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Mahoney H, da Silva F, Brinkmann M, Giesy JP. Mixtures of legacy and replacement perfluorosulphonic acids (PFSAs) demonstrate ratio-, concentration- and endpoint-dependent synergistic interactions in vitro. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142446. [PMID: 38801907 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142446] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The extensive use of poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has les to their widespread presence in the environment, raising concerns about potential toxicity. While certain PFASs of concern have been phased-out or banned, new PFASs continue to be produced. Two such substances are perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulphonate (PFECHS) and perfluorobutane sulphamide (FBSA), replacements of perfluoroctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) that have recently been detected in multiple environmental media around the globe. Despite PFASs generally occurring in the environment as mixtures, few data are available outlining the effects of PFAS mixtures. Therefore, this research investigated the interaction potential of binary and ternary mixtures of emerging and legacy PFASs. The immortalized rainbow trout gill cell line (RTgill-W1) was chosen as the experimental model to investigate two apical endpoints: cytotoxicity and phospholipidosis. RTgill-W1 cells were exposed for 24 h to each compound to obtain endpoint-specific effect concentrations (LCx; ECx). These values were then applied to formulate mixture predictions following the Loewes Additivity and Steel and Peckham methods. Based on cytotoxicity, relative potencies of individual compounds were: PFOS > PFECHS > FSBA. PFOS and PFECHS had nearly identical effects on phospholipidosis, while FSBA did not have any effects. Most mixtures had a synergistic effect on cytotoxicity, but the effect was both dose- and ratio-dependent. PFOS and PFECHS were additive at lower concentrations (LC10) and synergistic at higher concentrations (LC50; 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3). PFECHS and FSBA mixtures were synergistic at all doses and ratios (3:1, 1:1, 1:3), while FBSA and PFOS were mainly synergistic at higher concentrations and at ratios favouring PFOS (1:1, 1:3). Tertiary combinations were mainly synergistic. For phospholipidosis, mixtures were strictly additive. These results are strongly suggestive of synergism between emerging PFAS replacements and highlight that independent apical mechanisms of different PFASs could combine to induce unexpected toxicity. Considering that emerging replacements are continuing to increase in concentration in the environment, such mixture scenarios are also likely to continue to increase in probability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Mahoney
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Francisco da Silva
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Markus Brinkmann
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Pl, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, 11 Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Centre for Hydrology, University of Saskatchewan, 121 Research Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - John P Giesy
- Toxicology Center, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Dr, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Integrative Biology and Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, MI, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, TX, USA
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Limbu S, Glasgow E, Block T, Dakshanamurthy S. A Machine-Learning-Driven Pathophysiology-Based New Approach Method for the Dose-Dependent Assessment of Hazardous Chemical Mixtures and Experimental Validations. TOXICS 2024; 12:481. [PMID: 39058133 PMCID: PMC11281031 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12070481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Environmental chemicals, such as PFAS, exist as mixtures and are frequently encountered at varying concentrations, which can lead to serious health effects, such as cancer. Therefore, understanding the dose-dependent toxicity of chemical mixtures is essential for health risk assessment. However, comprehensive methods to assess toxicity and identify the mechanisms of these harmful mixtures are currently absent. In this study, the dose-dependent toxicity assessments of chemical mixtures are performed in three methodologically distinct phases. In the first phase, we evaluated our machine-learning method (AI-HNN) and pathophysiology method (CPTM) for predicting toxicity. In the second phase, we integrated AI-HNN and CPTM to establish a comprehensive new approach method (NAM) framework called AI-CPTM that is targeted at refining prediction accuracy and providing a comprehensive understanding of toxicity mechanisms. The third phase involved experimental validations of the AI-CPTM predictions. Initially, we developed binary, multiclass classification, and regression models to predict binary, categorical toxicity, and toxic potencies using nearly a thousand experimental mixtures. This empirical dataset was expanded with assumption-based virtual mixtures, compensating for the lack of experimental data and broadening the scope of the dataset. For comparison, we also developed machine-learning models based on RF, Bagging, AdaBoost, SVR, GB, KR, DT, KN, and Consensus methods. The AI-HNN achieved overall accuracies of over 80%, with the AUC exceeding 90%. In the final phase, we demonstrated the superior performance and predictive capability of AI-CPTM, including for PFAS mixtures and their interaction effects, through rigorous literature and statistical validations, along with experimental dose-response zebrafish-embryo toxicity assays. Overall, the AI-CPTM approach significantly improves upon the limitations of standalone AI models, showing extensive enhancements in identifying toxic chemicals and mixtures and their mechanisms. This study is the first to develop a hybrid NAM that integrates AI with a pathophysiology method to comprehensively predict chemical-mixture toxicity, carcinogenicity, and mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sivanesan Dakshanamurthy
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3700 O St. NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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Tang C, Wang Y, Hong H. Unraveling the link between heavy metals, perfluoroalkyl substances and depression: Insights from epidemiological and bioinformatics strategies. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 279:116482. [PMID: 38772142 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have become particularly important when studying the development of depression, a common illness that severely restricts psychosocial functioning and diminishes quality of life. Therefore, the potential joint effects of heavy metal and PFAS exposure on depression, as well as the underlying mechanisms involved, were investigated by using integrated epidemiological and bioinformatic approaches in the present study. A thorough analysis of 7301 samples from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles that occurred between 2005 and 2018 was performed. Single-exposure studies have shown that cadmium exposure is positively associated with depression, whereas perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDE) exposure are negatively associated with depression. Furthermore, the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation (QGcomp) models were employed to investigate the collective impact of exposure to mixed metals on depression. Cadmium emerged as the principal contributor to depression. Moreover, the addition of PFAS to the metal mixture had an antagonistic effect on depression, with PFOS having the most prominent influence. Analysis of the effects of co-exposure to cadmium and PFOS confirmed the presence of an antagonistic effect. The inflection points of cadmium and PFOS were determined to be -1.11 and 2.27, respectively. Additionally, exposure to cadmium and PFOS had the opposite effects on two crucial pathways, namely, the rap1 and calcium signaling pathways, which involve core genes related to depression such as ADORA2A, FGF2, and FGFR1. These findings have significant implications for future studies and provide new strategies for exploring the mechanisms underlying co-exposure effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlan Tang
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China; Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Advanced Mass Spectrometry and Clinical Application, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhengjiang 315211, China
| | - Yucheng Wang
- The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315201, China
| | - Hang Hong
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
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Wang Q, Gu X, Mo L, Wan N, Wu L, Liu S, Zhang M, Li M, Liu X, Liu Y. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances induce lipid metabolic impairment in fish: Integration on field investigation and laboratory study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 187:108687. [PMID: 38677088 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108687] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The biotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to aquatic organisms has been widely concerned. However, studies on toxic effects of PFASs are usually evaluated directly by using laboratory exposure rather than laboratory validation based on data obtained in the field. In this study, wild catfish (Silurus meridinalis) was explored on the relationship between PFASs bioaccumulation and lipid disorders. Nine and thirteen lipid metabolites were significantly associated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 6:2/8:2Cl-PFESA (trade name F-53B) exposures, respectively; and the correlated lipid metabolites were the fatty acid (FA) and conjugates, FA esters, steroids, and glycerophosphate subclasses. The effects of PFASs on lipid metabolism of fish and its mechanism were further analyzed through exposure experiments. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) of different sexes underwent PFOS and F-53B exposures for 21 days at 100 ng/L and 100 μg/L. By determining gene expression levels, hepatic lipid contents, and histopathological change, the adverse effects order on lipid metabolism in male or female was 100 μg/L F-53B > 100 μg/L PFOS > 100 ng/L F-53B > 100 ng/L PFOS; the stress response in male was more intensive than that in female. PFOS and F-53B activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor pathway, promoting the processes of FA and total cholesterol (T-CHO) transport, FA β-oxidation, FA synthesis, and finally induced FA and T-CHO transportation from blood into liver, then accelerated FA to FA ester transformation, and CHO into steroids. Laboratory experiments confirmed the field analysis. This study innovatively explored the adverse effects of PFOS and F-53B on lipid metabolism and their mechanisms at field and laboratory levels, highlighting concerns regarding PFASs health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyu Wang
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China
| | - Xueyan Gu
- Physical Education College, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
| | - Limin Mo
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China; School of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
| | - Nannan Wan
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China
| | - Liu Wu
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China; School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China
| | - Mingqi Li
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China.
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Li S, Gao Z, Zhong M, Bi H, Li J. Identification of the mechanisms underlying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity as determined by network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2023; 12:1126-1134. [PMID: 38145100 PMCID: PMC10734622 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfad104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of environmental contaminants that pose significant health risks to both animals and humans. Although the hippocampal neurotoxic effects of numerous PFASs have been reported, the underlying mechanisms of combined exposure to PFASs-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity remain unclear. Methods In this study, network pharmacology analysis was performed to identify the intersectional targets of PFASs for possible associations with hippocampal neurotoxicity. The evaluation of the influence of PFASs on intersectional targets was assessed using a weighted method. Additionally, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the screened targets were performed, the intersected hub targets calculated by various algorithms were screened in the network and molecular docking was also used to analyze binding activities. Results Our results indicated that eight PFASs, which acted on key targets (MYC, ESR1, STAT3, RELA, MAPK3) impacted the NF-κB signaling pathway, STAT3 signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathways to exert neurotoxicity in the hippocampus. The molecular docking results revealed that PFASs have strong binding potential to the hub targets. Conclusions Our findings provided a basis for future studies to investigate the detailed mechanisms of PFASs-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity and to develop preventative and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirui Li
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Yun Long District, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Zhihui Gao
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Yun Long District, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Meihan Zhong
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Yun Long District, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Haoran Bi
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Yun Long District, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Jianan Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Yun Long District, Xuzhou 221000, China
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Beccacece L, Costa F, Pascali JP, Giorgi FM. Cross-Species Transcriptomics Analysis Highlights Conserved Molecular Responses to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. TOXICS 2023; 11:567. [PMID: 37505532 PMCID: PMC10385990 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have garnered widespread public attention due to their persistence in the environment and detrimental effects on the health of living organisms, spurring the generation of several transcriptome-centered investigations to understand the biological basis of their mechanism. In this study, we collected 2144 publicly available samples from seven distinct animal species to examine the molecular responses to PFAS exposure and to determine if there are conserved responses. Our comparative transcriptional analysis revealed that exposure to PFAS is conserved across different tissues, molecules and species. We identified and reported several genes exhibiting consistent and evolutionarily conserved transcriptional response to PFASs, such as ESR1, HADHA and ID1, as well as several pathways including lipid metabolism, immune response and hormone pathways. This study provides the first evidence that distinct PFAS molecules induce comparable transcriptional changes and affect the same metabolic processes across inter-species borders. Our findings have significant implications for understanding the impact of PFAS exposure on living organisms and the environment. We believe that this study offers a novel perspective on the molecular responses to PFAS exposure and provides a foundation for future research into developing strategies for mitigating the detrimental effects of these substances in the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Beccacece
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Filippo Costa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Jennifer Paola Pascali
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
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Zeng XW, Bloom MS, Wei F, Liu L, Qin J, Xue L, Wang S, Huang G, Teng M, He B, Mao X, Chu C, Lin S, Dong GH, Tan W. Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Follicular Fluid and Embryo Quality during IVF: A Prospective IVF Cohort in China. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:27002. [PMID: 36723383 PMCID: PMC9891133 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) have been measured in ovarian follicular fluid from women using in vitro fertilization (IVF), although associations between follicular fluid PFAA and IVF outcomes have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVES We investigated the association between follicular fluid PFAA and embryo quality in women undergoing IVF. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 729 women undergoing IVF treatment in Guangxi province, China, from July 2018 to December 2018. We measured 32 PFAA, including branched isomers, in follicular fluid using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We applied restricted cubic splines, linear regression, and log-binominal regression models to investigate associations between follicular fluid PFAA and embryo quality, adjusting for confounding variables and investigated oocyte maturity as an intervening variable using causal mediation analysis. We further estimated the overall effect of the PFAA mixture on outcomes using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS We detected 8 of 32 measured PFAA in >85% of follicular fluid samples. Higher PFAA concentrations were associated with fewer high-quality embryos from IVF. The high-quality embryo rates at the 50th percentile of linear perfluoro-1-octanesulfonate acid (n-PFOS), all branched PFOS isomers (Br-PFOS) and linear perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (n-PFOA) were -6.34% [95% confidence interval (CI): -9.45, -3.32%], -16.78% (95% CI: -21.98, -11.58%) and -8.66% (95% CI: -11.88, -5.43%) lower, respectively, than the high quality embryo rates at the reference 10th percentile of PFAA. Oocyte maturity mediated 11.76% (95% CI: 3.18, 31.80%) and 14.28% (95% CI: 2.95, 31.27%) of the n-PFOS and n-PFOA associations, respectively. The results of the BKMR models showed a negative association between the PFAA mixture and the probability of high-quality embryos, with branched PFOS isomers having posterior inclusion probabilities of 1 and accounting for the majority of the association. DISCUSSION Exposure to higher PFAA concentrations in follicular fluid was associated with poorer embryo quality during IVF. Branched PFOS isomers may have a stronger effect than linear PFOS isomers. More studies are needed to confirm these findings and to directly estimate the effects on pregnancy and live-birth outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10857.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Michael S. Bloom
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Fu Wei
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology. Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Liling Liu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jie Qin
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Lintao Xue
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shikai Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Guolan Huang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Min Teng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Bing He
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xianbao Mao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Chu Chu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, 12 Albany, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, 12 Albany, NY, USA
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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Wu DL, Cheng L, Rao QX, Wang XL, Zhang QC, Yao CX, Chen SS, Liu X, Song W, Zhou JX, Song WG. Toxic effects and transcriptional responses in zebrafish liver cells following perfluorooctanoic acid exposure. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 253:106328. [PMID: 36302320 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As a typical type of persistent organic pollutant, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is pervasive in the environment. Multiple studies have found that PFOA has hepatotoxicity, but the mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, the toxic effects of different concentrations of PFOA on zebrafish liver cells were systematically assessed by recording cell survival, ultrastructural observations, and transcriptome analyses. The results showed that the inhibition of cell viability and the massive accumulation of autophagic vacuoles were observed at 400 µM PFOA, while transcriptomic changes occurred with treatments of 1 and 400 µM PFOA. The transcription levels of 1055 (977 up- and 78 down-regulated genes) and 520 (446 up- and 74 down-regulated genes) genes were significantly changed after treatment with 1 and 400 µM PFOA, respectively. Based on Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, significant expression changes were observed in autophagy, tight junction, signal transduction, immune system, endocrine system, and metabolism-related pathways, indicating that such processes were greatly affected by PFOA exposure. The findings of this study will provide a scientific basis for the toxic effects and potential toxic mechanisms of PFOA on zebrafish, and provide information for ecological risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Lei Wu
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Lin Cheng
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Qin-Xiong Rao
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Xian-Li Wang
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Qi-Cai Zhang
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Chun-Xia Yao
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Shan-Shan Chen
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Wei Song
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zhou
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Wei-Guo Song
- Institute for Agri-food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 201106, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Agro-products Quality and Safety, Shanghai 201403, China.
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Beale DJ, Sinclair GM, Shah R, Paten AM, Kumar A, Long SM, Vardy S, Jones OAH. A review of omics-based PFAS exposure studies reveals common biochemical response pathways. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157255. [PMID: 35817100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of man-made chemicals with a range of industrial applications and which are widespread in the environment. They are structurally diverse but comprise a common chemical feature of at least one (though usually more) perfluorocarbon moiety (-CnF2n-) attached to a functional group such as a carboxylic or sulphonic acid. The strength of the Carbon-Fluorine bond means the compounds do not break down easily and can thus bioaccumulate. PFAS are of high concern to regulators and the public due to their potential toxicity and high persistence. At high exposure levels, PFAS have been implicated in a range of harmful effects on human and environmental health, particularly problems in/with development, cholesterol and endocrine disruption, immune system function, and oncogenesis. However, most environmental toxicology studies use far higher levels of PFAS than are generally found in the environment. Additionally, since the type of exposure, the PFAS used, and the organisms tested all vary between studies, so do the results. Traditional ecotoxicology studies may thus not identify PFAS effects at environmentally relevant exposures. Here we conduct a review of omics-based PFAS exposure studies using laboratory ecotoxicological methodologies and environmentally relevant exposure levels and show that common biochemical response pathways are identified in multiple studies. A major pathway identified was the pentose phosphate shunt pathway. Such molecular markers of sublethal PFAS exposure will greatly benefit accurate and effective risk assessments to ensure that new PFAS regulations can consider the full effects of PFAS exposure on environmental and human health receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Beale
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Georgia M Sinclair
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Rohan Shah
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia; Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Amy M Paten
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Anupama Kumar
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Sara M Long
- Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group (AQUEST), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Suzanne Vardy
- Water Quality and Investigation, Science and Technology Division, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Oliver A H Jones
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
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Crute CE, Hall SM, Landon CD, Garner A, Everitt JI, Zhang S, Blake B, Olofsson D, Chen H, Murphy SK, Stapleton HM, Feng L. Evaluating maternal exposure to an environmental per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixture during pregnancy: Adverse maternal and fetoplacental effects in a New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156499. [PMID: 35679923 PMCID: PMC9374364 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often found in drinking water, and serum PFAS are detected in up to 99% of the population. However, very little is known about how exposure to mixtures of PFAS affects maternal and fetal health. The aim of this study was to investigate maternal, fetal, and placental outcomes after preconceptional and gestational exposure to an environmentally relevant PFAS mixture in a New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit model. Dams were exposed via drinking water to control (no detectable PFAS) or a PFAS mixture for 32 days. This mixture was formulated with PFAS to resemble levels measured in tap water from Pittsboro, NC (10 PFAS compounds; total PFAS load = 758.6 ng/L). Maternal, fetal, and placental outcomes were evaluated at necropsy. Thyroid hormones were measured in maternal serum and kit blood. Placental gene expression was evaluated by RNAseq and qPCR. PFAS exposure resulted in higher body weight (p = 0.01), liver (p = 0.01) and kidney (p = 0.01) weights, blood pressure (p = 0.05), and BUN:CRE ratio (p = 0.04) in dams, along with microscopic changes in renal cortices. Fetal weight, measures, and histopathology were unchanged, but a significant interaction between dose and sex was detected in the fetal: placental weight ratio (p = 0.036). Placental macroscopic changes were present in PFAS-exposed dams. Dam serum showed lower T4 and a higher T3:T4 ratio, although not statistically significant. RNAseq revealed that 11 of the 14 differentially expressed genes (adj. p < 0.1) are involved in placentation or pregnancy complications. In summary, exposure elicited maternal weight gain and signs of hypertension, renal injury, sex-specific changes in placental response, and differential expression of genes involved in placentation and preeclampsia. Importantly, these are the first results to show adverse maternal and placental effects of an environmentally-relevant PFAS mixture in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Crute
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Samantha M Hall
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Chelsea D Landon
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Angela Garner
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Everitt
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sharon Zhang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Bevin Blake
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Didrik Olofsson
- Omiqa Bioinformatics GmbH, Altensteinstasse 40, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Henry Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Liping Feng
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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11
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Dale K, Yadetie F, Horvli T, Zhang X, Frøysa HG, Karlsen OA, Goksøyr A. Single PFAS and PFAS mixtures affect nuclear receptor- and oxidative stress-related pathways in precision-cut liver slices of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 814:152732. [PMID: 34974025 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), both single compounds and a mixture of these, using precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). PCLS were exposed for 48 h to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) (10, 50 and 100 μM), and three mixtures of these at equimolar concentrations (10, 50 and 100 μM). Transcriptomic responses were assessed using RNA sequencing. Among exposures to single PFAS, PFOS produced the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared to PFOA and PFNA (86, 25 and 31 DEGs, respectively). Exposure to the PFAS mixtures resulted in a markedly higher number of DEGs (841). Clustering analysis revealed that the expression pattern of the PFAS mixtures were more similar to PFOS compared to PFOA and PFNA, suggesting that effects induced by the PFAS mixtures may largely be attributed to PFOS. Pathway analysis showed significant enrichment of pathways related to oxidative stress, cholesterol metabolism and nuclear receptors in PFOS-exposed PCLS. Fewer pathways were significantly enriched following PFOA and PFNA exposure alone. Significantly enriched pathways following mixture exposure included lipid biosynthesis, cancer-related pathways, nuclear receptor pathways and oxidative stress-related pathways such as ferroptosis. The expression of most of the genes within these pathways was increased following PFAS exposure. Analysis of non-additive effects in the 100 μM PFAS mixture highlighted genes involved in the antioxidant response and membrane transport, among others, and the majority of these genes had synergistic expression patterns in the mixture. Nevertheless, 90% of the DEGs following mixture exposure showed additive expression patterns, suggesting additivity to be the major mixture effect. In summary, PFAS exposure promoted effects on cellular processes involved in oxidative stress, nuclear receptor pathways and sterol metabolism in cod PCLS, with the strongest effects observed following PFAS mixture exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Dale
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53B, 5006 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Fekadu Yadetie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53B, 5006 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Torill Horvli
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53B, 5006 Bergen, Norway
| | - Xiaokang Zhang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital-Radiumhospitalet, Vestenghaugen 8, 0379 Oslo, Norway.
| | | | - Odd André Karlsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53B, 5006 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53B, 5006 Bergen, Norway.
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12
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Liu S, Yan L, Zhang Y, Junaid M, Wang J. Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbated the ecotoxicological and potential carcinogenic effects of tetracycline in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150027. [PMID: 34482139 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the ecotoxicity effects of single tetracycline (TC) exposure and mixture exposure in presence of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 80 nm) on juvenile Ctenopharyngodon idella. We carried out single and combined exposure of TC (5000 μg/L) and PS-NPs (20, 200, 2000 μg/L) for 7 days. Compared to TC single exposure, co-exposure to PS-NPs and TC significantly changed the levels of antioxidant entities, including T-AOC, SOD, and CAT in the liver and intestine of C. idella, indicating that PS-NPs might enhance the oxidative damage caused by TC. Further, the co-exposure significantly upregulated the mRNA expression levels of MMP2, MMP9, and IL-8 in a concentration-dependent manner in the liver and intestine tissues of C. idella, compared to the control and TC single exposure groups. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree showed that MMP2 and MMP9 in C. idella are relatively conservative, and the mRNA expressions of MMP2 are significantly positively correlated with TGFβ1, IL8, and MMP9 in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). The above genes in LIHC and COAD were significantly correlated with various immune cells. Further, histopathological analysis revealed tissue lesions in the intestine and gill of fish in all the exposed groups, compared to the control group. In short, the present study illustrated that the toxicological effects of organic pollutants such as TC could be influenced by the presence of NPs in the C. idella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulin Liu
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lei Yan
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yanling Zhang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Muhammad Junaid
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 528478, China; Institute of Eco-Environmental Research, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Natural Products and Combinatorial Biosynthesis Chemistry, Biophysical and Environmental Science Research Center, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China.
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13
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Zhang X, Jonassen I, Goksøyr A. Machine Learning Approaches for Biomarker Discovery Using Gene Expression Data. Bioinformatics 2021. [DOI: 10.36255/exonpublications.bioinformatics.2021.ch4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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