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Phelps DW, Connors AM, Ferrero G, DeWitt JC, Yoder JA. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances alter innate immune function: evidence and data gaps. J Immunotoxicol 2024; 21:2343362. [PMID: 38712868 PMCID: PMC11249028 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2024.2343362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large class of compounds used in a variety of processes and consumer products. Their unique chemical properties make them ubiquitous and persistent environmental contaminants while also making them economically viable and socially convenient. To date, several reviews have been published to synthesize information regarding the immunotoxic effects of PFASs on the adaptive immune system. However, these reviews often do not include data on the impact of these compounds on innate immunity. Here, current literature is reviewed to identify and incorporate data regarding the effects of PFASs on innate immunity in humans, experimental models, and wildlife. Known mechanisms by which PFASs modulate innate immune function are also reviewed, including disruption of cell signaling, metabolism, and tissue-level effects. For PFASs where innate immune data are available, results are equivocal, raising additional questions about common mechanisms or pathways of toxicity, but highlighting that the innate immune system within several species can be perturbed by exposure to PFASs. Recommendations are provided for future research to inform hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk management practices for PFASs to protect the immune systems of exposed organisms as well as environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drake W. Phelps
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Ashley M. Connors
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Giuliano Ferrero
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - Jamie C. DeWitt
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Jeffrey A. Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Genetics and Genomics Academy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
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2
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Vujic E, Ferguson SS, Brouwer KLR. Effects of PFAS on human liver transporters: implications for health outcomes. Toxicol Sci 2024; 200:213-227. [PMID: 38724241 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become internationally recognized over the past three decades as persistent organic pollutants used in the production of various consumer and industrial goods. Research efforts continue to gauge the risk that historically used, and newly produced, PFAS may cause to human health. Numerous studies report toxic effects of PFAS on the human liver as well as increased serum cholesterol levels in adults. A major concern with PFAS, also dubbed "forever chemicals," is that they accumulate in the liver and kidney and persist in serum. The mechanisms responsible for their disposition and excretion in humans are poorly understood. A better understanding of the interaction of PFAS with liver transporters, as it pertains to the disposition of PFAS and other xenobiotics, could provide mechanistic insight into human health effects and guide efforts toward risk assessment of compounds in development. This review summarizes the current state of the literature on the emerging relationships (eg, substrates, inhibitors, modulators of gene expression) between PFAS and specific hepatic transporters. The adaptive and toxicological responses of hepatocytes to PFAS that reveal linkages to pathologies and epidemiological findings are highlighted. The evidence suggests that our understanding of the molecular landscape of PFAS must improve to determine their impact on the expression and function of hepatocyte transporters that play a key role in PFAS or other xenobiotic disposition. From here, we can assess what role these changes may have in documented human health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ena Vujic
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephen S Ferguson
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kim L R Brouwer
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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3
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Cao H, Peng J, Zhou Z, Yang Z, Wang L, Sun Y, Wang Y, Liang Y. Investigation of the Binding Fraction of PFAS in Human Plasma and Underlying Mechanisms Based on Machine Learning and Molecular Dynamics Simulation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17762-17773. [PMID: 36282672 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
More than 7000 per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have been documented in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's CompTox Chemicals database. These PFAS can be used in a broad range of industrial and consumer applications but may pose potential environmental issues and health risks. However, little is known about emerging PFAS bioaccumulation to assess their chemical safety. This study focuses specifically on the large and high-quality data set of fluorochemicals from the related environmental and pharmaceutical chemicals databases, and machine learning (ML) models were developed for the classification prediction of the unbound fraction of compounds in plasma. A comprehensive evaluation of the ML models shows that the best blending model yields an accuracy of 0.901 for the test set. The predictions suggest that most PFAS (∼92%) have a high binding fraction in plasma. Introduction of alkaline amino groups is likely to reduce the binding affinities of PFAS with plasma proteins. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate a clear distinction between the high and low binding fractions of PFAS. These computational workflows can be used to predict the bioaccumulation of emerging PFAS and are also helpful for the molecular design of PFAS to prevent the release of high-bioaccumulation compounds into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiming Cao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Jianhua Peng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zeguo Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yuzhen Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yawei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
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4
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Chen Z, Wang Y, Wang K, Zhang Z, Han M, Li G, Zhang B, Yang Y, Loor JJ, Yang Z, Wang M, Dai R, Zhong F. CircRNA-02191 regulating unsaturated fatty acid synthesis by adsorbing miR-145 to enhance CD36 expression in bovine mammary gland. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125306. [PMID: 37315673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
CD36 functions as a receptor for long-chain fatty acids, promoting the absorption and transport of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. However, the regulatory influence of upstream circRNAs or miRNAs on its expression in cow mammary gland remains unclear. Herein, we performed high-throughput sequencing to screen for differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in bovine mammary tissue during the late-lactation and the dry period to screen and conducted bioinformatics analysis to identify 420 miRNA/mRNA pairs, including miR-145/CD36. Experimental results indicate that miR-145 can directly target CD36 and inhibit its expression. Additionally, the circRNA-02191 sequence is predicted to contain a miR-145 binding site. As shown by dual luciferase reporter system detection, circRNA-02191 bound to miR-145 and its overexpression significantly reduced the expression of miR-145. Furthermore, the overexpression of miR-145 inhibited triglyceride accumulation, while circRNA-02191 enhanced the expression of the miR-145 target gene CD36. The above results indicate that circRNA-02191 can regulate triglyceride and fatty acid components by binding miR-145 and subsequently alleviating the inhibitory effect of miR-145 on the expression of CD36. Taken together, these findings present a novel approach to improve milk quality by analyzing the regulatory effect and mechanism regulating the circ02191/miR-145/CD36 pathway on fatty acid synthesis in the mammary gland of dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuhao Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kun Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhenbin Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Mengli Han
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China
| | - Guoqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China
| | - Juan J Loor
- Mammalian Nutrition Physiology Genomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Zhangping Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Mengzhi Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
| | - Rong Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China.
| | - Fagang Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China.
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5
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Zhao L, Teng M, Zhao X, Li Y, Sun J, Zhao W, Ruan Y, Leung KMY, Wu F. Insight into the binding model of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to proteins and membranes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107951. [PMID: 37126916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have elicited much concern because of their ubiquitous distribution in the environment and the potential hazards they pose to wildlife and human health. Although an increasing number of effective PFAS alternatives are available in the market, these alternatives bring new challenges. This paper comprehensively reviews how PFASs bind to transport proteins (e.g., serum albumin, liver fatty acid transport proteins and organic acid transporters), nuclear receptors (e.g., peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, thyroid hormone receptors and reproductive hormone receptors) and membranes (e.g., cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane). Briefly, the hydrophobic fluorinated carbon chains of PFASs occupy the binding cavities of the target proteins, and the acid groups of PFASs form hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues. Various structural features of PFAS alternatives such as chlorine atom substitution, oxygen atom insertion and a branched structure, introduce variations in their chain length and hydrophobicity, which potentially change the affinity of PFAS alternatives for endogenous proteins. The toxic effects and mechanisms of action of legacy PFASs can be demonstrated and compared with their alternatives using binding models. In future studies, in vitro experiments and in silico quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling should be better integrated to allow more reliable toxicity predictions for both legacy and alternative PFASs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Wentian Zhao
- Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuefei Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Kenneth M Y Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.
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6
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Camdzic D, Dickman RA, Joyce AS, Wallace JS, Ferguson PL, Aga DS. Quantitation of Total PFAS Including Trifluoroacetic Acid with Fluorine Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Anal Chem 2023; 95:5484-5488. [PMID: 36946571 PMCID: PMC10601338 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (19F-NMR) spectroscopy has been shown to be a powerful tool capable of quantifying the total per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a complex sample. The technique relies on the characteristic terminal -CF3 shift (-82.4 ppm) in the alkyl chain for quantification and does not introduce bias due to sample preparation or matrix effects. Traditional quantitative analytical techniques for PFAS, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and combustion ion chromatography (CIC), contain inherent limitations that make total fluorine analysis challenging. Here, we report a sensitive 19F-NMR method for the analysis of total PFAS, with a limit of detection of 99.97 nM, or 50 μg/L perfluorosulfonic acid. To demonstrate the capabilities of 19F-NMR, the technique was compared to two commonly used methods for PFAS analysis: total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay and LC-high resolution MS analysis for targeted quantification and suspect screening. In both cases, the 19F-NMR analyses detected higher total PFAS quantities than either the TOP assay (63%) or LC-MS analyses (65%), suggesting that LC-MS and TOP assays can lead to underreporting of PFAS. Importantly, the 19F-NMR detected trifluoroacetic acid at a concentration more than five times the total PFAS concentration quantified using LC-MS in the wastewater sample. Therefore, the use of 19F-NMR to quantify the total PFAS in highly complex samples can be used to complement classic TOP or LC-MS approaches for more accurate reporting of PFAS contamination in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dino Camdzic
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Rebecca A Dickman
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Abigail S Joyce
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Joshua S Wallace
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
- RENEW Institute, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - P Lee Ferguson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Diana S Aga
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
- RENEW Institute, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
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7
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Jia Y, Zhu Y, Wang R, Ye Q, Xu D, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Shan G, Zhu L. Novel insights into the mediating roles of cluster of differentiation 36 in transmembrane transport and tissue partition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in mice. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:130129. [PMID: 36303356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130129] [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: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Transmembrane transport is important for bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in organisms, but has not yet been well understood. Here, the roles of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) in accumulation of PFASs were investigated. CD36 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli to get CD36-BL21 strain, and the binding affinities of 20 PFASs with CD36 were determined by microscale thermophoresis, which grew up to 17.5 μM with increasing carbon chain length. Consequently, the accumulation of most PFASs was remarkably promoted in CD36-BL21 in comparison to the wild strain, and the enhancement was proportional to their binding affinities with CD36 (r = -0.96). However, this effect was depressed greatly as CD36 was inhibited by sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO). Additionally, as the mice received SSO pretreatment before they were exposed to perfluorododecanoic acid, its accumulation in the tissues rich in CD36, such as liver, was suppressed, but increased by 1.1 times in the serum. These indicated that CD36 played critical roles in the transmembrane transport and tissue partition of PFASs in organisms. The developed relationship between liver-blood partition of PFASs and their binding affinities with intracellular proteins was distinctly improved by incorporating that with CD36 (r = -0.97).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Jia
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Yumin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Rouyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Qingqing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Dashan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Yanfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Guoqiang Shan
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Lingyan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300350, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China.
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8
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In silico analysis decodes transthyretin (TTR) binding and thyroid disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:755-768. [PMID: 36566436 PMCID: PMC9968702 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03434-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a homo-tetramer protein involved in the transport of thyroid hormone (thyroxine; T4) in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Many pollutants have been shown to bind to TTR, which could be alarming as disruption in the thyroid hormone system can lead to several physiological problems. It is also indicated that the monomerization of tetramer and destabilization of monomer can lead to amyloidogenesis. Many compounds are identified that can bind to tetramer and stabilize the tetramer leading to the inhibition of amyloid fibril formation. Other compounds are known to bind tetramer and induce amyloid fibril formation. Among the pollutants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known to disrupt the thyroid hormone system. The molecular mechanisms of thyroid hormone disruption could be diverse, as some are known to bind with thyroid hormone receptors, and others can bind to membrane transporters. Binding to TTR could also be one of the important pathways to alter thyroid signaling. However, the molecular interactions that drive thyroid-disrupting effects of long-chain and short-chain PFASs are not comprehensively understood at the molecular level. In this study, using a computational approach, we show that carbon chain length and functional group in PFASs are structural determinants, in which longer carbon chains of PFASs and sulfur-containing PFASs favor stronger interactions with TTR than their shorter-chained counterparts. Interestingly, short-chain PFAS also showed strong binding capacity, and the interaction energy for some was as close to the longer-chain PFAS. This suggests that short-chain PFASs are not completely safe, and their use and build-up in the environment should be carefully regulated. Of note, TTR homologs analysis suggests that thyroid-disrupting effects of PFASs could be most likely translated to TTR-like proteins and other species.
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9
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Martinez B, Robey NM, Da Silva BF, Ditz H, Sobczak WJ, Deliz Quiñones KY, Bowden JA. Swimming with PFAS in public and private pools. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 310:136765. [PMID: 36241119 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of anthropogenic chemicals used to provide water and stain resistance in many consumer products. Their widespread use, nearly ubiquitous presence across multiple environments, and growing list of adverse health effects has raised concerns among communities. PFAS have been frequently detected and quantified globally in wastewater, groundwater, surface and drinking water; however, the presence of PFAS in swimming pool water - a unique matrix in which constituents may concentrate through evaporation and which also may present a high risk of direct human exposure - has not been reported. Here, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to monitor 92 PFAS in 54 water samples collected from city, apartment, hotel, and personal swimming pools in six Florida cities. In total, 14 PFAS were detected with six perfluoroalkyl acids - perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) - detected in every sample. PFHxA accounted for 49% of all PFAS quantified in this study. PFAS profiles were compared between sites as a function of pool type, rate of use, and geographic location. Total ΣPFAS concentrations were similar across pool types, with both the highest (633 ng/L) and lowest (1.9 ng/L) measurements found in public city pools. Between sites, higher PFAS levels were observed in city pools in Miami, Melbourne and Tampa compared to Naples, Orlando and Gainesville. Our findings highlight the potential exposure of PFAS in an underexplored and yet important exposure pathway in communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Martinez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nicole M Robey
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Bianca F Da Silva
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Heather Ditz
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - William J Sobczak
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - John A Bowden
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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