Perfluorodecanoic acid promotes high-fat diet-triggered adiposity and hepatic lipid accumulation by modulating the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway in male C57BL/6J mice

The long-chain polyfluorinated alkyl substance perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) promotes bone marrow adipogenesis

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) bioaccumulate in different organ systems, including bone. While existing research highlights the adverse impact of PFAS on bone density, a critical gap remains in understanding the specific effects on the bone marrow microenvironment, especially the bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT). Changes in BMAT have been linked to various health consequences, such as the development of osteoporosis and the progression of metastatic tumors in bone. Studies presented herein demonstrate that exposure to a mixture of five environmentally relevant PFAS compounds promotes marrow adipogenesis in vitro and in vivo. We show that among the components of the mixture, PFHxS, an alternative to PFOS, has the highest propensity to accumulate in bone and effectively promote marrow adipogenesis. Utilizing RNAseq approaches, we identified the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling as a top pathway modulated by PFHxS exposure. Furthermore, we provide results suggesting the activation and involvement of PPAR-gamma (PPARγ) in PFHxS-mediated bone marrow adipogenesis, especially in combination with high-fat diet. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the potential impact of elevated PFHxS levels, particularly in occupational settings, on bone health, and specifically bone marrow adiposity. This study contributes new insights into the health risks of PFHxS exposure, urging further research on the relationship between environmental factors, diet, and adipose tissue dynamics.

Legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alter the lipid profile of HepaRG cells

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products. They have gained attention due to their ubiquitous occurrence in the environment and potential for adverse effects on human health, often linked to immune suppression, hepatotoxicity, and altered cholesterol metabolism. This study aimed to explore the impact of ten individual PFAS, 3 H-perfluoro-3-[(3-methoxypropoxy) propanoic acid] (PMPP/Adona), ammonium perfluoro-(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (HFPO-DA/GenX), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) on the lipid metabolism in human hepatocyte-like cells (HepaRG). These cells were exposed to different concentrations of PFAS ranging from 10 µM to 5000 µM. Lipids were extracted and analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC- MS-QTOF). PFOS at 10 µM and PFOA at 25 µM increased the levels of ceramide (Cer), diacylglycerol (DAG), N-acylethanolamine (NAE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and triacylglycerol (TAG) lipids, while PMPP/Adona, HFPO-DA/GenX, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, and PFHxS decreased the levels of these lipids. Furthermore, PFOA and PFOS markedly reduced the levels of palmitic acid (FA 16.0). The present study shows distinct concentration-dependent effects of PFAS on various lipid species, shedding light on the implications of PFAS for essential cellular functions. Our study revealed that the investigated legacy PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFBA, PFDA, PFHxA, PFHxS, and PFNA) and alternative PFAS (PMPP/Adona, HFPO-DA/GenX and PFBS) can potentially disrupt lipid homeostasis and metabolism in hepatic cells. This research offers a comprehensive insight into the impacts of legacy and alternative PFAS on lipid composition in HepaRG cells.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Reduces Perfluorodecanoic Acid-Exacerbated Adiposity and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in High-Fat Diet-Fed Male C57BL/6J Mice

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), an enduring and harmful organic pollutant, is widely employed in diverse food-related sectors. Our previous studies have provided evidence that PFDA has the potential to facilitate obesity and hepatic fat accumulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) intake. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol found in green tea, has been suggested to possess potential preventive effects against metabolic abnormalities and fatty liver. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of EGCG on PFDA-exacerbated adiposity and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. The results showed that EGCG reduced body weight gain; tissue and organ weights; blood glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and lipid parameters; serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and TNF-α); and hepatic lipid accumulation in PFDA-exposed mice fed an HFD. Further work showed that EGCG improved liver function and glucose homeostasis in mice fed an HFD and co-exposed to PFDA. The elevated hepatic mRNA levels of SREBP-1 and associated lipogenic genes, NLRP3, and caspase-1 in PFDA-exposed mice fed an HFD were significantly decreased by EGCG. Our work provides evidence for the potential anti-obesity effect of EGCG on co-exposure to HFD and PFDA and may call for further research on the bioactivity of EGCG to attenuate the endocrine disruption effects of long-term exposure to pollutants.