water system stakeholders, technicians, and even regulators guidelines to improve their strategies, which could ultimately translate in better services to the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Medina
- School of Engineering, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 24515, USA
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Pesonen M, Vähäkangas K. Involvement of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds in tumor development. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1241-1252. [PMID: 38478087 PMCID: PMC10965717 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03685-7] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic persistent chemicals, which are used in many industrial and commercial applications. Hundreds of different PFAS have been identified in the environment and they are commonly found also in human blood. Due to the chemical stability and extensive use, PFAS pose a risk for human health and wildlife. Mounting evidence indicates that PFAS-exposure adversely affects many organs including liver, kidney, and reproductive tissues and induces tumors in laboratory rodents. Epidemiological studies show association between PFAS-exposure and some tumors also in humans. Effects of PFAS-exposure are complex and obviously do not depend only on the concentration and the structure of PFAS, but also on age and sex of the exposed individuals. It has been difficult to show a causal link between PFAS-exposure and tumors. Moreover, molecular mechanisms of the PFAS effects in different tissues are poorly understood. PFAS are not directly mutagenic and they do not induce formation of DNA binding metabolites, and thus are assumed to act more through non-genotoxic mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the involvement of PFAS-compounds in tumor development in tissues where PFAS exposure has been associated with cancer in epidemiological and animal studies (liver, kidney, testicle and breast). We will focus on molecular pathways and mechanisms related to tumor formation following PFAS-exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maija Pesonen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy/Toxicology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Kirsi Vähäkangas
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy/Toxicology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
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Qin XD, Zhou Y, Bloom MS, Qian Z(M, Geiger SD, Vaughn MG, Chu C, Li QQ, Yang BY, Hu LW, Yu Y, Zeng XW, Dong GH. Prenatal Exposure to PFAS, Associations with Preterm Birth and Modification by Maternal Estrogen Levels: The Maoming Birth Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:117006. [PMID: 37962440 PMCID: PMC10644897 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estrogens play a critical role in parturition, and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have estrogenic effects, have been associated with preterm birth. However, the impact of estrogens on the association between PFAS and preterm birth is unknown. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to investigate if estrogens modified the association between PFAS and preterm birth, using a nested case-control study design. METHODS A total of 371 preterm births and 508 controls were selected from a birth cohort study in China between 2016 and 2018. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and its branched isomer, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and its branched isomer, and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were quantified in maternal serum (mean gestational age of 32 wk). Estradiol and estriol were quantified in cord serum. Preterm birth was defined as live delivery at < 37 gestational weeks. Causal mediation analysis was used to estimate the mediation and interaction effects of estrogen on the association between PFAS and preterm birth. Latent profile analysis was used to identify important estrogen profiles. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate associations between PFAS and preterm birth and interactions between PFAS and estrogens on preterm birth. RESULTS Overall, higher odds ratios (ORs) of preterm birth were associated with each 1 ln-unit PFAS increase: PFBA [1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 1.26], PFNA (1.30, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.39), PFOA (1.98, 95% CI: 1.54, 2.55), and PFOS (1.91, 95% CI: 1.76, 2.07) and its branched isomer (1.91, 95% CI: 1.90, 1.92). We detected statistically significant interactions between cord estradiol and PFAS on preterm birth, while no mediation effects of cord estrogen were observed. The ORs of PFOS (4.29, 95% CI: 1.31, 8.25), its branched isomer (6.71, 95% CI: 1.06, 11.91), and preterm birth were greater for participants with high cord estrogen levels than for participants with low cord estrogen levels. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that estrogen modified the association between maternal PFAS exposure and preterm birth. Further studies on maternal PFAS exposure and preterm birth, taking interaction effects of cord estrogens into account, are warranted. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11377.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Di Qin
- Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Michael S. Bloom
- Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Zhengmin (Min) Qian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sarah Dee Geiger
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael G. Vaughn
- School of Social Work, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Chu Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing-Qing Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo-Yi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Wen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunjiang Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Zhang Y, Lv J, Fan YJ, Tao L, Xu J, Tang W, Sun N, Zhao LL, Xu DX, Huang Y. Evaluating the Effect of Gestational Exposure to Perfluorohexane Sulfonate on Placental Development in Mice Combining Alternative Splicing and Gene Expression Analyses. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:117011. [PMID: 37995155 PMCID: PMC10666825 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) is a frequently detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance in most populations, including in individuals who are pregnant, a period critical for early life development. Despite epidemiological evidence of exposure, developmental toxicity, particularly at realistic human exposures, remains understudied. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the effect of gestational exposure to human-relevant body burden of PFHxS on fetal and placental development and explored mechanisms of action combining alternative splicing (AS) and gene expression (GE) analyses. METHODS Pregnant ICR mice were exposed to 0, 0.03, and 0.3 μ g / kg / day from gestational day 7 to day 17 via oral gavage. Upon euthanasia, PFHxS distribution was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Maternal and fetal phenotypes were recorded, and histopathology was examined for placenta impairment. Multiomics was adopted by combining AS and GE analyses to unveil disruptions in mRNA quality and quantity. The key metabolite transporters were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for quantification and three-dimensional (3D) structural simulation by AlphaFold2. Targeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect amino acid and amides levels in the placenta. RESULTS Pups developmentally exposed to PFHxS exhibited signs of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), characterized by smaller fetal weight and body length (p < 0.01 ) compared to control mice. PFHxS concentration in maternal plasma was 5.01 ± 0.54 ng / mL . PFHxS trans-placenta distribution suggested dose-dependent transfer through placental barrier. Histopathology of placenta of exposed dams showed placental dysplasia, manifested with an attenuated labyrinthine layer area and deescalated blood sinus counts and placental vascular development index marker CD34. Combined GE and AS analyses pinpointed differences in genes associated with key biological processes of placental development, proliferation, metabolism, and transport in placenta of exposed dams compared to that of control dams. Further detection of placental key transporter gene expression, protein structure simulation, and amino acid and amide metabolites levels suggested that PFHxS exposure during pregnancy led to impairment of placental amino acid transportation. DISCUSSION The findings from this study suggest that exposure to human-relevant very-low-dose PFHxS during pregnancy in mice caused IUGR, likely via downregulating of placental amino acid transporters, thereby impairing placental amino acid transportation, resulting in impairment of placental development. Our findings confirm epidemiological findings and call for future attention on the health risk of this persistent yet ubiquitous chemical in the early developmental stage and provide a new approach for understanding gene expression from both quantitative and qualitative omics approaches in toxicological studies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13217.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihao Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jia Lv
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Jun Fan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weitian Tang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Nan Sun
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ling-Li Zhao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the PRC, Hefei, China
| | - Yichao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the PRC, Hefei, China
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Tan Y, Taibl KR, Dunlop AL, Barr DB, Panuwet P, Yakimavets V, Kannan K, Corwin EJ, Ryan PB, Eatman JA, Liang D, Eick SM. Association between a Mixture of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Inflammatory Biomarkers in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:13419-13428. [PMID: 37649345 PMCID: PMC10900195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04688] [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] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been identified as environmental contributors to adverse birth outcomes. One potential mechanistic pathway could be through PFAS-related inflammation and cytokine production. Here, we examined associations between a PFAS mixture and inflammatory biomarkers during early and late pregnancy from participants enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort (N = 425). Serum concentrations of multiple PFAS were detected in >90% samples at 8-14 weeks gestation. Serum concentrations of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at up to two time points (8-14 weeks and 24-30 weeks gestation). The effect of the PFAS mixture on each inflammatory biomarker was examined using quantile g-computation, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), Bayesian Weighted Sums (BWS), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. Across all models, the PFAS mixture was associated with increased IFN-γ, IL-10, and TNF-α at both time points, with the strongest effects being observed at 24-30 weeks. Using quantile g-computation, increasing concentrations of a PFAS mixture were associated with a 29% (95% confidence interval = 18.0%, 40.7%) increase in TNF-α at 24-30 weeks. Similarly, using BWS, the PFAS mixture was associated with increased TNF-α at 24-30 weeks (summed effect = 0.29, 95% highest posterior density = 0.17, 0.41). The PFAS mixture was also positively associated with TNF-α at 24-30 weeks using BKMR [75th vs 50th percentile: 17.1% (95% credible interval = 7.7%, 27.4%)]. Meanwhile, PFOS was consistently the main drivers of overall mixture effect across four methods. Our findings indicated an increase in prenatal PFAS exposure is associated with an increase in multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, potentially contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youran Tan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Kaitlin R. Taibl
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Anne L. Dunlop
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Dana Boyd Barr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Parinya Panuwet
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Volha Yakimavets
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, 10016, NY, USA
| | | | - P. Barry Ryan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Jasmin A. Eatman
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Donghai Liang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Eick
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
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Yao W, Xu J, Tang W, Gao C, Tao L, Yu J, Lv J, Wang H, Fan Y, Xu DX, Huang Y. Developmental toxicity of perfluorohexane sulfonate at human relevant dose during pregnancy via disruption in placental lipid homeostasis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 177:108014. [PMID: 37315490 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorohexyl sulfonate (PFHxS) is the third most abundant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and its developmental toxicity remains very poorly understood. Here, pregnant mice exposed to PFHxS at human relevant dose showed increased fetal death incidence in the high-dose PFHxS-H group (P < 0.01). Body distribution analyses suggested that PFHxS crossed the placental barrier reaching the fetus in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological data demonstrated impairment in the placenta with reduced blood sinus volume, placental labyrinth area as well as thickness of labyrinthine layer. Further lipidomic and transcriptomic data together showed that PFHxS exposure caused significant disruption in placental lipid homeostasis, including total lipid accumulation in the placenta, and dysregulation in phospholipid and glycerol lipid metabolism. Gene expression analyses uncovered elevation in key placental fatty acid transporters including fabp2, whereas protein expression showed transporter specific disruptions following exposure. Together, gestational exposure to human relevant level of PFHxS may increase the incidence of fetal deaths and caused placental dysplasia via disruption in lipid metabolism homeostasis. These findings raise the concern regarding the highly prevalent and persistent chemical towards early sensitive developing stages and provide basis for further understanding of its effects on lipid metabolism and underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencong Yao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weitian Tang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chang Gao
- Division of Birth Cohort Study, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jia Lv
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yijun Fan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Yichao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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Zhuchen HY, Wang JY, Liu XS, Shi YW. Research Progress on Neurodevelopmental Toxicity in Offspring after Indirect Exposure to PFASs in Early Life. TOXICS 2023; 11:571. [PMID: 37505537 PMCID: PMC10386615 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widespread environmental pollutants. There is increasing evidence that PFASs have various adverse health effects, including renal toxicity, metabolic dysfunction, endocrine disruption, and developmental toxicity. PFASs have been found to accumulate in the placenta, and some PFASs can cross the placental barrier and subsequently accumulate in the fetus via the maternal-fetal circulation. An increasing number of studies have shown that early life exposure to PFASs can affect fetal neurodevelopment. This paper reviews the characteristics of indirect exposure to PFASs in early life, the effects on neurodevelopment in offspring, and the possible mechanisms of toxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huai-Yu Zhuchen
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jie-Yu Wang
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Shan Liu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Yan-Wei Shi
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou 510000, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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Jain RB. Serum concentrations of perfluoro-1-heptane sulfonate (PFHpS) among US adults: variabilities across different stages of kidney function. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:23184-23191. [PMID: 36316548 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23881-1] [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: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For the first time, data (N = 1311) from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2017-2018 were analyzed for gender and racial/ethnic differences for perfluoro-1-heptane sulfonate (PFHpS) for US adults aged ≥ 20 years. In addition, variability in adjusted concentrations across various stages of glomerular filtration (GF) was also studied. While no racial/ethnic differences were observed, males had statistically significantly higher concentrations of PFHpS than females (0.30 vs. 0.19 ng/mL, p < 0.01). Concentrations of PFHpS across various stages of kidney function were located on inverted U-shaped curves with point of inflection located at GF-3A (45 ≤ eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) for all participants, males, as well as females. After moderate increase from GF-1 (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) to GF-2 (60 ≤ eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2), the increase in PFHpS concentration from GF-2 to GF-3A was quite steep. For example, for females, concentration from GF-1 to GF-2 increased from 0.17 ng/mL to 0.23 ng/mL for an increase of 35% but from GF-2 to GF-3A, concentrations of PFHpS increased from 0.23 ng/mL to 0.43 ng/mL for an increase of about 87%. Following this, at GF-3B/4 (15 ≤ eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2), concentrations decreased sharply to the almost the same levels as for GF-1. For example, for males, the decrease from GF-3A (0.67 ng/mL) to GF-3B/4 (0.21 ng/mL) was about 69%. Concentration curves for each race/ethnicity were also located on inverted U-shaped curves but relatively very small sample sizes for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Asians, and others at GF-3A and GF-3B/4 lead to substantial variability. The balance between reabsorption-excretion in favor of reabsorption at GF-1 and GF-2 switched to in favor of excretion starting at the end of GF-3A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram B Jain
- , 4331 Kendrick Circle, Loganville, Ga, USA.
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10
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Eick SM, Barr DB, Brennan PA, Taibl KR, Tan Y, Robinson M, Kannan K, Panuwet P, Yakimavets V, Ryan PB, Liang D, Dunlop AL. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and psychosocial stressors have a joint effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child cohort. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159450. [PMID: 36252672 PMCID: PMC9884463 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND African Americans (AAs) experience high rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes relative to Whites. Differential in utero exposure to environmental chemicals and psychosocial stressors may explain some of the observed health disparities, as exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and experiences of discrimination have been linked to adverse birth outcomes. Few studies have examined chemicals and non-chemical stressors together as an exposure mixture, which may better reflect real-life exposure patterns. Here, we adapted methods designed for the analysis of exposure mixtures to examine joint effects of PFAS and psychosocial stress on birth outcomes among AAs. METHODS 348 participants from the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child cohort were included in this study. Four PFAS were measured in first trimester serum samples. Self-report questionnaires were administered during the first trimester and were used to assess psychosocial stress (perceived stress, depression, anxiety, gendered racial stress). Quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to estimate the joint effects between PFAS and psychosocial stressors on gestational age at delivery and birthweight for gestational age z-scores. All models were adjusted for maternal education, maternal age, parity, and any alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use. RESULTS Our analytic sample included a socioeconomically diverse group of pregnant women, with 79 % receiving public health insurance. In quantile g-computation models, a simultaneous one-quartile increase in all PFAS, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and gendered racial stress was associated with a reduction in birthweight z-scores (mean %change per quartile increase = -0.24, 95 % confidence interval = -0.43, -0.06). BKMR similarly showed that increasing all exposures in the mixture was associated with a modest decrease in birthweight z-scores, but not a reduced length of gestation. DISCUSSION Using methods designed for analyzing exposure mixtures, we found that a simultaneous increase in in utero PFAS and psychosocial stressors was associated with reduced birthweight for gestational age z-scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Eick
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Dana Boyd Barr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Kaitlin R Taibl
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Youran Tan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Morgan Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Parinya Panuwet
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Volha Yakimavets
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - P Barry Ryan
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Donghai Liang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anne L Dunlop
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Kang H, Calafat AM, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Park SK. Isomer-Specific Serum Concentrations of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid among U.S. Adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:385-394. [PMID: 36534511 PMCID: PMC10103141 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical fluorination manufacture of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), one of the most studied per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, produces mixtures of linear and branched isomers, but little is known about human exposure to linear or branched PFOS isomers. We examined determinants affecting isomer-specific patterns of PFOS in serum in two adult populations in the United States, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS). After adjusting for demographic variables, fish consumption (in both populations), a glomerular filtration rate above 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (observed in NHANES; not tested in SWAN-MPS), premenopausal status (only observed in SWAN-MPS), and less consumption of processed food (observed in SWAN-MPS; not tested in NHANES) were associated with a higher proportion of linear PFOS. Non-Hispanic Black and Asian participants were likely to have a higher proportion of linear PFOS than non-Hispanic White participants in both populations. Our findings suggest that isomer-specific patterns of PFOS serum concentrations in humans vary depending on population characteristics that affect PFOS exposure and excretion. Consideration of specific PFOS isomers in future human biomonitoring and epidemiologic studies can provide useful insight to better understand PFOS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habyeong Kang
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan48109, United States
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia30341, United States
| | - Carrie A Karvonen-Gutierrez
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan48109, United States
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan48109, United States
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan48109, United States
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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: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [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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Boyd RI, Ahmad S, Singh R, Fazal Z, Prins GS, Madak Erdogan Z, Irudayaraj J, Spinella MJ. Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Poly- and Perfluoroalkylated Substances and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2919. [PMID: 35740585 PMCID: PMC9220899 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are chemicals that persist and bioaccumulate in the environment and are found in nearly all human populations through several routes of exposure. Human occupational and community exposure to PFAS has been associated with several cancers, including cancers of the kidney, testis, prostate, and liver. While evidence suggests that PFAS are not directly mutagenic, many diverse mechanisms of carcinogenicity have been proposed. In this mini-review, we organize these mechanisms into three major proposed pathways of PFAS action-metabolism, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic perturbation-and discuss how these distinct but interdependent pathways may explain many of the proposed pro-carcinogenic effects of the PFAS class of environmental contaminants. Notably, each of the pathways is predicted to be highly sensitive to the dose and window of exposure which may, in part, explain the variable epidemiologic and experimental evidence linking PFAS and cancer. We highlight testicular and prostate cancer as models to validate this concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raya I. Boyd
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Saeed Ahmad
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.A.); (J.I.)
| | - Ratnakar Singh
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Zeeshan Fazal
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Gail S. Prins
- Departments of Urology, Pathology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Zeynep Madak Erdogan
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph Irudayaraj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.A.); (J.I.)
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Michael J. Spinella
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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