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Tursi AR, Lindeman B, Kristoffersen AB, Hjertholm H, Bronder E, Andreassen M, Husøy T, Dirven H, Andorf S, Nygaard UC. Immune cell profiles associated with human exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) suggest changes in natural killer, T helper, and T cytotoxic cell subpopulations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 256:119221. [PMID: 38795951 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119221] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitutes a group of highly persistent man-made substances. Recent evidence indicates that PFAS negatively impact the immune system. However, it remains unclear how different PFAS are associated with alterations in circulating leukocyte subpopulations. More detailed knowledge of such potential associations can provide better understanding into mechanisms of PFAS immunotoxicity in humans. In this exploratory study, associations of serum levels of common PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)) and immune cell profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, both with and without immunostimulation, were investigated. High-dimensional single cell analysis by mass cytometry was done on blood leukocytes from fifty participants in the Norwegian human biomonitoring EuroMix study. Different PFAS were associated with changes in various subpopulations of natural killer (NK), T helper (Th), and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells. Broadly, PFAS concentrations were related to increased frequencies of NK cells and activated subpopulations of NK cells. Additionally, increased levels of activated T helper memory cell subpopulations point to Th2/Th17 and Treg-like skewed profiles. Finally, PFAS concentrations were associated with decreased frequencies of T cytotoxic cell subpopulations with CXCR3+ effector memory (EM) phenotypes. Several of these observations point to biologically plausible mechanisms that may contribute to explaining the epidemiological reports of immunosuppression by PFAS. Our results suggest that PFAS exposures even at relatively low levels are associated with changes in immune cell subpopulations, a finding which should be explored more thoroughly in a larger cohort. Additionally, causal relationships should be confirmed in experimental studies. Overall, this study demonstrates the strength of profiling by mass cytometry in revealing detailed changes in immune cells at a single cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Tursi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Trine Husøy
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Sandra Andorf
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Bline AP, DeWitt JC, Kwiatkowski CF, Pelch KE, Reade A, Varshavsky JR. Public Health Risks of PFAS-Related Immunotoxicity Are Real. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:118-127. [PMID: 38526771 PMCID: PMC11081924 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00441-y] [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] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The discovery of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and humans worldwide has ignited scientific research, government inquiry, and public concern over numerous adverse health effects associated with PFAS exposure. In this review, we discuss the use of PFAS immunotoxicity data in regulatory and clinical decision-making contexts and question whether recent efforts adequately account for PFAS immunotoxicity in public health decision-making. RECENT FINDINGS Government and academic reviews confirm the strongest human evidence for PFAS immunotoxicity is reduced antibody production in response to vaccinations, particularly for tetanus and diphtheria. However, recent events, such as the economic analysis supporting the proposed national primary drinking water regulations and clinical monitoring recommendations, indicate a failure to adequately incorporate these data into regulatory and clinical decisions. To be more protective of public health, we recommend using all relevant immunotoxicity data to inform current and future PFAS-related chemical risk assessment and regulation. Biological measures of immune system effects, such as reduced antibody levels in response to vaccination, should be used as valid and informative markers of health outcomes and risks associated with PFAS exposure. Routine toxicity testing should be expanded to include immunotoxicity evaluations in adult and developing organisms. In addition, clinical recommendations for PFAS-exposed individuals and communities should be revisited and strengthened to provide guidance on incorporating immune system monitoring and other actions that can be taken to protect against adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail P Bline
- Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Silent Spring Institute, Newton, MA, 02460, USA.
| | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Carol F Kwiatkowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | | | - Anna Reade
- Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, CA, 94104, USA
| | - Julia R Varshavsky
- Departments of Health Sciences and Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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Iwata H, Kobayashi S, Itoh M, Itoh S, Mesfin Ketema R, Tamura N, Miyashita C, Yamaguchi T, Yamazaki K, Masuda H, Ait Bamai Y, Saijo Y, Ito Y, Nakayama SF, Kamijima M, Kishi R. The association between prenatal per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance levels and Kawasaki disease among children of up to 4 years of age: A prospective birth cohort of the Japan Environment and Children's study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108321. [PMID: 38061246 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Kawasaki disease (KD) is common among pediatric patients and is associated with an increased risk of later cardiovascular complications, though the precise pathophysiology of KD remains unknown. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gathered notoriety as the causal pathogens of numerous diseases as well as for their immunosuppressive effects. The present epidemiological study aims to assess whether PFAS may affect KD risk. We evaluated research participants included in the ongoing prospective nationwide birth cohort of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). Among the over 100,000 pregnant women enrolled in the JECS study, 28 types of PFAS were measured in pregnancy in a subset of participants (N = 25,040). The JECS followed their children born between 2011 and 2014 (n total infants = 25,256; n Kawasaki disease infants = 271), up to age four. Among the 28 types of PFAS, those which were detected in >60 % of participants at levels above the method reporting limit (MRL) were eligible for analyses. Multivariable logistic regressions were implemented on the seven eligible PFAS, adjusting for multiple comparison effects. Finally, we conducted Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the effects of the PFAS mixture on KD. Therefore, we ran the BKMR model using kernel mechanical regression equations to examine PFAS exposure and the outcomes of KD. Upon analysis, the adjusted multivariable regression results did not reach statistical significance for the seven eligible substances on KD, while odds ratios were all under 1.0. WQS regression was used to estimate the mixture effect of the seven eligible PFAS, revealing a negative correlation with KD incidence; similarly, BKMR implied an inverse association between the PFAS mixture effect and KD incidence. In conclusion, PFAS exposure was not associated with increased KD incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyoshi Iwata
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Sumitaka Kobayashi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Division of Epidemiological Research for Chemical Disorders, Research Center for Chemical Information and Management, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, 6-21-1, Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8585, Japan
| | - Mariko Itoh
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Sachiko Itoh
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Rahel Mesfin Ketema
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Naomi Tamura
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yamaguchi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Keiko Yamazaki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Masuda
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, 1-1-20 Shinmachi, Nishitokyo, Tokyo 202-8585, Japan
| | - Yu Ait Bamai
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, University Square 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Yasuaki Saijo
- Division of Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, 1-1-1 Midorigaoka-higashi-2-jo, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Ito
- Faculty of Nursing, Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing, 664-1 Akebono-cho, Kitami 090-0011, Japan
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Michihiro Kamijima
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
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Hollister J, Caban-Martinez AJ, Ellingson KD, Beitel S, Fowlkes AL, Lutrick K, Tyner HL, Naleway AL, Yoon SK, Gaglani M, Hunt D, Meece J, Mayo Lamberte J, Schaefer Solle N, Rose S, Dunnigan K, Khan SM, Kuntz JL, Fisher JM, Coleman A, Britton A, Thiese MS, Hegmann KT, Pavuk M, Ramadan FA, Fuller S, Nematollahi A, Sprissler R, Burgess JL. Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations and longitudinal change in post-infection and post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117297. [PMID: 37816422 PMCID: PMC10842580 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117297] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous throughout the United States. Previous studies have shown PFAS exposure to be associated with a reduced immune response. However, the relationship between serum PFAS and antibody levels following SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination has not been examined. We examined differences in peak immune response and the longitudinal decline of antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination by serum PFAS levels in a cohort of essential workers in the United States. We measured serum antibodies using an in-house semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two cohorts contributed blood samples following SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination. We used linear mixed regression models, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, gender, presence of chronic conditions, location, and occupation, to estimate differences in immune response with respect to serum PFAS levels. Our study populations included 153 unvaccinated participants that contributed 316 blood draws over a 14-month period following infection, and 860 participants and 2451 blood draws over a 12-month period following vaccination. Higher perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) concentrations were associated with a lower peak antibody response after infection (p = 0.009, 0.031, 0.015). Higher PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFHxS, and PFNA concentrations were associated with slower declines in antibodies over time after infection (p = 0.003, 0.014, 0.026, 0.025). PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA serum concentrations prior to vaccination were not associated with differences in peak antibody response after vaccination or with differences in decline of antibodies over time after vaccination. These results suggest that elevated PFAS may impede potential immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection by blunting peak antibody levels following infection; the same finding was not observed for immune response to vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hollister
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Alberto J Caban-Martinez
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, USA
| | - Katherine D Ellingson
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Shawn Beitel
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Karen Lutrick
- College of Medicine - Tucson, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Allison L Naleway
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sarang K Yoon
- University of Utah Health, Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, USA
| | - Manjusha Gaglani
- Baylor Scott and White Health, Temple, TX, USA; Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | - Natasha Schaefer Solle
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, USA
| | | | | | - Sana M Khan
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jennifer L Kuntz
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Alissa Coleman
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Matthew S Thiese
- Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kurt T Hegmann
- Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Marian Pavuk
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ferris A Ramadan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Amy Nematollahi
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Ryan Sprissler
- University of Arizona Genetics Core, Office for Research, Innovation and Impact, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jefferey L Burgess
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Wang N, Jagani R, Nwobodo N, Ma J. Toxicity of environmentally relevant concentration of PFAS chemicals in Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaeta, Lumbriculidae) - A multi-bioindicator study. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 268:115722. [PMID: 37992644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115722] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of man-made chemicals found in a variety of products from non-stick cookware and food wrappers to firefighting foams. PFAS are persistent and widely distributed in the environment, including aquatic environments. In this study we examined the impact of PFAS chemicals on the physiological and behavioral endpoints of Lumbriculus variegatus (i.e., blackworms). Lumbriculus variegatus is a species of freshwater annelid worm that plays key roles in shallow freshwater ecosystems. At an environmentally relevant concentration of 1 μg/L, 12-day aqueous exposure to long chain PFAS, including PFOA, PFOS and PFDA, each markedly slowed the pulse rate of the dorsal blood vessel in L. variegatus, indicating a suppressive effect on blood circulation. The mean pulse rate was reduced from 9.6 beats/minute to 6.2 and 7.0 beats/min in PFOA and PFOS, respectively (P < 0.0001). Further, PFOA, PFOS and PFDA reduced the escape responsiveness of L. variegatus to physical stimulation. The percentage of worms showing normal escape behavior was reduced from 99.0% in control to 90.6% in the PFOS exposed group (P < 0.01). In a chronic (4 week) growth study, exposure to overlying water and sediment spiked with PFOA, PFOS or PFDA reduced the total biomass and the number of worms, indicating a suppressive effect on worm population growth. For instance, PFOA and PFDA reduced the total dry biomass by 26.3% and 28.5%, respectively, compared to the control (P < 0.05). The impact of PFAS on blackworm physiology is accompanied by an increase in lipid peroxidation. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and catalase, a major antioxidant enzyme, were markedly increased in PFOA, PFOS and PFDA exposed groups. Interestingly, exposure to PFHxA, a short chain PFAS, had no detectable effect on any of the measured endpoints. Our results demonstrate that L. variegatus is highly sensitive to the toxic impact of long chain PFAS chemicals as measured by multiple endpoints including blood circulation, behavior, and population growth. Such toxicity may have a detrimental impact on L. variegatus and the freshwater ecosystems where it resides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ravikumar Jagani
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY,USA
| | - Nigel Nwobodo
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jianyong Ma
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Starling AP. Invited Perspective: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Impaired Antibody Response to Vaccination-Who Is Affected? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:81304. [PMID: 37578903 PMCID: PMC10424815 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne P. Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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