1
|
David N, Antignac JP, Roux M, Marchand P, Michalak S, Oberti F, Fouchard I, Lannes A, Blanchet O, Cales P, Blanc EB, Boursier J, Canivet CM. Associations between perfluoroalkyl substances and the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108235. [PMID: 37776622 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and the determinants driving its severity remain to be elucidated. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemical compounds. They are used in commonplace products and persistent in water, soil and the human body. In vitro and animal studies suggest a pathogenic role for PFAS in metabolic diseases such as NAFLD. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate the association between NAFLD severity and serum PFAS concentrations in humans. METHODS One hundred biopsy-proven NAFLD patients were included with a well-balanced distribution between the different stages of severity: 25 patients with simple steatosis, 25 with early non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH and F0-F1 fibrosis), 33 with fibrotic NASH (NASH and F2-F3 fibrosis), and 17 with cirrhotic NASH (NASH and F4 fibrosis). Liver histological features were evaluated according to the NASH Clinical Research Network classification. Seventeen PFAS were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry on serum samples stored at -80 °C. RESULTS The median age was 60 years, 61 % of patients were male, 46 % had diabetes and the median body mass index (BMI) was 32 kg/m2. Long-chain PFAS were associated with steatosis grade (p = 0.03). Among the nine PFAS detected in > 50 % of the patients, Perfluoro-n-heptanoic acid (PFHpA) showed significantly higher concentrations in grade 3 steatosis versus grade 1 (p = 0.02). Perfluoro-n-dodecanoic acid (PFDoA) concentrations were higher in patients with significant fibrosis (p = 0.04) and PFHpA in patients with advanced fibrosis (p = 0.02). The association between PFHpA and steatosis grade remained significant in multivariate analysis adjusted for age, gender, BMI, diabetes presence and dyslipidemia (p = 0.004). DISCUSSION Our study showed a significant association between PFHpA and liver steatosis in NAFLD. According to data available in the literature, PFHpA could be implicated in liver steatosis through β-oxidation and biosynthesis of fatty acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norma David
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France
| | | | - Marine Roux
- Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | | | - Sophie Michalak
- Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France; Service d'Anatomopathologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Fréderic Oberti
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Isabelle Fouchard
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Adrien Lannes
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Odile Blanchet
- Centre de Ressources Biologiques BB-0033-00038, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Paul Cales
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Etienne B Blanc
- Université Paris Cité, T3S, Inserm UMR, S-1124, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Boursier
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Clémence M Canivet
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; Laboratoire HIFIH, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Maddalon A, Pierzchalski A, Kretschmer T, Bauer M, Zenclussen AC, Marinovich M, Corsini E, Herberth G. Mixtures of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reduce the in vitro activation of human T cells and basophils. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 336:139204. [PMID: 37315852 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely used industrial chemicals, have been in the center of attention because of their omnipotent presence in water and soils worldwide. Although efforts have been made to substitute long-chain PFAS towards safer alternatives, their persistence in humans still leads to exposure to these compounds. PFAS immunotoxicity is poorly understood as no comprehensive analyses on certain immune cell subtypes exist. Furthermore, mainly single entities and not PFAS mixtures have been assessed. In the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of PFAS (short-chain, long-chain and a mixture of both) on the in vitro activation of primary human immune cells. Our results show the ability of PFAS to reduce T cells activation. In particular, exposure to PFAS affected T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells, Natural Killer T cells, and Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, as assessed by multi-parameter flow cytometry. Furthermore, the exposure to PFAS reduced the expression of several genes involved in MAIT cells activation, including chemokine receptors, and typical proteins of MAIT cells, such as GZMB, IFNG and TNFSF15 and transcription factors. These changes were mainly induced by the mixture of both short- and long-chain PFAS. In addition, PFAS were able to reduce basophil activation induced by anti-FcεR1α, as assessed by the decreased expression of CD63. Our data clearly show that the exposure of immune cells to a mixture of PFAS at concentrations mimicking real-life human exposure resulted in reduced cell activation and functional changes of primary innate and adaptive human immune cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Maddalon
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Arkadiusz Pierzchalski
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research -UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Kretschmer
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research -UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mario Bauer
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research -UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ana C Zenclussen
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research -UFZ, Leipzig, Germany; Perinatal Immunology Research Group, Medical Faculty, Saxonian Incubator for Clinical Translation (SIKT), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marina Marinovich
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Corsini
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences 'Rodolfo Paoletti', Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Gunda Herberth
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research -UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yan W, Song M, Zhou Y. Redistribution of perfluorooctanoic acid in sludge after thermal hydrolysis: Location of protein plays a major role. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 241:120135. [PMID: 37267707 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a group of bio-recalcitrant pollutants that remain in waste activated sludge and may subsequently be transferred with sludge to thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) process. Instead of reduction, it is observed previously that the concentration of free PFCs elevated after THP. By employing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as a representative, this study developed a hierarchical scheme to pinpoint the key factors that contribute to free PFOA elevation from the complex sludge transformations. According to the results, the relative abundance of PFOA in the liquid phase increased by 11.7 - 22.9% during THP. In the solid phase, the amide groups reduction and the spatial structure change of proteins weakened the sorption capability of solids for PFOA. In the liquid phase, the increase of proteins, which could bind and form static hindrance to regulate the behavior of PFOA, was the main factor to retain PFOA in liquid. In contrast, other sludge transformations including changes in pH, zeta potential, ionic condition and specific surface area, displayed insignificant impact on the redistribution process. The study presents a detailed picture on how sludge transformations would regulate PFCs distribution that ultimately direct the selection of further treatment processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wangwang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Guangdong 518107, China; Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Cleantech One #06-08, 637141, Singapore
| | - Mengsha Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Cleantech One #06-08, 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bil W, Zeilmaker MJ, Bokkers BG. Internal Relative Potency Factors for the Risk Assessment of Mixtures of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Human Biomonitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:77005. [PMID: 35881550 PMCID: PMC9320915 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In human biomonitoring, blood is often used as a matrix to measure exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Because the toxicokinetics of a substance (determining the steady-state blood concentration) may affect the toxic potency, the difference in toxicokinetics among PFAS has to be accounted for when blood concentrations are used in mixture risk assessment. OBJECTIVES This research focuses on deriving relative potency factors (RPFs) at the blood serum level. These RPFs can be applied to PFAS concentrations in human blood, thereby facilitating mixture risk assessment with primary input from human biomonitoring studies. METHODS Toxicokinetic models are generated for 10 PFAS to estimate the internal exposure in the male rat at the blood serum level over time. By applying dose-response modeling, these internal exposures are used to derive quantitative internal RPFs based on liver effects. RESULTS Internal RPFs were successfully obtained for nine PFAS. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA, or GenX) were found to be more potent than perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at the blood serum level in terms of relative liver weight increase, whereas perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) were found to be less potent. The practical implementation of these internal RPFs is illustrated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) biomonitoring data of 2017-2018. DISCUSSION It is recommended to assess the health risk resulting from exposure to PFAS as combined, aggregate exposure to the extent feasible. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10009.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wieneke Bil
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Marco J. Zeilmaker
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Bas G.H. Bokkers
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Claessens J, Pirard C, Charlier C. Determination of contamination levels for multiple endocrine disruptors in hair from a non-occupationally exposed population living in Liege (Belgium). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:152734. [PMID: 34973319 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Today, the interest in hair as alternative matrix for human biomonitoring of environmental pollutants has increased, but available data on chemical levels in hair remain scarce. In this study, the measurement of 2 bisphenols (A and S), 3 parabens (methyl-, ethyl- and propylparabens) and 8 perfluroralkyl compounds (PFCs) namely perfluoroctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluroroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) was carried out, using a thoroughly validated UPLC-MS/MS method, in the hair from 114 adults living in Liege (Belgium) and surrounding areas. The most frequently quantified compounds in the population were: bisphenol S (97.4%, median = 31.9 pg·mg-1), methylparaben (94.7%, median = 28.9 pg·mg-1), bisphenol A (93.9%, median = 46.6 pg·mg-1), ethylparaben (66.7%, median = 5.2 pg·mg-1), propylparaben (54.8%, median = 16.4 pg·mg-1) and PFOA (46.4%, median < 0.2 pg·mg-1). The other PFCs were detected only in few samples although current exposure of the Belgian population to PFCs was previously demonstrated using blood analyses. Nonparametric statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of gender, hair treatments and hair length, but no significant difference was observed. Only age was positively correlated with the propylparaben contamination. Although blood seems to remain more suitable for PFCs exposure assessment, the results of this study suggest that hair can be an appropriate matrix for biomonitoring of organic pollutants such as parabens or bisphenols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Claessens
- Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic, Industrial and Environmental Toxicology, University Hospital of Liege, CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (C.I.R.M), University of Liège, CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium.
| | - Catherine Pirard
- Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic, Industrial and Environmental Toxicology, University Hospital of Liege, CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (C.I.R.M), University of Liège, CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | - Corinne Charlier
- Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic, Industrial and Environmental Toxicology, University Hospital of Liege, CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (C.I.R.M), University of Liège, CHU (B35), 4000, Liege, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Duffek A, Conrad A, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lange R, Rucic E, Schulte C, Wellmitz J. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood plasma - Results of the German Environmental Survey for children and adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V). Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 228:113549. [PMID: 32502942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The 5th cycle of the German Environmental Survey (GerES V) investigated the internal human exposure of children and adolescents aged 3-17 years in Germany to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The fieldwork of the population-representative GerES V was performed from 2014 to 2017. In total, 1109 blood plasma samples were analysed for 12 PFAS including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). PFOS was quantified in all and PFOA in almost all samples, demonstrating ubiquitous exposure. The highest geometric mean concentrations measured were 2.49 ng/mL for PFOS, followed by PFOA (1.12 ng/mL) and PFHxS (0.36 ng/mL), while concentrations of other PFAS were found in much lower concentrations. The 95th percentile levels of PFOS and PFOA were 6.00 and 3.24 ng/mL, respectively. The results document a still considerable exposure of the young generation to the phased out chemicals PFOS and PFOA. The observed exposure levels vary substantially between individuals and might be due to different multiple sources. The relative contribution of various exposure parameters such as diet or the specific use of consumer products need to be further explored. Although additional investigations on the time trend of human exposure are warranted, GerES V underlines the need for an effective and sustainable regulation of PFAS as a whole.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anja Duffek
- German Environment Agency, Laboratory for Water Analysis, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany.
| | - André Conrad
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Rosa Lange
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Enrico Rucic
- German Environment Agency, Toxicology, Health-related Environmental Monitoring, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Christoph Schulte
- German Environment Agency, Department Water and Soil, Wörlitzer Platz 1, Dessau-Roßlau, 06844, Germany
| | - Jörg Wellmitz
- German Environment Agency, Laboratory for Water Analysis, Corrensplatz 1, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Editorial: ISBM 10. Toxicol Lett 2018; 298:1-3. [PMID: 30442238 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|