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Ayodele A, Obeng-Gyasi E. Exploring the Potential Link between PFAS Exposure and Endometrial Cancer: A Review of Environmental and Sociodemographic Factors. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:983. [PMID: 38473344 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050983] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This exploratory narrative review paper delves into the intricate interplay between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure, sociodemographic factors, and the influence of stressors in the context of endometrial cancer. PFAS, ubiquitous environmental contaminants notorious for their persistence in the ecosystem, have garnered attention for their potential to disrupt endocrine systems and provoke immune responses. We comprehensively examine the various sources of PFAS exposure, encompassing household items, water, air, and soil, thus shedding light on the multifaceted routes through which individuals encounter these compounds. Furthermore, we explore the influence of sociodemographic factors, such as income, education, occupation, ethnicity/race, and geographical location and their relationship to endometrial cancer risk. We also investigated the role of stress on PFAS exposure and endometrial cancer risk. The results revealed a significant impact of sociodemographic factors on both PFAS levels and endometrial cancer risk. Stress emerged as a notable contributing factor influencing PFAS exposure and the development of endometrial cancer, further emphasizing the importance of stress management practices for overall well-being. By synthesizing evidence from diverse fields, this review underscores the need for interdisciplinary research and targeted interventions to comprehensively address the complex relationship between PFAS, sociodemographic factors, stressors, and endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aderonke Ayodele
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
- Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
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2
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Frangione B, Birk S, Benzouak T, Rodriguez-Villamizar LA, Karim F, Dugandzic R, Villeneuve PJ. Exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and pediatric obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (Lond) 2024; 48:131-146. [PMID: 37907715 PMCID: PMC10824662 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-023-01401-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are potentially obesogenic for children. We undertook a systematic review to synthesize this literature and explore sources of heterogeneity in previously published epidemiological studies. METHODS Studies that collected individual-level PFAS and anthropometric data from children up to 12 years of age were identified by searching six databases. We excluded studies that only evaluated obesity measures at the time of birth. A full-text review and quality assessment of the studies was performed using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) criteria. Forest plots were created to summarize measures of association and assess heterogeneity across studies by chemical type and exposure timing. Funnel plots were used to assess small-study effects. RESULTS We identified 24 studies, of which 19 used a cohort design. There were 13 studies included in the meta-analysis examining various chemicals and outcomes. Overall prenatal exposures to four different types of PFAS were not statistically associated with changes in body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference. In contrast, for three chemicals, postnatal exposures were inversely related to changes in BMI (i.e., per log10 increase in PFOS: BMI z-score of -0.16 (95% CI: -0.22, -0.10)). There was no substantial heterogeneity in the reported measures of association within prenatal and postnatal subgroups. We observed modest small-study effects, but correction for these effects using the Trim and Fill method did not change our summary estimate(s). CONCLUSION Our review found no evidence of a positive association between prenatal PFAS exposure and pediatric obesity, whereas an inverse association was found for postnatal exposure. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of studies. Future research that can inform on the effects of exposure mixtures, the timing of the exposure, outcome measures, and the shape of the exposure-response curve is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Frangione
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sapriya Birk
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Tarek Benzouak
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, H3A 0G4, Montreal, Canada
| | - Laura A Rodriguez-Villamizar
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
- Faculty of Health, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Fatima Karim
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Paul J Villeneuve
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada.
- CHAIM Research Centre, Carleton University, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada.
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3
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van Gerwen M, Colicino E, Guan H, Dolios G, Nadkarni GN, Vermeulen RCH, Wolff MS, Arora M, Genden EM, Petrick LM. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and thyroid cancer risk. EBioMedicine 2023; 97:104831. [PMID: 37884429 PMCID: PMC10667111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure is a potential contributor to the increasing thyroid cancer trend, limited studies have investigated the association between PFAS exposure and thyroid cancer in human populations. We therefore investigated associations between plasma PFAS levels and thyroid cancer diagnosis using a nested case-control study of patients with thyroid cancer with plasma samples collected at/before cancer diagnosis. METHODS 88 patients with thyroid cancer using diagnosis codes and 88 healthy (non-cancer) controls pair-matched on sex, age (±5 years), race/ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, and year of sample collection were identified in the BioMe population (a medical record-linked biobank at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York); 74 patients had papillary thyroid cancer. Eight plasma PFAS were measured using untargeted analysis with liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and suspect screening. Associations between individual PFAS levels and thyroid cancer were evaluated using unconditional logistic regression models to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). FINDINGS There was a 56% increased rate of thyroid cancer diagnosis per doubling of linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (n-PFOS) intensity (ORadj, 1.56, 95% CI: 1.17-2.15, P = 0.004); results were similar when including patients with papillary thyroid cancer only (ORadj, 1.56, 95% CI: 1.13-2.21, P = 0.009). This positive association remained in subset analysis investigating exposure timing including 31 thyroid cancer cases diagnosed ≥1 year after plasma sample collection (ORadj, 2.67, 95% CI: 1.59-4.88, P < 0.001). INTERPRETATION This study reports associations between exposure to PFAS and increased rate of (papillary) thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer risk from PFAS exposure is a global concern given the prevalence of PFAS exposure. Individual PFAS studied here are a small proportion of the total number of PFAS supporting additional large-scale prospective studies investigating thyroid cancer risk associated with exposure to PFAS chemicals. FUNDING National Institutes of Health grants and The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike van Gerwen
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Elena Colicino
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Haibin Guan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Georgia Dolios
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Girish N Nadkarni
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; The Charles Bronfman Institute of Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; The Division of Data Driven and Digital Medicine (D3M), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roel C H Vermeulen
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Population Health Sciences, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mary S Wolff
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Eric M Genden
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Lauren M Petrick
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Bert Strassburger Metabolic Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
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4
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Petroff RL, Cavalcante RG, Langen ES, Dolinoy DC, Padmanabhan V, Goodrich JM. Mediation effects of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation on birth outcomes after prenatal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in the Michigan mother-infant Pairs cohort. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:49. [PMID: 36964604 PMCID: PMC10037903 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01461-5] [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: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals that are resistant to degradation and ubiquitous in our environments. PFAS may impact the developing epigenome, but current human evidence is limited to assessments of total DNA methylation. We assessed associations between first trimester PFAS exposures with newborn DNA methylation, including 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC). DNA methylation mediation of associations between PFAS and birth outcomes were explored in the Michigan Mother Infant Pairs cohort. Nine PFAS were measured in maternal first trimester blood. Seven were highly detected and included for analysis: PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, and MeFOSAA. Bisulfite-converted cord blood DNA (n = 141) and oxidative-bisulfite-converted cord blood (n = 70) were assayed on Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChips to measure total DNA methylation (5-mC + 5-hmC) and 5-mC/5-hmC. Correcting for multiple comparisons, beta regressions were used to assess associations between levels of PFAS and total methylation, 5-mC, or 5-hmC. Nonlinear mediation analyses were used to assess the epigenetic meditation effect between PFAS and birth outcomes. RESULTS PFAS was significantly associated with total methylation (q < 0.05: PFHxS-12 sites; PFOS-19 sites; PFOA-2 sites; PFNA-3 sites; PFDA-4 sites). In 72 female infants and 69 male infants, there were sex-specific associations between five PFAS and DNA methylation. 5-mC and 5-hmC were each significantly associated with thousands of sites for PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, and MeFOSAA (q < 0.05). Clusters of 5-mC and 5-hmC sites were significant mediators between PFNA and PFUnDA and decreased gestational age (q < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the mediation role of specific types of DNA methylation on the relationship between PFAS exposure and birth outcomes. These results suggest that 5-mC and 5-hmC may be more sensitive to the developmental impacts of PFAS than total DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah L Petroff
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Raymond G Cavalcante
- Epigenomics Core, Biomedical Research Core Facilities, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Langen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dana C Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Epigenomics Core, Biomedical Research Core Facilities, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vasantha Padmanabhan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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Perng W, Nakiwala D, Goodrich JM. What Happens In Utero Does Not Stay In Utero: a Review of Evidence for Prenatal Epigenetic Programming by Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:35-44. [PMID: 36414885 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00387-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Review human literature on the relationship between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and epigenetic modifications in infants, children, and adolescents < 18 years of age. RECENT FINDINGS Eleven studies were identified, with study populations located in the U.S., Taiwan, Japan, and the Kingdom of Denmark. Many studies (n = 5) were cross-sectional, with PFAS exposure and epigenetic outcomes measured in the same tissue collected at delivery via cord blood or dried newborn blood spots. The other six studies were prospective, with prenatal PFAS measured on maternal blood during pregnancy and DNA methylation (DNAm) assessed in cord blood and childhood peripheral leukocytes (n = 1 study). Epigenetic marks of interest included global DNAm measures (LINE-1, Alu, and an ELISA-based method), candidate genes (IFG2, H19, and MEST), and epigenome-wide DNA methylation via array-based methods (Infinium 450 K and EPIC). Two studies using array-based methods employed discovery and validation paradigms, in which a small subset of loci (n = 6 and n = 4) were replicated in the discovery population. One site (TNXB) was a hit in two independent studies. Collectively, loci associated with PFAS were in regions involved in growth and development, lipid metabolism, and nutrient metabolism. There is moderate human evidence supporting associations of prenatal PFAS exposure on DNAm at birth, with one study suggesting sustained effects into childhood. Future studies are warranted to link PFAS-associated DNAm to health outcomes, as well as to investigate the role of other epigenetic marks such as hydroxymethylation, miRNA expression, and histone modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Perng
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Dorothy Nakiwala
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Itoh H, Harada KH, Kasuga Y, Yokoyama S, Onuma H, Nishimura H, Kusama R, Yokoyama K, Zhu J, Harada Sassa M, Yoshida T, Tsugane S, Iwasaki M. Association between serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances and global DNA methylation levels in peripheral blood leukocytes of Japanese women: A cross-sectional study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:159923. [PMID: 36356761 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159923] [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: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Global DNA methylation levels in peripheral blood leukocytes can be a biomarker for cancer risk; however, levels can be changed by various factors such as environmental pollutants. We investigated the association between serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and global DNA methylation levels of leukocytes in a cross-sectional study using the control group of a Japanese breast cancer case-control study [397 women with a mean age of 54.1 (SD 10.1) years]. Importantly, our analysis distinguished branched PFAS isomers as different from linear isomers. The serum concentrations of 20 PFASs were measured by in-port arylation gas-chromatography negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Global DNA methylation levels in peripheral blood leukocytes were measured using a luminometric methylation assay. Associations between log10-transformed serum PFAS concentrations and global DNA methylation levels were evaluated by regression coefficients in multivariable robust linear regression analyses. Serum concentrations of 13 PFASs were significantly associated with increased global DNA methylation levels in leukocytes. Global DNA methylation was significantly increased by 1.45 %-3.96 % per log10-unit increase of serum PFAS concentration. Our results indicate that exposure to PFASs may increase global DNA methylation levels in peripheral blood leukocytes of Japanese women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Itoh
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; Division of Epidemiology, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.
| | - Kouji H Harada
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Yoshida, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshio Kasuga
- Department of Surgery, Nagano Matsushiro General Hospital, 183 Matsushiro, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano, Nagano 381-1231, Japan; Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Shiro Yokoyama
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Nagano Red Cross Hospital, 5-22-1 Wakasato, Nagano, Nagano 380-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Onuma
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Nagano Red Cross Hospital, 5-22-1 Wakasato, Nagano, Nagano 380-8582, Japan
| | - Hideki Nishimura
- Department of Chest Surgery and Breast Surgery, Nagano Municipal Hospital, 1333-1 Tomitake, Nagano, Nagano 381-8551, Japan
| | - Ritsu Kusama
- Department of Surgery, Hokushin General Hospital, 1-5-63 Nishi, Nakano, Nagano 383-8505, Japan
| | - Kazuhito Yokoyama
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School of Public Health, 4-1-26 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8402, Japan
| | - Jing Zhu
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Yoshida, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Department of Sanitary Technology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610061, China
| | - Mariko Harada Sassa
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Yoshida, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Yoshida
- Division of Genetics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Shoichiro Tsugane
- Division of Cohort Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Motoki Iwasaki
- Division of Epidemiology, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan; Division of Cohort Research, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
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Schrott R, Song A, Ladd-Acosta C. Epigenetics as a Biomarker for Early-Life Environmental Exposure. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:604-624. [PMID: 35907133 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00373-5] [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] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There is interest in evaluating the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) which emphasizes the role of prenatal and early-life environments on non-communicable health outcomes throughout the life course. The ability to rigorously assess and identify early-life risk factors for later health outcomes, including those with childhood onset, in large population samples is often limited due to measurement challenges such as impractical costs associated with prospective studies with a long follow-up duration, short half-lives for some environmental toxicants, and lack of biomarkers that capture inter-individual differences in biologic response to external environments. RECENT FINDINGS Epigenomic patterns, and DNA methylation in particular, have emerged as a potential objective biomarker to address some of these study design and exposure measurement challenges. In this article, we summarize the literature to date on epigenetic changes associated with specific prenatal and early-life exposure domains as well as exposure mixtures in human observational studies and their biomarker potential. Additionally, we highlight evidence for other types of epigenetic patterns to serve as exposure biomarkers. Evidence strongly supports epigenomic biomarkers of exposure that are detectable across the lifespan and across a range of exposure domains. Current and future areas of research in this field seek to expand these lines of evidence to other environmental exposures, to determine their specificity, and to develop predictive algorithms and methylation scores that can be used to evaluate early-life risk factors for health outcomes across the life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Schrott
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ashley Song
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christine Ladd-Acosta
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Boyd RI, Ahmad S, Singh R, Fazal Z, Prins GS, Madak Erdogan Z, Irudayaraj J, Spinella MJ. Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Poly- and Perfluoroalkylated Substances and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122919. [PMID: 35740585 PMCID: PMC9220899 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are industrial chemicals found in many household products that persist in the environment. While several excellent review articles exist on the potential harmful effects of PFAS, there are few focused on cancer. This concise and streamlined mini-review focuses on summarizing molecular mechanisms related to the potential cancer-promoting properties of PFAS. This review organizes and interprets the vast primary PFAS cancer biology literature and provides a coherent, unified, and digestible model of the molecular mechanisms that potentially explains PFAS cancer promotion. Abstract Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are chemicals that persist and bioaccumulate in the environment and are found in nearly all human populations through several routes of exposure. Human occupational and community exposure to PFAS has been associated with several cancers, including cancers of the kidney, testis, prostate, and liver. While evidence suggests that PFAS are not directly mutagenic, many diverse mechanisms of carcinogenicity have been proposed. In this mini-review, we organize these mechanisms into three major proposed pathways of PFAS action—metabolism, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic perturbation—and discuss how these distinct but interdependent pathways may explain many of the proposed pro-carcinogenic effects of the PFAS class of environmental contaminants. Notably, each of the pathways is predicted to be highly sensitive to the dose and window of exposure which may, in part, explain the variable epidemiologic and experimental evidence linking PFAS and cancer. We highlight testicular and prostate cancer as models to validate this concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raya I. Boyd
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Saeed Ahmad
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.A.); (J.I.)
| | - Ratnakar Singh
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Zeeshan Fazal
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
| | - Gail S. Prins
- Departments of Urology, Pathology and Physiology, College of Medicine, Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Zeynep Madak Erdogan
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joseph Irudayaraj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.A.); (J.I.)
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute of Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Michael J. Spinella
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; (R.I.B.); (R.S.); (Z.F.)
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Correspondence:
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9
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Gui SY, Chen YN, Wu KJ, Liu W, Wang WJ, Liang HR, Jiang ZX, Li ZL, Hu CY. Association Between Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:855348. [PMID: 35400049 PMCID: PMC8988915 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.855348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A large body of emerging evidence suggests that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect birth outcomes in various pathways, but the evidence is inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the epidemiological evidence on PFAS exposure and birth outcomes. Methods Three electronic databases were searched for epidemiological studies through February 13, 2021. We used random-effects meta-analysis for eight birth outcome indicators to calculate summary effect estimates for various exposure types. The risk of bias and the overall quality and level of evidence for each exposure-outcome pair were assessed. Results The initial search identified 58 potentially eligible studies, of which 46 were ultimately included. Many PFAS were found to have previously unrecognized statistically significant associations with birth outcomes. Specifically, birth weight (BW) was associated with PFAS, with effect sizes ranging from −181.209 g (95% confidence interval (CI) = −360.620 to −1.798) per 1 ng/ml increase in perfluoroheptanesulfonate (PFHpS) to −24.252 g (95% CI = −38.574 to −9.930) per 1 ln (ng/ml) increase in perfluorodecaoic acid (PFDA). Similar patterns were observed between other PFAS and birth outcomes: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) with birth length (BL) and ponderal index (PI), PFOS and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA) with head circumference (HC), PFHpS with gestational age (GA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and PFHpS with preterm birth (PTB). Additionally, PFDA showed a statistically significant association with small for gestational age (SGA). The level of the combined evidence for each exposure-outcome pair was considered to be “moderate”. Conclusion This study showed that PFAS exposure was significantly associated with increased risks of various adverse birth outcomes and that different birth outcome indicators had different degrees of sensitivity to PFAS. Further studies are needed to confirm our results by expanding the sample size, clarifying the effects of different types or doses of PFAS and the time of blood collection on birth outcomes, and fully considering the possible confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yu Gui
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yue-Nan Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Clinical Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ke-Jia Wu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wen-Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Clinical Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Huan-Ru Liang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zheng-Xuan Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ze-Lian Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Ze-Lian Li
| | - Cheng-Yang Hu
- Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Cheng-Yang Hu
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10
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Liu Y, Eliot MN, Papandonatos GD, Kelsey KT, Fore R, Langevin S, Buckley J, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Cecil KM, Yolton K, Hivert MF, Sagiv SK, Baccarelli AA, Oken E, Braun JM. Gestational Perfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure and DNA Methylation at Birth and 12 Years of Age: A Longitudinal Epigenome-Wide Association Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:37005. [PMID: 35266797 PMCID: PMC8911098 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation alterations may underlie associations between gestational perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and later-life health outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, no longitudinal studies have examined the associations between gestational PFAS and DNA methylation. OBJECTIVES We examined associations of gestational PFAS exposure with longitudinal DNA methylation measures at birth and in adolescence using the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study (2003-2006; Cincinnati, Ohio). METHODS We quantified serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in mothers during pregnancy. We measured DNA methylation in cord blood (n=266) and peripheral leukocytes at 12 years of age (n=160) using the Illumina HumanMethylation EPIC BeadChip. We analyzed associations between log2-transformed PFAS concentrations and repeated DNA methylation measures using linear regression with generalized estimating equations. We included interaction terms between children's age and gestational PFAS. We performed Gene Ontology enrichment analysis to identify molecular pathways. We used Project Viva (1999-2002; Boston, Massachusetts) to replicate significant associations. RESULTS After adjusting for covariates, 435 cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites were associated with PFAS (false discovery rate, q<0.05). Specifically, we identified 2 CpGs for PFOS, 12 for PFOA, 8 for PFHxS, and 413 for PFNA; none overlapped. Among these, 2 CpGs for PFOA and 4 for PFNA were replicated in Project Viva. Some of the PFAS-associated CpG sites annotated to gene regions related to cancers, cognitive health, cardiovascular disease, and kidney function. We found little evidence that the associations between PFAS and DNA methylation differed by children's age. DISCUSSION In these longitudinal data, PFAS biomarkers were associated with differences in several CpGs at birth and at 12 years of age in or near genes linked to some PFAS-associated health outcomes. Future studies should examine whether DNA methylation mediates associations between gestational PFAS exposure and health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10118.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Melissa N. Eliot
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - George D. Papandonatos
- Department of Biostatistics, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Karl T. Kelsey
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Ruby Fore
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott Langevin
- Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jessie Buckley
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bruce P. Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kim M. Cecil
- Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sharon K. Sagiv
- Department of Epidemiology, Berkeley School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph M. Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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11
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Svoboda LK, Ishikawa T, Dolinoy DC. Developmental toxicant exposures and sex-specific effects on epigenetic programming and cardiovascular health across generations. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS 2022; 8:dvac017. [PMID: 36325489 PMCID: PMC9600458 DOI: 10.1093/eep/dvac017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite substantial strides in diagnosis and treatment, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to represent the leading cause of death in the USA and around the world, resulting in significant morbidity and loss of productive years of life. It is increasingly evident that environmental exposures during early development can influence CVD risk across the life course. CVDs exhibit marked sexual dimorphism, but how sex interacts with environmental exposures to affect cardiovascular health is a critical and understudied area of environmental health. Emerging evidence suggests that developmental exposures may have multi- and transgenerational effects on cardiovascular health, with potential sex differences; however, further research in this important area is urgently needed. Lead (Pb), phthalate plasticizers, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with numerous adverse human health effects. Notably, recent evidence suggests that developmental exposure to each of these toxicants has sex-specific effects on cardiovascular outcomes, but the underlying mechanisms, and their effects on future generations, require further investigation. This review article will highlight the role for the developmental environment in influencing cardiovascular health across generations, with a particular emphasis on sex differences and epigenetic mechanisms. In particular, we will focus on the current evidence for adverse multi and transgenerational effects of developmental exposures to Pb, phthalates, and PFAS and highlight areas where further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie K Svoboda
- *Correspondence address. Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Tel: +734-764-2032; E-mail:
| | - Tomoko Ishikawa
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dana C Dolinoy
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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12
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Mukherjee S, Dasgupta S, Mishra PK, Chaudhury K. Air pollution-induced epigenetic changes: disease development and a possible link with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:55981-56002. [PMID: 34498177 PMCID: PMC8425320 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16056-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is a serious threat to our health and has become one of the major causes of many diseases including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. The association between air pollution and various diseases has long been a topic of research interest. However, it remains unclear how air pollution actually impacts health by modulating several important cellular functions. Recently, some evidence has emerged about air pollution-induced epigenetic changes, which are linked with the etiology of various human diseases. Among several epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation represents the most prominent epigenetic alteration underlying the air pollution-induced pathogenic mechanism. Several other types of epigenetic changes, such as histone modifications, miRNA, and non-coding RNA expression, have also been found to have been linked with air pollution. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), one of the most prevalent forms of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), is triggered by the inhalation of certain organic and inorganic substances. HP is characterized by inflammation in the tissues around the lungs' airways and may lead to irreversible lung scarring over time. This review, in addition to other diseases, attempts to understand whether certain pollutants influence HP development through such epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suranjana Mukherjee
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
| | - Sanjukta Dasgupta
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India
| | - Pradyumna K Mishra
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462030, India
| | - Koel Chaudhury
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India
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13
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Kim S, Thapar I, Brooks BW. Epigenetic changes by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 279:116929. [PMID: 33751946 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Increasing studies are examining per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) induced toxicity and resulting health outcomes, including epigenetic modifications (e.g., DNA methylation, histone modification, microRNA expression). We critically reviewed current evidence from human epidemiological, in vitro, and animal studies, including mammalian and aquatic model organisms. Epidemiological studies identified the associations between perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure and epigenetic changes in both adult populations and birth cohorts. For in vitro studies, various cell types including neuroblasts, preadipocytes, and hepatocytes have been employed to understand epigenetic effects of PFAS. In studies with animal models, effects of early life exposure to PFAS have been examined using rodent models, and aquatic models (e.g., zebrafish) have been more frequently used in recent years. Several studies highlighted oxidative stress as a key mediator between epigenetic modification and health effects. Collectively, previous research clearly suggest involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in PFAS induced toxicity, though these efforts have primarily focused on specific PFASs (i.e. mainly PFOS and PFOA) or endpoints (i.e. cancer). Additional studies are necessary to define specific linkages among epigenetic mechanisms and related biomarkers or phenotypical changes. In addition, future research is also needed for understudied PFAS and complex mixtures. Studies of epigenetic effects elicited by individual PFAS and mixtures are needed within an adverse outcome pathways framework, which will advance an understanding of PFAS risks to public health and the environment, and support efforts to design less hazardous chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Kim
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA; Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA.
| | - Isha Thapar
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA; Honors College, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA; Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA.
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14
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Robinson SL, Zeng X, Guan W, Sundaram R, Mendola P, Putnick DL, Waterland RA, Gunasekara CJ, Kannan K, Gao C, Bell EM, Yeung EH. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and DNA methylation in newborn dried blood spots in the Upstate KIDS cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110668. [PMID: 33387539 PMCID: PMC7946760 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are persistent organic pollutants which may alter prenatal development, potentially through epigenetic modifications. Prior studies examining PFOS/PFOA and DNA methylation have relatively few subjects (n < 200) and inconsistent results. We examined relations of PFOA/PFOS with DNA methylation among 597 neonates in the Upstate KIDS cohort study. PFOA/PFOS were quantified in newborn dried blood spots (DBS) using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. DNA methylation was measured using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip with DNA extracted from DBS. Robust linear regression was used to examine the associations of PFOA/PFOS with DNA methylation at individual CpG sites. Covariates included sample plate, estimated cell type, epigenetically derived ancestry, infant sex and plurality, indicators of maternal socioeconomic status, and prior pregnancy loss. In supplemental analysis, we restricted the analysis to 2242 CpG sites previously identified as Correlated Regions of Systemic Interindividual Variation (CoRSIVs) which include metastable epialleles. At FDR<0.05, PFOA concentration >90th percentile was related to DNA methylation at cg15557840, near SCRT2, SRXN1; PFOS>90th percentile was related to 2 CpG sites in a sex-specific manner (cg19039925 in GVIN1 in boys and cg05754408 in ZNF26 in girls). When analysis was restricted to CoRSIVs, log-scaled, continuous PFOS concentration was related to DNA methylation at cg03278866 within PTBP1. In conclusion, there was limited evidence of an association between high concentrations of PFOA/PFOS and DNA methylation in newborn DBS in the Upstate KIDS cohort. These findings merit replication in populations with a higher median concentration of PFOA/PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia L Robinson
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6710B Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States.
| | - Xuehuo Zeng
- Glotech Inc., 1801 Research Blvd #605, Rockville, MD, 20850, United States.
| | - Weihua Guan
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States.
| | - Rajeshwari Sundaram
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6710B Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States.
| | - Pauline Mendola
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, 270 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States.
| | - Diane L Putnick
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6710B Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States.
| | - Robert A Waterland
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, 1100 Bates St., Ste. 5080, Houston, TX, 77030, United States.
| | - Chathura J Gunasekara
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, 1100 Bates St., Ste. 5080, Houston, TX, 77030, United States.
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Chongjing Gao
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Erin M Bell
- Departments of Environmental Health Sciences, And Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, United States.
| | - Edwina H Yeung
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6710B Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States.
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15
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Xu Y, Jurkovic-Mlakar S, Lindh CH, Scott K, Fletcher T, Jakobsson K, Engström K. Associations between serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances and DNA methylation in women exposed through drinking water: A pilot study in Ronneby, Sweden. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 145:106148. [PMID: 33007577 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread synthetic substances with various adverse health effects. A potential mechanism of toxicity for PFAS is via epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation. However, few studies have evaluated associations between PFAS exposure and DNA methylation among adults, and data is especially scarce for women. Furthermore, exposure to environmental pollutants has been associated with epigenetic age acceleration, but no studies have yet evaluated whether PFAS is associated with epigenetic age acceleration. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether exposure to PFAS is associated with alteration of DNA methylation and epigenetic age acceleration among women. METHODS In this observational pilot study, 59 women (aged 20-47 years at enrollment in 2014) from Ronneby, Sweden, an area with historically high PFAS exposure due to local drinking water contamination, were divided into three PFAS exposure groups (low, medium, and high). Genome-wide methylation of whole-blood DNA was analyzed using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used for in silico functional assessment. Epigenetic age acceleration was derived from the DNA methylation data using Horvath's epigenetic skin and blood clock. RESULTS 117 differentially methylated positions (q < 0.017) and one near-significantly differentially methylated region (S100A13, FWER = 0.020) were identified. In silico functional analyses suggested that genes with altered DNA methylation (q < 0.05) were annotated to cancer, endocrine system disorders, reproductive system disease, as well as pathways such as estrogen receptor signaling, cardiac hypertrophy signaling, PPARα/RXRα activation and telomerase signaling. No differences in epigenetic age acceleration between PFAS exposure groups were noted (p = 0.43). CONCLUSION The data suggests that PFAS exposure alters DNA methylation in women highly exposed to PFAS from drinking water. The observed associations should be verified in larger cohorts, and it should also be further investigated whether these changes in methylation also underlie potential phenotypic changes and/or adverse health effects of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Xu
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Simona Jurkovic-Mlakar
- CANSEARCH Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Kristin Scott
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Tony Fletcher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Kristina Jakobsson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Karin Engström
- EPI@LUND, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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16
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Temkin AM, Hocevar BA, Andrews DQ, Naidenko OV, Kamendulis LM. Application of the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens to Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E1668. [PMID: 32143379 PMCID: PMC7084585 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a large class of environmentally persistent chemicals used in industrial and consumer products. Human exposure to PFAS is extensive, and PFAS contamination has been reported in drinking water and food supplies as well as in the serum of nearly all people. The most well-studied member of the PFAS class, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), induces tumors in animal bioassays and has been associated with elevated risk of cancer in human populations. GenX, one of the PFOA replacement chemicals, induces tumors in animal bioassays as well. Using the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens framework for cancer hazard identification, we considered the existing epidemiological, toxicological and mechanistic data for 26 different PFAS. We found strong evidence that multiple PFAS induce oxidative stress, are immunosuppressive, and modulate receptor-mediated effects. We also found suggestive evidence indicating that some PFAS can induce epigenetic alterations and influence cell proliferation. Experimental data indicate that PFAS are not genotoxic and generally do not undergo metabolic activation. Data are currently insufficient to assess whether any PFAS promote chronic inflammation, cellular immortalization or alter DNA repair. While more research is needed to address data gaps, evidence exists that several PFAS exhibit one or more of the key characteristics of carcinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M. Temkin
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC 20009, USA; (D.Q.A.); (O.V.N.)
| | - Barbara A. Hocevar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; (B.A.H.); (L.M.K.)
| | - David Q. Andrews
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC 20009, USA; (D.Q.A.); (O.V.N.)
| | - Olga V. Naidenko
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC 20009, USA; (D.Q.A.); (O.V.N.)
| | - Lisa M. Kamendulis
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA; (B.A.H.); (L.M.K.)
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17
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Li R, Guo C, Tse WKF, Su M, Zhang X, Lai KP. Metabolomic analysis reveals metabolic alterations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by perfluorooctanoic acid. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 239:124810. [PMID: 31520980 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a dispersive persistent organic pollutant in the environment. Accumulating reports suggest that PFOA is toxic to human lymphocytes; however, the toxicological effects of PFOA on these cells remain largely unclear. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-based metabolomic analysis was employed to identify metabolites in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and to assess the metabolic alterations caused by PFOA exposure. Our comparative metabolomic analysis results demonstrated that PFOA treatment could increase the level of organic acids and reduce the level of lipid molecules. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation further highlighted the fact that the PFOA treatment interfered with the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids, which may lead to disruption of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, PR China.
| | - Chao Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, Guigang City People's Hospital, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, Guangxi, PR China
| | - William Ka Fai Tse
- Department of Bioresource and Bioenvironment, School of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Japan
| | - Min Su
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, PR China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, PR China
| | - Keng Po Lai
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, PR China; Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Sonkar R, Kay MK, Choudhury M. PFOS Modulates Interactive Epigenetic Regulation in First-Trimester Human Trophoblast Cell Line HTR-8/SV neo. Chem Res Toxicol 2019; 32:2016-2027. [PMID: 31508952 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Organic compounds have been linked to adverse pregnancy complications. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a man-made fluorosurfactant and global pollutant, has been shown to induce oxidative stress in various cell types. Oxidative stress plays a key role in leading several placental diseases including preeclampsia (PE), gestational diabetes, spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, and intrauterine growth restriction. Recently, epigenetic regulation such as histone modifications, DNA methylation, and microRNAs (miRNAs), are shown to be associated with oxidative stress as well as pregnancy complications such as PE. However, whether PFOS exerts its detrimental effects in the placenta through epigenetics remains to be unveiled. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of PFOS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in first trimester human trophoblast cell line (HTR-8/SVneo) and whether epigenetic regulation is involved in this process. When treated with a range of PFOS doses at 24 and 48 h, even at 10 μM, it significantly increased the ROS production and decreased gene and protein expression, respectively, of the DNA methyltransferases DNMT1 (p < 0.001; p < 0.05), DNMT3A (p < 0.001; p < 0.05), and DNMT3B (p < 0.01; p < 0.01) and the sirtuins, for example, SIRT1 (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) and SIRT3 (p < 0.001; p < 0.05), while reducing global DNA methylation (p < 0.01) and increasing protein lysine acetylation (p < 0.001) as compared to vehicle controls. Interestingly, PFOS (10 μM) significantly increased miR29-b (p < 0.01), which has been previously reported to be associated with PE. The observed epigenetic effects were shown to be dependent on the expression of miR-29b, as knockdown of miR-29b significantly alters the gene and protein expression of DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, SIRT1, and SIRT3 and ROS production as well as global DNA methylation and protein acetylation. This study provides for the first time a novel insight into PFOS-induced ROS generation via regulation of sets of the interactive epigenetic circuit in the placenta, which may lead to pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Sonkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy , Texas A&M Health Science Center , 312 REYN, MS 1114 , College Station , Texas 77843 , United States
| | - Matthew K Kay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy , Texas A&M Health Science Center , 312 REYN, MS 1114 , College Station , Texas 77843 , United States
| | - Mahua Choudhury
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy , Texas A&M Health Science Center , 312 REYN, MS 1114 , College Station , Texas 77843 , United States
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Wiener RC, Waters C. Perfluoroalkyls/polyfluoroalkyl substances and dental caries experience in children, ages 3-11 years, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2014. J Public Health Dent 2019; 79:307-319. [PMID: 31286520 DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this research is to determine the association of seven perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances versus dental caries experience in US children, ages 3-11 years. METHODS A cross-sectional study design was used in the analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014 serological data of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The seven perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances were: 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide) acetic acid; perfluorodecanoic acid; perfluorononanoic acid; perfluorohexane sulfonic acid; linear isomers of perfluorooctanoate; linear perfluorooctane sulfonate; and monomethyl branched isomers of perfluorooctane sulfonate. Two summative variables were created: monomethyl branch isomers of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid with linear isomer of perfluorooctane and branch isomers of perfluorooctanoate with linear isomer perfluorooctonate. RESULTS In unadjusted logistic regression, in which the comparison was between the less than 75th percentile reference group and the 75th and above percentile group, higher perfluorodecanoic acid was associated with dental caries experience [unadjusted odds ratio: 1.79 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.46; P = 0.0069); adjusted odds ratio: 1.54 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.30; P = 0.0385)]. CONCLUSIONS Of the seven examined perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, only perfluorodecanoic acid had an association with dental caries experience in an unadjusted model and adjusted logistic regression model.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Constance Wiener
- Dental Practice and Rural Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Christopher Waters
- Department of Dental Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
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