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Peng SY, Yang YD, Tian R, Lu N. Critical new insights into the interactions of hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX or HFPO-DA) with albumin at molecular and cellular levels. J Environ Sci (China) 2025; 149:88-98. [PMID: 39181681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2024.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
A key characteristic to be elucidated, to address the harmful health risks of environmental perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), is their binding modes to serum albumin, the most abundant protein in blood. Hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX or HFPO-DA) is a new industrial replacement for the widespread linear long-chain PFAS. However, the detailed interaction of new-generation short-chain PFAS with albumin is still lacking. Herein, the binding characteristics of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to GenX were explored at the molecular and cellular levels. It was found that this branched short-chain GenX could bind to BSA with affinity lower than that of legacy linear long-chain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Site marker competitive study and molecular docking simulation revealed that GenX interacted with subdomain IIIA to form BSA-GenX complex. Consistent with its weaker affinity to albumin protein, the cytotoxicity of branched short-chain GenX was less susceptible to BSA binding compared with that of the linear long-chain PFOA. In contrast to the significant effects of strong BSA-PFOA interaction, the weak affinity of BSA-GenX binding did not influence the structure of protein and the cytotoxicity of GenX. The detailed characterization and direct comparisons of serum albumin interaction with new generation short-chain GenX will provide a better understanding for the toxicological properties of this new alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Ya Peng
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
| | - Ya-Di Yang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
| | - Rong Tian
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
| | - Naihao Lu
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China.
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McCall JR, Sausman KT, Brown AP, Mead RN. In vitro cytotoxicity of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human immune cell lines. Toxicol In Vitro 2024; 100:105910. [PMID: 39047989 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent long-lived chemicals with global environmental contamination. The published literature is rife with confusing and sometimes contradictory effects of PFAS on animal and cell models, as well as epidemiological studies. Cytotoxicity studies are often used as an early indicator to guide safety requirements, regulation, and further studies and thus can be useful to understand important toxicity differences by various PFAS. Recent studies have found that PFAS are not equivalently toxic on all cell types, and that not all cell types exhibit the same sensitivity to individual PFAS. However, immune cells have not been well studied. As immune cells are important for regulating responses to environmental toxins, infection, and cancer, we sought to discover the sensitivity of these cells to various PFAS, including legacy and replacement compounds. We assessed a range of concentrations and found that immune cells are generally more robust when exposed to PFAS, and that Jurkat T-cells were more sensitive than THP-1 monocytes. As monocytes are critical for coordinating inflammatory responses to external threats with cell death cascades, we further investigated these cells. We discovered that THP-1 cells do not undergo organized or programmed death, such as apoptosis or pyroptosis, and instead PFAS exposure results in a more necrotic/lytic and unorganized death, likely contributing to potential inflammatory effects downstream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R McCall
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA; Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA.
| | - Kathryn T Sausman
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA; Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA
| | - Ariel P Brown
- School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA; Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA
| | - Ralph N Mead
- Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA; Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
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Huang C, Murgulet I, Liu L, Zhang M, Garcia K, Martin L, Xu W. The effects of perfluorooctanoic acid on breast cancer metastasis depend on the phenotypes of the cancer cells: An in vivo study with zebrafish xenograft model. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 362:124975. [PMID: 39293659 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) have been associated with numerous human diseases. Recent in vitro studies have implicated the association of PFAS with an increased risk of breast cancer in humans. This study aimed to assess the toxic effects of PFAS during the development of human breast cancer using a zebrafish xenograft model. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used as a PFAS chemical of interest for this study. Two common breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were used to represent the diversity of breast cancer phenotypes. Human preadipocytes were co-implanted with the breast cancer cells into the zebrafish embryos to optimize the microenvironment for tumor cells in vivo. With this modified model, we evaluated the potential effects of the PFOA on the metastatic potential of the two types of breast cancer cells. The presence of human preadipocytes resulted in an enhancement to the metastasis progress of the two types of cells, including the promotion of cell in vivo migration and proliferation, and the increased expression levels of metastatic biomarkers. The enhancement of MCF-7 proliferation by preadipocytes was observed after 2 days post injection (dpi) while the increase of MDA-MB-231 proliferation was seen after 6 dpi. The breast cancer metastatic biomarkers, cadherin 1 (cdh1), and small breast epithelial mucin (sbem) genes demonstrated significant down- and upregulations respectively, by the co-injection of preadipocytes. In the optimized xenograft model, the PFOA consistently promoted cell proliferation and migration and altered the metastatic biomarker expression in MCF-7, which suggested a metastatic effect of PFOA on MCF-7. However, those effects were not consistently observed in MDA-MB-231. The presence of the preadipocytes in the xenograft model may provide a necessary microenvironment for the progress of tumor cells in zebrafish embryos. The finding suggested that the impacts of PFOA exposure on different phenotypes of breast cancers may differ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Huang
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, United States
| | - Ioana Murgulet
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, United States; Department of BioSciences, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, United States
| | - Linda Liu
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, United States
| | - Mona Zhang
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, United States
| | - Kaitlin Garcia
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, United States
| | - Leisha Martin
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, United States
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, United States.
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Ahmad M, Hu C, Liu M, Zhang H, Shah SAUR, Nabi G, Hao Y, Chen L. Cytotoxicity and mechanisms of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) in umbilical cord fibroblast cells of Yangtze finless porpoise. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 276:107098. [PMID: 39298911 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Revised: 09/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Yangtze finless porpoises (YFP) accumulate high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). However, the health impacts of PFASs to YFP are still unknown because it is technically and ethically unfeasible to use the critically endangered YFP in toxicological exposures. To uncover the potential toxicities of PFASs to YFP, this study exposed a YFP umbilical cord fibroblast cell line to perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), an emerging PFASs pollutant in the aquatic environments. After exposure, the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of PFBS were explored. Our preliminary experiments found that PFBS compromised the cell viability in a concentration and duration dependent manner. In an exposure of 48-h duration, the maximum no observed effect concentration (NOEC) of PFBS was determined to be 400 µM. High-throughput proteomics were then conducted to identify the differentially expressed proteins in YFP cells exposed to 400 µM PFBS for 48 h. The results found that PFBS exposure significantly perturbed the proteome fingerprints of YFP umbilical cord fibroblast cells. Functional annotation of differential proteins showed that PFBS had the potential to impair a variety of biological processes associated with the immunity, oxidative stress, metabolism, and proteolysis. Consistently, the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β were significantly increased by PFBS in YFP umbilical cord fibroblast cells. Overall, this study highlights the toxic effects of emerging PFASs on YFP and provides reference data to evaluate the health risks of aquatic pollution under the context of national YFP protection. To our knowledge, this is the first omics study using YFP umbilical cord fibroblast cells in ecotoxicology of PFASs, which is applicable to various cetacean species and pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaz Ahmad
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chenyan Hu
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Mengyuan Liu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Syed Ata Ur Rahman Shah
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ghulam Nabi
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Yujiang Hao
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
| | - Lianguo Chen
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
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Zhang B, Yang Y, Li Q, Ding X, Tian M, Ma Q, Xu D. Impacts of PFOS, PFOA and their alternatives on the gut, intestinal barriers and gut-organ axis. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142461. [PMID: 38810808 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
With the restricted use of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a number of alternatives to PFOS and PFOA have attracted great interest. Most of the alternatives are still characterized by persistence, bioaccumulation, and a variety of toxicity. Due to the production and use of these substances, they can be detected in the atmosphere, soil and water body. They affect human health through several exposure pathways and especially enter the gut by drinking water and eating food, which results in gut toxicity. In this review, we summarized the effects of PFOS, PFOA and 9 alternatives on pathological changes in the gut, the disruption of physical, chemical, biological and immune barriers of the intestine, and the gut-organ axis. This review provides a valuable understanding of the gut toxicity of PFOS, PFOA and their alternatives as well as the human health risks of emerging contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boxiang Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Environment Science and Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road 1, Dalian, 116026, PR China
| | - Yunhui Yang
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Environment Science and Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road 1, Dalian, 116026, PR China
| | - Qing Li
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Environment Science and Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road 1, Dalian, 116026, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Ding
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Environment Science and Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road 1, Dalian, 116026, PR China
| | - Mingming Tian
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Environment Science and Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road 1, Dalian, 116026, PR China
| | - Qiao Ma
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Environment Science and Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road 1, Dalian, 116026, PR China
| | - Dan Xu
- Institute of Environmental Systems Biology, Environment Science and Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road 1, Dalian, 116026, PR China.
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Wang Y, Zhang J, Zhang J, Hou M, Kong L, Lin X, Xu J, Yan C, Lin F, Ke S. Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The mediating role of serum albumin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171742. [PMID: 38494022 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171742] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND No study has examined the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk. This study aims to explore this relationship. METHODS This study enrolled 4541 individuals who had available data on PFAS, COPD, and covariates from NHANES 2007-2018. Serum PFAS including perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were analyzed, because of high detective rates. Considering the skew distribution of PFAS levels, the natural logarithm-transformed PFAS (Ln-PFAS) was used. Logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were performed to explore the single, nonlinear, and mixed effects. A mediating analysis was used to evaluate the mediated effects of albumin. RESULTS Individuals with COPD had higher levels of PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, and PFOS compared to those without COPD. Ln-PFNA (OR males: 1.92, 95 % CI:1.31 to 2.80, P: <0.001; OR females: 1.07, 95 % CI: 0.81 to 1.40, P: 0.636) and ln-PFOA (OR males: 2.17, 95 % CI:1.38 to 3.41, P: <0.001; OR females: 1.49, 95 % CI: 1.08 to 2.05, P: 0.016) were associated with COPD risk especially in males. The interaction between PFNA exposure and sex on COPD risk was significant (P interaction: <0.001). The RCS curve demonstrated the nonlinear relationship between the ln-PFOA (P nonlinear:0.001), ln-PFNA (P nonlinear:0.045), and COPD risk in males. WQS analysis showed mixed PFAS exposure was correlated with COPD risk in males (OR: 1.44, 95 % CI:1.18 to 1.75, P: <0.001). Albumin mediated the relationship between PFOA and COPD (mediated proportion: -17.94 %). CONCLUSION This study concludes PFOA and PFNA are linked to a higher COPD risk in males, and serum albumin plays a mediating role in the relationship between PFOA and COPD. Thess findings are beneficial for the prevention of COPD. Further studies are required to explore potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jiaxian Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Miao Hou
- Hospital for Skin Diseases, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lingkun Kong
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiong Lin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jinxin Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chun Yan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fan Lin
- The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Sunkui Ke
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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Luo YS, Ying RY, Chen XT, Yeh YJ, Wei CC, Chan CC. Integrating high-throughput phenotypic profiling and transcriptomic analyses to predict the hepatosteatosis effects induced by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133891. [PMID: 38457971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133891] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a large compound class (n > 12,000) that is extensively present in food, drinking water, and aquatic environments. Reduced serum triglycerides and hepatosteatosis appear to be the common phenotypes for different PFAS chemicals. However, the hepatosteatosis potential of most PFAS chemicals remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate PFAS-induced hepatosteatosis using in vitro high-throughput phenotype profiling (HTPP) and high-throughput transcriptomic (HTTr) data. We quantified the in vitro hepatosteatosis effects and mitochondrial damage using high-content imaging, curated the transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then calculated the point of departure (POD) values for HTPP phenotypes or HTTr transcripts, using the Bayesian benchmark dose modeling approach. Our results indicated that PFAS compounds with fully saturated C-F bonds, sulfur- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, and a fluorinated carbon chain length greater than 8 have the potential to produce biological effects consistent with hepatosteatosis. PFAS primarily induced hepatosteatosis via disturbance in lipid transport and storage. The potency rankings of PFAS compounds are highly concordant among in vitro HTPP, HTTr, and in vivo hepatosteatosis phenotypes (ρ = 0.60-0.73). In conclusion, integrating the information from in vitro HTPP and HTTr analyses can accurately project in vivo hepatosteatosis effects induced by PFAS compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Syuan Luo
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Master of Public Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Ren-Yan Ying
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Xsuan-Ting Chen
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jia Yeh
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Cheng Wei
- Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Chuan Chan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
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Rickard BP, Overchuk M, Tulino J, Tan X, Ligler FS, Bae-Jump VL, Fenton SE, Rizvi I. Exposure to select PFAS and PFAS mixtures alters response to platinum-based chemotherapy in endometrial cancer cell lines. Environ Health 2023; 22:87. [PMID: 38098045 PMCID: PMC10720226 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01034-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with significant alterations in female reproductive health. These include changes in menstrual cyclicity, timing of menarche and menopause, and fertility outcomes, as well as increased risk of endometriosis, all of which may contribute to an increased risk of endometrial cancer. The effect of PFAS on endometrial cancer cells, specifically altered treatment response and biology, however, remains poorly studied. Like other gynecologic malignancies, a key contributor to lethality in endometrial cancer is resistance to chemotherapeutics, specifically to platinum-based agents that are used as the standard of care for patients with advanced-stage and/or recurrent disease. OBJECTIVES To explore the effect of environmental exposures, specifically PFAS, on platinum-based chemotherapy response and mitochondrial function in endometrial cancer. METHODS HEC-1 and Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells were exposed to sub-cytotoxic nanomolar and micromolar concentrations of PFAS/PFAS mixtures and were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Survival fraction was measured 48-h post-chemotherapy treatment. Mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated in both cell lines following exposure to PFAS ± chemotherapy treatment. RESULTS HEC-1 and Ishikawa cells displayed differing outcomes after PFAS exposure and chemotherapy treatment. Cells exposed to PFAS appeared to be less sensitive to carboplatin, with instances of increased survival fraction, indicative of platinum resistance, observed in HEC-1 cells. In Ishikawa cells treated with cisplatin, PFAS mixture exposure significantly decreased survival fraction. In both cell lines, increases in mitochondrial membrane potential were observed post-PFAS exposure ± chemotherapy treatment. DISCUSSION Exposure of endometrial cancer cell lines to PFAS/PFAS mixtures had varying effects on response to platinum-based chemotherapies. Increased survival fraction post-PFAS + carboplatin treatment suggests platinum resistance, while decreased survival fraction post-PFAS mixture + cisplatin exposure suggests enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Regardless of chemotherapy sensitivity status, mitochondrial membrane potential findings suggest that PFAS exposure may affect endometrial cancer cell mitochondrial functioning and should be explored further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany P Rickard
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Marta Overchuk
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Engineering Building III, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Justin Tulino
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Engineering Building III, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Xianming Tan
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Frances S Ligler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 101 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Victoria L Bae-Jump
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Imran Rizvi
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Engineering Building III, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Zhang R, Lu W, Tu L, Lin Y, Sun J, Chen B, Luan T. Perfluorooctanoic acid-induced metabolic disorder via enhancing metabolism of glutamine and fatty acids in human intestinal cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 338:122684. [PMID: 37802284 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122684] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal cell metabolism plays an important role in intestine health. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure could disorder intestinal cell metabolism. However, the mechanisms regarding how the three carbon sources interact under PFOA stress remined to be understood. The present study aimed to dissect the interconnections of glucose, glutamine, and fatty acids in PFOA-treated human colorectal cancer (DLD-1) cells using 13C metabolic flux analysis. The abundance of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites was decreased in PFOA-treated cells except for succinate, whereas most of amino acids were more abundant. Beside serine and glycine, the levels of metabolites derived from 13C glucose were reduced in PFOA-treated cells, and the pentose phosphate pathway flux was 1.4-fold higher in PFOA-treated cells than in the controls. In reductive glutamine pathway, higher labeled enrichment of citrate, malate, fumarate, and succinate was observed for PFOA-treated cells. The contribution of glucose to fatty acid synthesis in PFOA-treated cells decreased while the contribution of glutamine to fatty acid synthesis increased. Additionally, synthesis of TCA intermediates from fatty acid β-oxidation was promoted in PFOA-treated cells. All results suggested that metabolic remodeling could happen in intestinal cells exposed to PFOA, which was potentially related to PFOA toxicity relevant with the loss of glucose in biomass synthesis and energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenhua Lu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Lanyin Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yingshi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jin Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Baowei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
| | - Tiangang Luan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Solan ME, Schackmuth B, Bruce ED, Pradhan S, Sayes CM, Lavado R. Effects of short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on toxicologically relevant gene expression profiles in a liver-on-a-chip model. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122610. [PMID: 37742859 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122610] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly stable and widely used environmental contaminants that pose potential health risks to humans. Aggregating reliable mechanistic information for safety assessments necessitates physiologically relevant high-throughput screening approaches. Here, we demonstrated the utility of a liver-on-a-chip model to investigate the effects of five short-chain PFAS at low (1 nM) and high (1 μM) concentrations on toxicologically-relevant gene expression profiles using the QuantiGene® Plex Assay. We found that the short-chain PFAS tested in this study modulated the expression of ABCG2, a gene encoding for the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), with marked and significant upregulation (up to 4-fold) observed for all but one of the short-chain PFAS tested. PFBS and HFPO-DA repressed SLCO1B3 expression, a gene that encodes for an essential liver-specific organic anion transporter. High concentrations of PFBS, PFHxA, and PFHxS upregulated the expression of genes encCYP1A1,CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 with the same treatments resulting in the repression of the expression of the gene encoding CYP1A2. This dysregulation could have consequences for the clearance of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. However, we acknowledge that increased expression of genes encoding for transporters and biotransformation enzymes may or may not indicate changes to their protein expression or activity. Overall, our study provides important insights into the effects of short-chain PFAS on liver function and their potential implications for human health. The use of the liver-on-a-chip model in combination with the QuantiGene® Plex Assay may be a valuable tool for future high-throughput screening and gene expression profiling in toxicology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Solan
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Bennett Schackmuth
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Erica D Bruce
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Sahar Pradhan
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Christie M Sayes
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Ramon Lavado
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
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11
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Folkerson AP, Schneider SR, Abbatt JPD, Mabury SA. Avoiding Regrettable Replacements: Can the Introduction of Novel Functional Groups Move PFAS from Recalcitrant to Reactive? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17032-17041. [PMID: 37877468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06232] [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: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are present in a range of commercial and consumer products. These chemicals are often high-performance surfactants or nonstick/water-repellant coatings due to their chemical stability; however, this stability leads to select PFAS being environmentally persistent. To facilitate degradation, new fluorosurfactant building blocks (F7C3-O-CHF-CF2-S-CH2-CH2-OH (FESOH), F3C-O-CHF-CF2-S-CH2-CH2-OH (MeFESOH), F7C3-O-CHF-CF2-O-CH2-CH2-OH (ProFdiEOH), F7C3-O-CHF-CF2-CH2-OH (ProFEOH), and F3C-O-CHF-CF2-O-CH2-CH2-OH (MeFdiEOH)) have been systematically developed with heteroatom linkages such as ethers, thioethers, and polyfluorinated carbons. The room temperature, gas-phase OH oxidation rate constants, and products of these chemicals were monitored in an atmospheric chamber to investigate their fate in the atmosphere. Analysis was performed using online high-resolution chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) using the iodide reagent ion and via offline UPLC-MS/MS. FESOH and MeFESOH, the thioether congeners, were observed to have the largest rate constants of kFESOH = 2.82 (±0.33) and kMeFESOH = 2.17 (±0.17) (×10-12 cm3 molecules-1 s-1, respectively). First-, second-, and third-generation products of OH oxidation were observed as a function of time, while product quantification yielded ultrashort perfluoropropionic acid (PFPrA) and short polyfluoroether acid species as the terminal products for FESOH and ProFdiEOH. There was evidence for MeFESOH being fully mineralized, demonstrating the potential benign chemical architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Folkerson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Stephanie R Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Jonathan P D Abbatt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Scott A Mabury
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
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12
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Carberry CK, Bangma J, Koval L, Keshava D, Hartwell HJ, Sokolsky M, Fry RC, Rager JE. Extracellular Vesicles altered by a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Mixture: In Vitro Dose-Dependent Release, Chemical Content, and MicroRNA Signatures involved in Liver Health. Toxicol Sci 2023; 197:kfad108. [PMID: 37851381 PMCID: PMC10823775 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as high priority contaminants due to their ubiquity and pervasiveness in the environment. Numerous PFAS co-occur across sources of drinking water, including areas of North Carolina (NC) with some detected concentrations above the Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory levels. While evidence demonstrates PFAS exposure induces harmful effects in the liver, the involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as potential mediators of these effects has yet to be evaluated. This study set out to evaluate the hypothesis that PFAS mixtures induce dose-dependent release of EVs from liver cells, with exposures causing differential loading of microRNAs (miRNAs) and PFAS chemical signatures. To test this hypothesis, a defined PFAS mixture was prioritized utilizing data collected by the NC PFAS Testing Network. This mixture contained three substances, PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxA, selected based upon co-occurrence patterns and the inclusion of both short-chain (PFHxA) and long-chain (PFOA and PFOS) substances. HepG2 liver cells were exposed to equimolar PFAS, and secreted EVs were isolated from conditioned media and characterized for count and molecular content. Exposures induced a dose-dependent release of EVs carrying miRNAs that were differentially loaded upon exposure. These altered miRNA signatures were predicted to target mRNA pathways involved in hepatic fibrosis and cancer. Chemical concentrations of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxA were also detected in both parent HepG2 cells and their released EVs, specifically within a 15-fold range after normalizing for protein content. This study therefore established EVs as novel biological responders and measurable endpoints for evaluating PFAS-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste K Carberry
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jacqueline Bangma
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Lauren Koval
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Deepak Keshava
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hadley J Hartwell
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marina Sokolsky
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- School of Medicine, Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- School of Medicine, Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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13
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Solan ME, Lavado R. Effects of short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and human hepatocytes: An in vitro study. Curr Res Toxicol 2023; 5:100116. [PMID: 37575337 PMCID: PMC10412865 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2023.100116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been developed as alternatives to legacy long-chain PFAS, but they may still pose risks due to their potential to interact with biomolecules. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes are essential for xenobiotic metabolism, and disruptions of these enzymes by PFAS can have significant human health implications. The inhibitory potential of two legacy long-chain (PFOA and PFOS) and five short-chain alternative PFAS (PFBS, PFHxA, HFPO-DA, PFHxS, and 6:2 FTOH) were assessed in recombinant CYP1A2, - 2B6, -2C19, -2E1, and -3A4 enzymes. Most of the short-chain PFAS, except for PFHxS, tested did not result in significant inhibition up to 100 μM. PFOS inhibited recombinant CYP1A2, -2B6, -2C19, and -3A4 enzymes. However, concentrations where inhibition occurred, were all higher than the averages reported in population biomonitoring studies, with IC50 values higher than 10 µM. We also evaluated the activities of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in HepaRG monolayers following 48 h exposures of the short-chain PFAS at two concentrations (1 nM or 1 µM) and with or without an inducer (benzo[a]pyrene, BaP, for CYP1A2 and rifampicin for CYP3A4). Our findings suggest that both 1 nM and 1 µM exposures to short-chain PFAS can modulate the CYP1A2 activity induced by BaP. Except for PFHxS, the short-chain PFAS appear to have little effect on CYP3A4 activity. Understanding the effects of PFAS exposure on biotransformation can shed light on the mechanisms of PFAS toxicity and aid in developing effective strategies for managing chemical risks, enabling regulators to make more informed decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Solan
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States
| | - Ramon Lavado
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States
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14
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Solan ME, Koperski CP, Senthilkumar S, Lavado R. Short-chain per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) effects on oxidative stress biomarkers in human liver, kidney, muscle, and microglia cell lines. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 223:115424. [PMID: 36740157 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Long-chain per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous contaminants implicated in the induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), compromising antioxidant defense mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. While a handful of studies have assessed oxidative stress effects by PFAS, few specifically address short-chain PFAS. We conducted an evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers in vitro following exposures to low (1 nM) and high (1 μM) concentrations of five short-chain PFAS compounds: perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), [undecafluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (HFPO-DA)], 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS). We conducted experiments in human kidney (HEK293-hTLR2), liver (HepaRG), microglia (HMC-3), and muscle (RMS-13) cell lines. Fluorescence microscopy measurements in HepaRG cells indicated ROS generation in cells exposed to PFBS and PFHxA for 24 h. Antioxidant enzyme activities were determined following 24 h short-chain PFAS exposures in HepaRG, HEK293-hTLR2, HMC-3, and RMS-13. Notably, exposure to PFBS for 24 h increased the activity of GPX in all four cell types at 1 μM and 1 nM in HepaRG and RMS-13 cells. Every short-chain PFAS evaluated, except for PFHxS, increased the activity of at least one antioxidant enzyme. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to explore antioxidant defense alterations to microglia and muscle cell lines by PFAS. The findings of this study hold great potential to contribute to the limited understanding of short-chain PFAS mechanisms of toxicity and provide data necessary to inform the human health risk assessment process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Solan
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Camryn P Koperski
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | | | - Ramon Lavado
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
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