Adverse outcome pathway in immunotoxicity of perfluoroalkyls

Exposure to per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances and respiratory and skin effects in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Despite being previously banned due to long-term health effects, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remain widespread in the environment, accumulating in animals and humans. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores associations between exposure to PFAS and asthma onset, wheezing, atopic dermatitis, and eczema in children and adolescents while addressing exposure timing and sex-specific differences. After comprehensive search conducted in several databases, including risk of bias, study heterogeneity, and quality of evidence evaluation, the review included 28 observational studies, most with low risk of bias in all domains. PFAS exposure was not significantly associated with asthma onset (OR:1.03, CI:0.99;1.07), but revealed significantly lower association in the prenatal period (OR:0.97, CI:0.94;0.99), higher in the postnatal period (OR:1.20, CI:1.07;1.35), and no differences among sexes. PFAS exposure (mainly prenatal) was associated with 4 % significantly lower odds of wheezing (OR:0.96, CI:0.94;0.98), higher in girls (OR:0.94, CI:0.91;0.98) than in boys (OR:0.97, CI:0.94;1.00). No significant impact was noted on atopic dermatitis (OR:1.04, CI:0.94;1.16), while PFAS exposure was associated with 8 % significantly lower eczema odds (OR:0.92, CI:0.89;0.96). Evidence was insufficient to perform sensitivity analyses on atopic dermatitis and eczema. Additional research is needed on the impact of synergistic and co-exposure to other pollutants on children and adolescents' health.

High-throughput screening of protein interactions with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in photolithography

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used extensively across industries, including semiconductor manufacturing. Semiconductors are ubiquitous, and there is increasing global demand for semiconductors, e.g., for advanced technologies and the automotive industry. Despite their extensive use, the toxicity and bioaccumulation potential of PFAS used in photolithography, a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing, remain poorly understood. Moreover, most lack experimental data and standards for testing. Here, we identified 96 photolithography-relevant PFAS and developed a computational framework to evaluate their potential hazards through protein binding. By integrating molecular dynamics (MD) and docking, we predicted the binding affinities and positions of PFAS to five proteins-liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP), serum albumin (SA), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ (PPARα and PPARγ), and transthyretin (TTR). These proteins were chosen as their binding with PFAS has been linked to PFAS bioaccumulation and to hepatic, reproductive, developmental, and endocrine disruption. Comparisons with empirical data demonstrated our approach balances simulation speed and robustness, better estimating absolute and relative binding affinities than docking alone. PFAS-protein binding affinities were generally positively associated with fluorinated chain length and the presence of aromatic rings, but limited by the protein binding pocket dimensions. Notably, we identified 22 PFAS with stronger predicted binding than perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a known hazardous PFAS, to at least one target protein, suggesting the potential for toxicological concern. By enabling proactive evaluation of PFAS that are unavailable for experimental testing, this work contributes to safeguarding environmental and human health amidst rising semiconductor demands.

Advancing PFAS risk assessment: Integrative approaches using agent-based modelling and physiologically-based kinetic for environmental and health safety

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ubiquitous in a myriad of consumer and industrial products, and depending on the doses of exposure represent a hazard to both environmental and public health, owing to their persistent, mobile, and bio accumulative properties. These substances exhibit long half-lives in humans and can induce potential immunotoxic effects at low exposure levels, sparking growing concerns. While the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has assessed the risk to human health related to the presence of PFAS in food, in which a reduced antibody response to vaccination in infants was considered as the most critical human health effect, a comprehensive grasp of the molecular mechanisms spearheading PFAS-induced immunotoxicity is yet to be attained. Leveraging modern computational tools, including the Agent-Based Model (ABM) Universal Immune System Simulator (UISS) and Physiologically Based Kinetic (PBK) models, a deeper insight into the complex mechanisms of PFAS was sought. The adapted UISS serves as a vital tool in chemical risk assessments, simulating the host immune system's reactions to diverse stimuli and monitoring biological entities within specific adverse health contexts. In tandem, PBK models unravelling PFAS' biokinetics within the body i.e. absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, facilitating the development of time-concentration profiles from birth to 75 years at varied dosage levels, thereby enhancing UISS-TOX's predictive abilities. The integrated use of these computational frameworks shows promises in leveraging new scientific evidence to support risk assessments of PFAS. This innovative approach not only allowed to bridge existing data gaps but also unveiled complex mechanisms and the identification of unanticipated dynamics, potentially guiding more informed risk assessments, regulatory decisions, and associated risk mitigations measures for the future.

Integrating high-throughput phenotypic profiling and transcriptomic analyses to predict the hepatosteatosis effects induced by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a large compound class (n > 12,000) that is extensively present in food, drinking water, and aquatic environments. Reduced serum triglycerides and hepatosteatosis appear to be the common phenotypes for different PFAS chemicals. However, the hepatosteatosis potential of most PFAS chemicals remains largely unknown. This study aims to investigate PFAS-induced hepatosteatosis using in vitro high-throughput phenotype profiling (HTPP) and high-throughput transcriptomic (HTTr) data. We quantified the in vitro hepatosteatosis effects and mitochondrial damage using high-content imaging, curated the transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then calculated the point of departure (POD) values for HTPP phenotypes or HTTr transcripts, using the Bayesian benchmark dose modeling approach. Our results indicated that PFAS compounds with fully saturated C-F bonds, sulfur- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, and a fluorinated carbon chain length greater than 8 have the potential to produce biological effects consistent with hepatosteatosis. PFAS primarily induced hepatosteatosis via disturbance in lipid transport and storage. The potency rankings of PFAS compounds are highly concordant among in vitro HTPP, HTTr, and in vivo hepatosteatosis phenotypes (ρ = 0.60-0.73). In conclusion, integrating the information from in vitro HTPP and HTTr analyses can accurately project in vivo hepatosteatosis effects induced by PFAS compounds.

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and trophic dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in two tropical freshwater lakes

We have investigated the occurrence, distribution, and biomagnification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in two tropical lakes (Asejire and Eleyele) of Southwestern Nigeria, with contrasting urban intensities. Over an 8-month period, we sampled sediment and fish species (Clarias gariepinus: CIG; Oreochromis niloticus: ON; Coptodon guineensis: CG; Sarotherodon melanotheron: SM) across trophic levels, and analyzed various PFAS congeners, in addition to a select group of toxicological responses. While herbivores (SM) and benthic omnivores (CIG) at Asejire exhibited elevated levels of PFBS and PFOS, the pelagic omnivores (ON) showed a dominance of PFOS, PFDA, PFHxDA and EtFOSE in the muscle. At the Eleyele urban lake, PFAS patterns was dominated by PFBS, EtFOSE, PFPeS, PFOcDA and PFOS in the herbivores (SM, CG), EtFOSE, PFOS and PFBS in the pelagic omnivore (ON) and benthic omnivore (ClG). The estimated biomagnification factor (BMF) analysis for both lakes indicated trophic level increase of PFOS, PFUnA and PFDA at the suburban lake, while PFOS and EtFOSE biomagnified at the urban lake. We detected the occurrence of diSAMPAP and 9CL-PF3ONS, novel compounds not commonly reported, in PFAS studies at both lakes. The studied toxicological responses varied across trophic groups in both lakes with probable modulations by environmental conditions, trophic structure, and relative PFAS exposures in the lakes. The present study documents, for the first time in Nigeria, or any other African country, the role of urbanization on contaminant load into the environment and their implications for contaminant dynamics within the ecosystem and for aquatic food safety.

Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances suppress the neutrophil respiratory burst

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are used in a multitude of processes and products, including nonstick coatings, food wrappers, and fire-fighting foams. These chemicals are environmentally-persistent, ubiquitous, and can be detected in the serum of 98% of Americans. Despite evidence that PFASs alter adaptive immunity, few studies have investigated their effects on innate immunity. The report here presents results of studies that investigated the impact of nine environmentally-relevant PFASs [e.g. perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid potassium salt (PFOS-K), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), ammonium perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoate) (GenX), 7H-perfluoro-4-methyl-3,6-dioxa-octane sulfonic acid (Nafion byproduct 2), and perfluoromethoxyacetic acid sodium salt (PFMOAA-Na)] on one component of the innate immune response, the neutrophil respiratory burst. The respiratory burst is a key innate immune process by which microbicidal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are rapidly induced by neutrophils in response to pathogens; defects in the respiratory burst can increase susceptibility to infection. The study here utilized larval zebrafish, a human neutrophil-like cell line, and primary human neutrophils to ascertain whether PFAS exposure inhibits ROS production in the respiratory burst. It was observed that exposure to PFHxA and GenX suppresses the respiratory burst in zebrafish larvae and a human neutrophil-like cell line. GenX also suppressed the respiratory burst in primary human neutrophils. This report is the first to demonstrate that these PFASs suppress neutrophil function and support the utility of employing zebrafish larvae and a human cell line as screening tools to identify chemicals that may suppress human immune function.

Impact of PFAS exposure on prevalence of immune-mediated diseases in adults in the Czech Republic

BACKGROUND

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging environmental contaminants with multiple hazardous properties including immunomodulation potency. Human exposure to PFASs has been associated with various immune-mediated diseases and outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between PFAS exposure and immune-mediated diseases such as allergies, eczemas, and autoimmune diseases in a population of adults in the Czech Republic.

METHODS

This study included 309 adults from the Central European Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: Young Adults (CELSPAC: YA). 12 PFASs were measured in participants' serum by HPLC-MS/MS, 3 PFASs were removed from the subsequent analyses due to low detection frequency. The associations of 9 PFASs with 9 immune-mediated diseases were assessed by logistic regression. Furthermore, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to estimate the effect of the PFAS mixture on immune-mediated diseases. All analyses were adjusted for sex, age, BMI, smoking, education, and family history of immune-mediated diseases. In cases of a statistically significant interaction of PFASs and sex, stratified analyses were performed for men and women.

RESULTS

Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were negatively associated with both atopic eczema (OR per IQR increase 0.58 (95% CI 0.37-0.90) for PFOA and 0.56 (0.32-0.95) for PFOS) and contact dermatitis (0.37 (0.16-0.85) for PFOA and 0.33 (0.11-0.94) for PFOS). Perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) was negatively associated with pollen, dust, and mite allergy (0.62 (0.43-0.89)). BKMR modelling showed a negative tendency in the overall effect of PFAS mixture on immune-health outcomes. Based on the stratified analysis, sex was suggested to be an effect modifier in the association of PFOS and atopic eczema.

CONCLUSION

Our results contribute to the body of literature that observes the immunosuppressive effect of PFAS exposure during eczemas and allergies, both for PFASs individually and as a mixture.

In silico analysis decodes transthyretin (TTR) binding and thyroid disrupting effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

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.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and its influence on the intestinal barrier: An overview on the advances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of artificially synthetic organic compounds that are hardly degraded in the natural environment. PFAS have been widely used for many decades, and the persistence and potential toxicity of PFAS are an emerging concern in the world. PFAS exposed via diet can be readily absorbed by the intestine and enter the circulatory system or accumulate directly at intestinal sites, which could interact with the intestine and cause the destruction of intestinal barrier. This review summarizes current relationships between PFAS exposure and intestinal barrier damage with a focus on more recent toxicological studies. Exposure to PFAS could cause inflammation in the gut, destruction of the gut epithelium and tight junction structure, reduction of the mucus layer, and induction of the toxicity of immune cells. PFAS accumulation could also induce microbial disorders and metabolic products changes. In addition, there are limited studies currently, and most available studies converge on the health risk of PFAS exposure for human intestinal disease. Therefore, more efforts are deserved to further understand potential associations between PFAS exposure and intestinal dysfunction and enable better assessment of exposomic toxicology and health risks for humans in the future.

Emerging contaminants migration from pipes used in drinking water distribution systems: a review of the scientific literature

Migration of emerging contaminants (ECs) from pipes into water is a global concern due to potential human health effects. Nevertheless, a review of migration ECs from pipes into water distribution systems is presently lacking. This paper reviews, the reported occurrence migration of ECs from pipes into water distribution systems in the world. Furthermore, the results related to ECs migration from pipes into water distribution systems, their probable sources, and their hazards are discussed. The present manuscript considered the existing reports on migration of five main categories of ECs including microplastics (MPs), bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, nonylphenol (NP), perfluoroalkyl, and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from distribution network into tap water. A focus on tap water in published literature suggests that pipes type used had an important role on levels of ECs migration in water during transport and storage of water. For comparison, tap drinking water in contact with polymer pipes had the highest mean concentrations of reviewed contaminants. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most frequently detected types of microplastics (MPs) in tap water. Based on the risk assessment analysis of ECs, levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were above 1, indicating a potential non-carcinogenic health risk to consumers. Finally, there are still scientific gaps on occurrence and migration of ECs from pipes used in distribution systems, and this needs more in-depth studies to evaluate their exposure hazards on human health.

Perfluoroalkyl substances in freshwater and marine fish from northern Vietnam: Accumulation levels, profiles, and implications for human consumption

The accumulation profiles of nine perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were determined in 95 muscle samples of seven freshwater (n = 65) and seven marine (n = 30) fish species collected in Northern Vietnam. In both groups of fish, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most prevalent component, accounting for roughly 29 % of total PFASs. The total PFASs in freshwater fish species ranged from 0.08 to 8.06 ng/g wet weight (w.w), with the highest concentration found in topmouth culter (7.01 ± 1.23 ng/g w.w). In marine fish, the highest mean concentration of PFASs was detected in Asian sea bass (2.75 ± 0.54 ng/g, w.w). Estimation on the human dietary intake of PFASs from fish consumption resulted in hazard ratios (HR) ranging from 0.019 to 0.238 for freshwater fish and from 0.016 to 0.074 for marine fish, indicating low exposure risks associated with PFASs.

Factors Modulating COVID-19: A Mechanistic Understanding Based on the Adverse Outcome Pathway Framework

Addressing factors modulating COVID-19 is crucial since abundant clinical evidence shows that outcomes are markedly heterogeneous between patients. This requires identifying the factors and understanding how they mechanistically influence COVID-19. Here, we describe how eleven selected factors (age, sex, genetic factors, lipid disorders, heart failure, gut dysbiosis, diet, vitamin D deficiency, air pollution and exposure to chemicals) influence COVID-19 by applying the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP), which is well-established in regulatory toxicology. This framework aims to model the sequence of events leading to an adverse health outcome. Several linear AOPs depicting pathways from the binding of the virus to ACE2 up to clinical outcomes observed in COVID-19 have been developed and integrated into a network offering a unique overview of the mechanisms underlying the disease. As SARS-CoV-2 infectibility and ACE2 activity are the major starting points and inflammatory response is central in the development of COVID-19, we evaluated how those eleven intrinsic and extrinsic factors modulate those processes impacting clinical outcomes. Applying this AOP-aligned approach enables the identification of current knowledge gaps orientating for further research and allows to propose biomarkers to identify of high-risk patients. This approach also facilitates expertise synergy from different disciplines to address public health issues.

Transcriptomic profiling of clobetasol propionate-induced immunosuppression in challenged zebrafish embryos

In the ecotoxicological hazard assessment of chemicals, the detection of immunotoxicity is currently neglected. This is mainly due to the complexity of the immune system and the consequent lack of standardized procedures and markers for the comprehensive assessment of immunotoxic modes of action. In this study, we present a new approach applying transcriptome profiling to an immune challenge with a mixture of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in zebrafish embryos, analyzing differential gene expression during acute infection with and without prior exposure to the immunosuppressive drug clobetasol propionate (CP). While PAMP injection itself triggered biological processes associated with immune activation, some of these genes were more differentially expressed upon prior exposure to CP than by immune induction alone, whereas others showed weaker or no differential regulation in response to the PAMP stimulus. All of these genes responding differently to PAMP after prior CP exposure showed additivity of PAMP- and CP-induced effects, indicating independent regulatory mechanisms. The transcriptomic profiles suggest that CP impaired innate immune induction by attenuating the response of genes involved in antigen processing, TLR signaling, NF-КB signaling, and complement activation. We propose this approach as a powerful method for detecting gene biomarkers for immunosuppressive modes of action, as it was able to identify alternatively regulated processes and pathways in a sublethal, acute infection zebrafish embryo model. This allowed to define biomarker candidates for immune-mediated effects and to comprehensively characterize immunosuppression. Ultimately, this work contributes to the development of molecular biomarker-based environmental hazard assessment of chemicals in the future.

A Review of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substance Impairment of Reproduction

In this review article, we compiled peer-reviewed literature describing PFAS exposure and reproductive effects in animals and humans. The aim was to compare environmental occurrence and effects of the most prominent long-chain PFAS compounds and their short-chain replacements. Long-chain PFAS compounds are known to persist in the environment due to their chemical stability, and also known to bioaccumulate; hence, these compounds are being replaced globally. Indeed, PFOA and PFOS are considered long-chain "forever pollutants," and thus the potential reproductive risk may continue for decades. Much less is known about their short-chain replacements despite the fact that they becoming more widespread in the environment. Short-chain PFAS are generally less bioaccumulative than long-chain, but they are more mobile and persistent in aquatic ecosystems. The three most prominent of these are commonly referred to as GenX, ADONA and F53B. The short-chain PFAS have similar physical and chemical properties as their predecessors; however, because they are relatively new, much less is known about the potential to disrupt reproduction. Indeed, high-quality epidemiological studies are needed to determine associations between short-chain PFAS exposure and effects on reproductive health. However, epidemiological evidence is mounting that long-chain PFAS exposure is associated with reproductive effects (i.e., decrease in fertility, reduced fetal growth and birth weight, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, thyroid hormone disruption during pregnancy, and preterm birth). Evidence from animal models and human cell lines indicates that short-chain PFAS similarly affect reproductive endpoints; however, epidemiological studies are scarce and inconsistent. Although short-chain PFAS have been quantified in drinking water and sediment worldwide, most of these studies did not focus on quantitation of GenX, ADONA, and F53B. There are also many other short-chain PFAS byproducts of manufacturing that have yet to be identified and studied. When sum total concentration of long- and short-chain PFAS are considered, the concentration rises by an order or magnitude or greater, as will the risk of exposure and subsequent reproductive effects.