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Zhang Y, Mustieles V, Korevaar T, Martin L, Sun Y, Bibi Z, Torres N, Coburn-Sanderson A, First O, Souter I, Petrozza JC, Broeren MAC, Botelho JC, Calafat AM, Wang YX, Messerlian C. Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and thyroid function biomarkers among females attending a fertility clinic. Environ Pollut 2024; 346:123513. [PMID: 38350534 PMCID: PMC10950513 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure was associated with changes in thyroid function in pregnant mothers and the general population. Limited such evidence exists in other susceptible populations such as females with fertility problems. This cross-sectional study included 287 females seeking medically assisted reproduction at a fertility clinic in Massachusetts, United States, between 2005 and 2019. Six long-alkyl chain PFAS, thyroid hormones, and autoimmune antibodies were quantified in baseline serum samples. We used generalized linear models and quantile g-computation to evaluate associations of individual PFAS and their total mixture with thyroid biomarkers. Most females were White individuals (82.7%), had graduate degrees (57.8%), and nearly half had unexplained subfertility (45.9%). Serum concentrations of all examined PFAS and their mixture were significantly associated with 2.6%-5.6% lower total triiodothyronine (TT3) concentrations. Serum concentrations of perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA), and of the total mixture were associated with higher ratios of free thyroxine (FT4) to free triiodothyronine (FT3). No associations were found for PFAS and TSH or autoimmune antibodies. Our findings support the thyroid-disrupting effect of long alkyl-chain PFAS among a vulnerable population of subfertile females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain. University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain. Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - T.I.M. Korevaar
- Department of Internal Medicine and Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leah Martin
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zainab Bibi
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Torres
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ayanna Coburn-Sanderson
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olivia First
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Irene Souter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John C. Petrozza
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maarten A. C. Broeren
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Julianne C. Botelho
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carmen Messerlian
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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2
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Jiao X, Guo ZY, Sun J, Bi C, Qian AD, Li YH. Transcriptome analysis reveals the mechanism of the effect of perfluorocaproic acid exposure on brain injury in Carassius auratus. Aquat Toxicol 2023; 263:106709. [PMID: 37793945 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorocaproic acid (PFHxA) has received much attention as an emerging pollutant linked to neurological problems in humans and fish. However, the potential mechanism remains unknown. In this study, the pathological damage to tissue sections demonstrated that perfluorocaproic acid caused brain tissue damage, and the increased antioxidant index malondialdehyde (MDA) and decrease in superoxide Dismutase (SOD), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), Catalase (CAT), and Lysozyme (LZM) that perfluorocaproic acid activated antioxidant stress and caused brain damage. Transcriptome sequencing discovered 1,532 divergent genes, 931 upregulated, and 601 down-regulated. Furthermore, according to GO enrichment analysis, the differently expressed genes were shown to be involved in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. The MAPK, calcium, and Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction were considerably enriched in the KEGG enrichment analysis. We then analyzed qRT-PCR and chose ten essential differentially expressed genes for validation. The qRT-PCR results followed the same pattern as the RNA-Seq results. In conclusion, our study shows that perfluorocaproic acid exposure causes oxidative stress in the brain. It establishes a theoretical foundation for future research into genes linked to perfluorocaproic acid toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Jiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Zheng Yao Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Jia Sun
- Comprehensive Technical Service Center of Yanji Customs, Jilin, China
| | - Cheng Bi
- Comprehensive Technical Service Center of Yanji Customs, Jilin, China
| | - Ai-Dong Qian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China.
| | - Yue-Hong Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China.
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Kreitsberg R, Nääb L, Meitern R, Carbillet J, Fort J, Giraudeau M, Sepp T. The effect of environmental pollution on gene expression of seabirds: A review. Mar Environ Res 2023; 189:106067. [PMID: 37393763 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
One of the biggest challenges for ecotoxicologists is to detect harmful effects of contaminants on individual organisms before they have caused significant harm to natural populations. One possible approach for discovering sub-lethal, negative health effects of pollutants is to study gene expression, to identify metabolic pathways and physiological processes affected by contaminants. Seabirds are essential components of ecosystems but highly threatened by environmental changes. Being at the top of the food chain and exhibiting a slow pace of life, they are highly exposed to contaminants and to their ultimate impacts on populations. Here we provide an overview of the currently available seabird-related gene expression studies in the context of environmental pollution. We show that studies conducted, so far, mainly focus on a small selection of xenobiotic metabolism genes, often using lethal sampling protocols, while the greater promise of gene expression studies for wild species may lie in non-invasive procedures focusing on a wider range of physiological processes. However, as whole genome approaches might still be too expensive for large-scale assessments, we also bring out the most promising candidate biomarker genes for future studies. Based on the biased geographical representativeness of the current literature, we suggest expanding studies to temperate and tropical latitudes and urban environments. Also, as links with fitness traits are very rare in the current literature, but would be highly relevant for regulatory purposes, we point to an urgent need for establishing long-term monitoring programs in seabirds that would link pollutant exposure and gene expression to fitness traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randel Kreitsberg
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Lisanne Nääb
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Richard Meitern
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jeffrey Carbillet
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jérôme Fort
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS - La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Tuul Sepp
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003, Tartu, Estonia
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Lopez-Antia A, Piña B, Lacorte S, Bervoets L, Eens M. Transcriptomic effects of Perfluoralkyl acids on the adipose tissue of a songbird species at environmentally relevant concentrations. Environ Pollut 2023; 327:121478. [PMID: 36972811 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoralkyl acids (PFAS) have been regarded as global pollutants for at least twenty years, with potentially negative physiological effects on multiple vertebrate species including humans. Here we analyze the effects of the administration of environmentally-relevant levels of PFAS on caged canaries (Serinus canaria) by using a combination of physiological, immunological, and transcriptomic analyses. This constitutes a completely new approach to understand the toxicity pathway of PFAS in birds. While we observed no effects on physiological and immunological parameters (e.g, body weight, fat index, cell-mediated immunity), the transcriptome of the pectoral fatty tissue showed changes compatible with the known effects of PFAS as obesogens in other vertebrates, particularly in mammals. First, transcripts related to the immunological response were affected (mainly enriched), including several key signaling pathways. Second, we found a repression of genes related to the peroxisome response and fatty acid metabolism. We interpret these results as indicative of the potential hazard of environmental concentrations of PFAS on the fat metabolism and the immunological system of birds, while exemplifying the ability of transcriptomic analyses of detecting early physiological responses to toxicants. As the potentially affected functions are essential for the survival of the animals during, for example, migration, our results underline the need for tight control of the exposure of natural populations of birds to these substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lopez-Antia
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Benjamin Piña
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Silvia Lacorte
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Derakhshan A, Kortenkamp A, Shu H, Broeren MAC, Lindh CH, Peeters RP, Bornehag CG, Demeneix B, Korevaar TIM. Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with thyroid homeostasis during pregnancy in the SELMA study. Environ Int 2022; 167:107420. [PMID: 35870378 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the association of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during early pregnancy with markers of the maternal thyroid system. METHODS Serum concentrations of seven PFAS as well as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free and total thyroxine (FT4 and TT4), free and total triiodothyronine (FT3 and TT3) were measured in pregnant women in early pregnancy in the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal, Mother and child, Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study. Outcomes were concentrations of TSH and thyroid hormones, FT4/FT3 or TT4/TT3 ratios, TSH/FT4 ratio as a marker of the negative feedback loop, TT4/FT4 or TT3/FT3 ratios as markers of the binding of thyroid hormones to binding proteins. RESULTS The study population comprised 2,008 women with median (95% range) gestational age of 10 (6-14) weeks. There was no association between PFAS and TSH. Higher PFNA, PFDA, PFHpA and PFOA levels were associated with a higher FT4 (largest effect estimate for PFDA: β [95% CI]: 0.27 [0.10 to 0.45], P = 0.002). Higher PFUnDA levels, but no other PFAS, were associated with a lower FT3 (β [95% CI]: -0.05 [-0.09 to -0.01], P = 0.005). Higher PFUnDA levels were associated with lower TT4 (β [95% CI]: -1.58 [-3.07 to -0.09]) and there was an inverted U-shaped association of PFOS with TT4 (P = 0.03). Higher PFDA, PFUnDA, PFHpA levels were associated with a lower TT3. Overall, higher PFAS concentrations were associated with a higher FT4/FT3 ratio and a higher TT4/TT3 ratio. There was no association of PFAS with the TSH/FT4 ratio. Higher concentrations of several PFAS were associated with lower TT4/FT4 and TT3/FT3 ratios. CONCLUSIONS These findings translate results from experimental studies suggesting that exposure to PFAS may interfere with the thyroid system during pregnancy. Further experimental studies should take into account human evidence to better understand the potential underlying mechanisms of thyroid disruption by PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Derakhshan
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- Division of Environmental Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University, London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Huan Shu
- Department of Public Health, Karlstad University, Sweden
| | - Maarten A C Broeren
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, De Run, 4600, The Netherlands
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, 22363 Lund, Sweden
| | - Robin P Peeters
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Public Health, Karlstad University, Sweden; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Barbara Demeneix
- Laboratoire d'Evolution des Régulations Endocriniennes, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tim I M Korevaar
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Zhang S, Guo X, Lu S, He J, Wu Q, Liu X, Han Z, Xie P. Perfluorohexanoic acid caused disruption of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in zebrafish larvae. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2022; 232:113283. [PMID: 35131581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) has been recognized as an alternative to the wide usage of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the fluoropolymer industry for years. PFHxA has been frequently detected in the environment due to its wide application. However, the ecological safety of PFHxA, especially its toxicological effects on aquatic organisms, remains obscure. In the present study, PFHxA at different concentrations (0, 0.48, 2.4, and 12 mg/L) was added to the culture medium for zebrafish embryo/larval exposure at 96 h postfertilization (hpf). Zebrafish larvae showed a slow body growth trend and changes in thyroid hormone levels (THs) upon PFHxA exposure, indicating the interference effect of PFHxA on fish larval development. Moreover, the transcription levels of genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were also analyzed. The gene expression level of thyroid hormone receptor β (trβ) was upregulated in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to 0.48 mg/L PFHxA increased the expression levels of the thyrotrophic-releasing hormone (trh) and thyroid hormone receptor α (trα). Significant increases in corticotrophin-releasing hormone (crh) and transthyretin (ttr) gene expression were also observed when the zebrafish larvae were treated with 12 mg/L PFHxA, except iodothyronine deiodinases (dio1), which decreased obviously at that point. There were significant declines in the transcription of both thyroid-stimulating hormone β (tshβ) and uridinediphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (ugt1ab) upon exposure to 2.4 mg/L PFHxA. In addition, PFHxA induced a dose-related inhibitory effect on the transcription of sodium/iodide symporter (nis). Finally, the thyroid status will be destroyed after exposure to PFHxA, thus leading to growth impairment in zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaochun Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Jia He
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Hydrological Cycle and Sponge City Technology, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qin Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Edible Wild Plants Conservation and Utilization, Hubei Engineering Research Center of Special Wild Vegetables Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization Technology, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Zhenyang Han
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Ping Xie
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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Guo X, Zhang S, Liu X, Lu S, Wu Q, Xie P. Evaluation of the acute toxicity and neurodevelopmental inhibition of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) in zebrafish embryos. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2021; 225:112733. [PMID: 34478978 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), a widely used emerging alternative for 8-carbon PFAAs, has been detected at a high level in the water environment. While its toxicity and environmental health risk are still largely unknown in aquatic life. The present study aimed to evaluated the possible developmental neurotoxicity induced by PFHxA exposure (0, 0.48, 2.4, and 12 mg/L for 120 h) in the zebrafish embryo. Here, both developmental endpoints, neurotransmitters concentrations, locomotor behavior were analyzed. No significant effects on mortality, malformation rate, and growth delay were detected in the low dose treatment groups except for in the high dose group (12 mg/L). A significant increase in swimming speed were noted in the 0.48 mg/L group. Other changes including neurotransmitters concentrations and green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in Tg (HuC-GFP) zebrafish larvae were significantly increased in 12 mg/L group. Beyond that, genes related to neurodevelopment were significantly decreased in larvae. Moreover, downregulations of protein expression levels of α1-tubulin, elavl3, and gap43 were identified. These results demonstrate that the PFAAs alternative PFHxA have no significant neurodevelopmental effects on zebrafish larvae under acute low-dose exposure, while, it is important to note that PFHxA perform inhibiting effects on neurotransmitter and central nervous system under a relatively high dose. This in vivo study could provide reliable toxicity information for risk assessments of PFHxA on aquatic ecosystems. CAPSULE: PFHxA have no significant neurodevelopmental effects on zebrafish larvae under acute low-dose exposure, while exposed with relatively high-dose, could induced the alternations of neurotransmitter concentrations as well as the genes involved in the early developmental stages of zebrafish, leading to the impairment of the nervous system in zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, State Environment Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Lake Dongtinghu (SEPSORSLD), State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Qin Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Edible Wild Plants Conservation and Utilization, Hubei Engineering Research Center of Special Wild Vegetables Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization Technology, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China
| | - Ping Xie
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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Sun J, Letcher RJ, Waugh CA, Jaspers VLB, Covaci A, Fernie KJ. Influence of perfluoroalkyl acids and other parameters on circulating thyroid hormones and immune-related microRNA expression in free-ranging nestling peregrine falcons. Sci Total Environ 2021; 770:145346. [PMID: 33736417 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to certain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) can have considerable effects on the endocrine and immune systems, although such effects remain largely uncharacterized in wildlife. Using an apex avian predator, we investigated possible relationships of thyroid hormones (THs), specifically free (F) and total (T) thyroxine (FT4; TT4) and triiodothyronine (FT3; TT3), and the expression of an immune-related microRNA biomarker (i.e., miR-155), with the concentrations of 11 PFAAs in nestling peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus). Nestling peregrines (n = 56; usually two chicks of each sex per nest) were blood sampled when 23 ± 4 days old in urban and rural regions of the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin (Ontario, Canada) in 2016 and 2018. The circulating concentrations of several PFAAs were significantly associated with THs and estimated thyroid gland activity (TT3:TT4; FT3:FT4), including PFHxS (FT3; FT3:FT4), PFDS (TT3; TT3:TT4), PFOA (TT4; FT3:FT4), PFTeDA (TT4; FT3:FT4), PFHxDA (TT4; TT3:TT4) and ΣPFCAs (TT4). Our novel evaluation of miR-155 in peregrine nestlings identified significantly negative relationships of plasma miR-155 counts with PFHxS and PFOA concentrations, indicating potential down-regulation of miR-155 expression and impaired immunity. Several PFAA homologues significantly predicted the variation in THs and miR-155 in conjunction with year (e.g., inter-annual differences in weather, ambient temperature, rainfall), region (urban/rural), nestling age, and/or diet (trophic position; δ15N), which suggests that multiple environmental and biological stressors, including PFAA exposure, influenced thyroid activity and immune function in these nestlings. Further research is warranted to identify the mechanisms and additional impacts of PFAA-related thyroid and immune disruption on the growth, development, and health risks in developing birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Sun
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, CN-510632 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, K1A 0H3 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Courtney A Waugh
- Environmental Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Veerle L B Jaspers
- Environmental Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, BE-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Kim J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, L7S 1A1 Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
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Sun J, Letcher RJ, Eens M, Covaci A, Fernie KJ. Perfluoroalkyl acids and sulfonamides and dietary, biological and ecological associations in peregrine falcons from the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin, Canada. Environ Res 2020; 191:110151. [PMID: 32882236 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, diverse group of chemicals and several perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are known environmental contaminants. Wildlife exposure to PFAAs and precursors has been shown, but less is known regarding replacements such as shorter-chain PFAS. In the present study, exposure to a suite of PFAAs and associations with dietary, biological and ecological factors were investigated in populations of a sentinel apex species - the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). Nestling blood (n = 57) and sibling eggs (n = 9) were sampled in 2016 and 2018 from nests in rural and urban regions across the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin, Canada. PFSAs (perfluorinated sulfonic acids) including PFHxS, PFOS, and PFDS were detected in most egg and plasma samples, whereas 11 PFCAs (perfluorinated carboxylic acids; C5-C14, C16) compared to eight PFCAs (C8-C14, C16) were detected in most eggs and plasma, respectively. Shorter-chain C8-C10 PFCAs were more dominant in plasma and longer-chain C12-C14 PFCAs in eggs, but profiles were similar for PFOS, PFDS, PFUdA and PFHxDA. The exposure to PFAAs in peregrine falcons is likely mediated by dietary factors such as foraging location (δ13C and δ34S) and trophic position (δ15N) given the associations observed in eggs and nestling plasma, respectively. Moreover, significant relationships were observed for circulating ΣPFCAs and region (rural/urban), and nestling body condition after adjusting for sampling year and dietary tracers, suggesting that compared to rural nestlings, urban nestlings may be more exposed to ΣPFCAs and prone to their potential physiological impacts. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating dietary, biological and ecological factors when studying PFAS exposure in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Sun
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, CN-510632, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, BE-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, K1A 0H3, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, BE-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, BE-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Kim J Fernie
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, L7S 1A1, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
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Bonato M, Corrà F, Bellio M, Guidolin L, Tallandini L, Irato P, Santovito G. PFAS Environmental Pollution and Antioxidant Responses: An Overview of the Impact on Human Field. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E8020. [PMID: 33143342 PMCID: PMC7663035 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Due to their unique properties, perfluorinated substances (PFAS) are widely used in multiple industrial and commercial applications, but they are toxic for animals, humans included. This review presents some available data on the PFAS environmental distribution in the world, and in particular in Europe and in the Veneto region of Italy, where it has become a serious problem for human health. The consumption of contaminated food and drinking water is considered one of the major source of exposure for humans. Worldwide epidemiological studies report the negative effects that PFAS have on human health, due to environmental pollution, including infertility, steroid hormone perturbation, thyroid, liver and kidney disorders, and metabolic disfunctions. In vitro and in vivo researches correlated PFAS exposure to oxidative stress effects (in mammals as well as in other vertebrates of human interest), produced by a PFAS-induced increase of reactive oxygen species formation. The cellular antioxidant defense system is activated by PFAS, but it is only partially able to avoid the oxidative damage to biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Paola Irato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.B.); (F.C.); (M.B.); (L.G.); (L.T.)
| | - Gianfranco Santovito
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (M.B.); (F.C.); (M.B.); (L.G.); (L.T.)
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11
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Mortensen ÅK, Mæhre S, Kristiansen K, Heimstad ES, Gabrielsen GW, Jenssen BM, Sylte I. Homology modeling to screen for potential binding of contaminants to thyroid hormone receptor and transthyretin in glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) and herring gull (Larus argentatus). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2020.100120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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12
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Croce L, Coperchini F, Tonacchera M, Imbriani M, Rotondi M, Chiovato L. Effect of long- and short-chain perfluorinated compounds on cultured thyroid cells viability and response to TSH. J Endocrinol Invest 2019; 42:1329-1335. [PMID: 31102255 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-019-01062-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Perfluorinated chemicals are widespread pollutants persistent in the environment with links to some major health issues. The two main compounds, perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-alkyl sulphonate (PFOS), were recently classified as carcinogenetic and thus their use has been restricted. Short-chain PFCs were recently developed as an alternative, but no data regarding the possible endocrine toxicities of these compounds are available. Aim of this study was to investigate whether short-chain PFCs could jeopardize thyroid cell viability and/or interfere with the functional effect TSH. METHODS Fisher rat thyroid line-5 (FRTL-5) was treated with increasing concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) to evaluate modifications in cell viability and TSH-stimulated cAMP production. RESULTS Neither long nor short-chain PFCs affected cell viability (apart from PFOS 100 µM), or interfered with cAMP production. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study demonstrate for the first time that short-chain PFCs have no acute cytotoxic effect on thyroid cells in vitro and that cAMP production is not modulated by any of the tested PFCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Croce
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 4, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
- PHD Course in Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - F Coperchini
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 4, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Tonacchera
- Endocrinology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - M Imbriani
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Rotondi
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 4, 27100, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Chiovato
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, University of Pavia, Via S. Maugeri 4, 27100, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
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13
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Inoue K, Ritz B, Andersen SL, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Høyer BB, Bech BH, Henriksen TB, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Olsen J, Liew Z. Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Maternal Thyroid Hormones in Early Pregnancy; Findings in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Environ Health Perspect 2019; 127:117002. [PMID: 31714155 PMCID: PMC6927503 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal thyroid hormones are essential for fetal brain development in early gestation. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)-widespread and persistent pollutants-have been suggested to interfere with maternal thyroid hormones in the second or third trimesters, but evidence for an association in the early pregnancy period is sparse. OBJECTIVES Our goal was to evaluate the gestational-week specific associations of maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels with plasma concentrations of six PFAS chemicals in the first and second pregnancy trimester. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 1,366 maternal blood samples collected between gestational weeks (GWs) 5 and 19 (median, 8 gestational weeks) in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) during 1996-2002. We estimated the percentage changes of serum TSH and fT4 levels according to concentrations (in nanograms per milliliter) of six PFAS chemicals modeled as per interquartile range (IQR) increase or by exposure quartiles. Moreover, we contrasted the estimated week-specific TSH or fT4 levels by PFAS quartile and estimated ORs for binary high or low TSH and fT4 status based on the week-specific distribution according to IQR increase of PFAS. RESULTS TSH levels followed a U-curve trend in early pregnancy with a nadir at GW10, whereas fT4 levels were less fluctuated in the samples. There were no apparent associations between any of the PFASs and changes of average TSH or fT4 levels in total samples. In gestational-week-specific analyses, we found that the estimated TSH values were higher among the highest perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) quartiles compared with the lower quartiles from GW5 to GW10, but the difference became null or even reversed after GW10. For binary outcomes, perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) was associated with high fT4 status before GW10 [OR=1.46 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.05)]. CONCLUSIONS We observed some gestational-week-specific associations between high exposure to several PFAS and TSH level in early gestations. Further research of the biology and the potential clinical impact regarding thyroid hormones disruptions in early pregnancy is needed. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5482.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Inoue
- Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
| | - Beate Ritz
- Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Stine Linding Andersen
- Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Birgit Bjerre Høyer
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Bodil Hammer Bech
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Tine Brink Henriksen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Greenlandic Center for Health Research, Greenland University, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
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14
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Ghisi R, Vamerali T, Manzetti S. Accumulation of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural plants: A review. Environ Res 2019; 169:326-341. [PMID: 30502744 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
PFASs are a class of compounds that include perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, some of the most persistent pollutants still allowed - or only partially restricted - in several product fabrications and industrial applications worldwide. PFASs have been shown to interact with blood proteins and are suspected of causing a number of pathological responses, including cancer. Given this threat to living organisms, we carried out a broad review of possible sources of PFASs and their potential accumulation in agricultural plants, from where they can transfer to humans through the food chain. Analysis of the literature indicates a direct correlation between PFAS concentrations in soil and bioaccumulation in plants. Furthermore, plant uptake largely changes with chain length, functional group, plant species and organ. Low accumulations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) have been found in peeled potatoes and cereal seeds, while short-chain compounds can accumulate at high levels in leafy vegetables and fruits. Significant variations in PFAS buildup in plants according to soil amendment are also found, suggesting a particular interaction with soil organic matter. Here, we identify a series of challenges that PFASs pose to the development of a safe agriculture for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Ghisi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
| | - Teofilo Vamerali
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Sergio Manzetti
- Fjordforsk A/S, Institute for Science and Technology, Midtun 6894, Vangsnes, Norway; Uppsala Centre for Computational Sciences, Dept. of Cell & Molec. Biol., Uppsala University, Box 596, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
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15
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Elliott SM, Route WT, DeCicco LA, VanderMeulen DD, Corsi SR, Blackwell BR. Contaminants in bald eagles of the upper Midwestern U.S.: A framework for prioritizing future research based on in-vitro bioassays. Environ Pollut 2019; 244:861-870. [PMID: 30469280 PMCID: PMC6662187 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Several organic contaminants (OCs) have been detected in bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nestling (eaglet) plasma in the upper Midwestern United States. Despite frequent and relatively high concentrations of OCs in eaglets, little is understood about potential biological effects associated with exposure. We screened an existing database of OC concentrations in eaglet plasma collected from the Midwestern United States against bioactivity information from the ToxCast database. ToxCast bioactivity information consists of concentrations expected to elicit responses across a range of biological space (e.g. cellular, developmental, etc.) obtained from a series of high throughput assays. We calculated exposure-activity ratios (EAR) by calculating the ratio of plasma concentrations to concentrations available in ToxCast. Bioactivity data were not available for all detected OCs. Therefore, our analysis provides estimates of potential bioactivity for 19 of the detected OCs in eaglet plasma. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) EAR values were consistently the highest among all study areas. Maximum EAR values were ≥1 for PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid, and bisphenol A in 99.7, 0.53 and 0.26% of samples, indicating that some plasma concentrations were greater than what may be expected to elicit biological responses. About 125 gene targets, indicative of specific biological pathways, were identified as potentially being affected. Inhibition of several CYP genes, involved in xenobiotic metabolism, were most consistently identified. Other identified biological responses have potential implications for motor coordination, cardiac functions, behavior, and blood circulation. However, it is unclear what these results mean for bald eagles, given that ToxCast data are generated using mammalian-based endpoints. Despite uncertainties and limitations, this method of screening environmental data can be useful for informing future monitoring or research focused on understanding the occurrence and effects of OCs in bald eagles and other similarly-positioned trophic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Elliott
- U.S. Geological Survey, 2280 Woodale Drive, Mounds View, MN, 55112, United States.
| | - William T Route
- U.S. National Park Service, Great Lakes Inventory & Monitoring Network, 2800 Lake Shore Drive East, Ashland, WI, 54806, United States.
| | - Laura A DeCicco
- U.S. Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States.
| | - David D VanderMeulen
- U.S. National Park Service, Great Lakes Inventory & Monitoring Network, 2800 Lake Shore Drive East, Ashland, WI, 54806, United States.
| | - Steven R Corsi
- U.S. Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States.
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States.
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16
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Costantini D, Blévin P, Herzke D, Moe B, Gabrielsen GW, Bustnes JO, Chastel O. Higher plasma oxidative damage and lower plasma antioxidant defences in an Arctic seabird exposed to longer perfluoroalkyl acids. Environ Res 2019; 168:278-285. [PMID: 30366280 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may cause detrimental effects on physiological function and reproduction of Arctic animals. However, there is a paucity of information on the link between PFASs and oxidative stress, which can have potential detrimental effects on key fitness traits, such as cellular homeostasis or reproduction. We have examined the correlations between multiple blood-based markers of oxidative status and several perfluoroalkyl acids (i.e., with 8 or more carbons) in male Arctic black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) during the pre-laying period. Higher protein oxidative damage was found in those birds having higher concentrations of perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTriA) and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeA). Lower plasmatic non-enzymatic micro-molecular antioxidants were found in those birds having higher concentrations of perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), PFDoA and PFTeA. Effect size estimates showed that the significant correlations between PFASs and oxidative status markers were intermediate to strong. The non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (including antioxidants of protein origin) was significantly lower in those birds having higher plasma concentration of linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOSlin). In contrast, the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes was not associated with any PFAS compounds. Our results suggest that increased oxidative stress might be one consequence of long-chain PFAS exposure. Experimental work will be needed to demonstrate whether PFASs cause toxic effects on free-living vertebrates through increased oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Costantini
- UMR 7221 CNRS/MNHN, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Pierre Blévin
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 - CNRS Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Dorte Herzke
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NILU, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Børge Moe
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NINA, Høgskoleringen 9, NO-7034 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NINA, Fram Centre, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 - CNRS Université de La Rochelle, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
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17
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Borghoff SJ, Fitch S, Rager JE, Huggett D. A hypothesis-driven weight-of-evidence analysis to evaluate potential endocrine activity of perfluorohexanoic acid. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 99:168-181. [PMID: 30240830 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) is a potential impurity and environmental degradation product of C6-based fluorotelomer products. Considering the potential endocrine activity of perfluoroalkyl acids, a hypothesis-driven weight-of-evidence (WoE) analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential endocrine disruptor activity of PFHxA, as defined by World Health Organization (WHO), across estrogen (E), androgen (A), thyroid (T), and steroidogenesis (S) pathways. A comprehensive literature search identified primary and secondary studies across species for review. The ToxCast/Tox21 database provided in vitro data. Studies identified were reviewed for reliability, and relevance, with endocrine endpoints ranked, and lines of evidence evaluated across pathways. Overall, PFHxA showed no endocrine effects in Japanese medaka, juvenile rainbow trout, chickens or reproductive parameters in northern bobwhite with no significant activity in rodent repeated-dose toxicity, lifetime cancer, or reproductive and developmental studies. In vitro, there was weak or negative activity for T transport protein or activation of E, A or T receptors. PFHxA was also negative in vitro and in vivo for disrupting steroidogenesis. Based on this WoE endocrine analysis, PFHxA exposure did not cause adverse effects associated with alterations in endocrine activity in these models, as such would not be characterized as an endocrine disruptor according to the WHO definition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S Fitch
- ToxStrategies, Katy, TX, USA
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18
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Groffen T, Lopez-Antia A, D'Hollander W, Prinsen E, Eens M, Bervoets L. Perfluoroalkylated acids in the eggs of great tits (Parus major) near a fluorochemical plant in Flanders, Belgium. Environ Pollut 2017; 228:140-148. [PMID: 28528261 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are highly persistent substances which have been detected in wildlife around the world, including birds. Although bird eggs have often been used to determine and monitor PFAAs levels in the marine environment, this has rarely been done in the terrestrial environment. In the present study we examined the concentrations and composition profile of 12 PFAAs (4 perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) and 8 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in the eggs of great tits (Parus major) collected at a fluorochemical plant and in three other areas, representing a gradient in distance from the pollution source (from 1 to 70 km), in Antwerp, Belgium. The PFSA concentrations measured at the site of the fluorochemical plant were among the highest ever reported in eggs with median concentrations of 10380 ng/g (extrapolated), 99.3 ng/g and 47.7 ng/g for PFOS, PFHxS and PFDS respectively. Furthermore, the median concentration of 19.8 ng/g for PFOA was also among the highest ever reported in bird eggs. Although these concentrations decreased sharply with distance from the fluorochemical plant, levels found in the adjacent sites were still high compared to what has been reported in literature. Moreover, based on what is known in literature, it is likely that these concentrations may cause toxicological effects. PFOS was the dominant contributor to the PFSA and PFAAs (63.4-97.6%) profile at each site, whereas for PFCAs this was PFOA at the plant site and the nearest locations (41.0-52.8%) but PFDoA (37.7%) at the farthest location. Although there is some evidence that PFAAs concentrations close to the plant site are decreasing in comparison with earlier measurements, which may be due to the phase out of PFOS, more research is necessary to understand the extent of the toxicological effects in the vicinity of this PFAAs hotspot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thimo Groffen
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicology Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Ana Lopez-Antia
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Wendy D'Hollander
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicology Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Els Prinsen
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Marcel Eens
- Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group (BECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicology Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
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19
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Zong G, Grandjean P, Wang X, Sun Q. Lactation history, serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, and maternal risk of diabetes. Environ Res 2016; 150:282-288. [PMID: 27336232 PMCID: PMC5003647 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lactation may help curb diabetes risk and is also known as an excretion route for some environmental pollutants. We evaluated associations of lifetime lactation history with serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006, and examined whether potentially diabetogenic POPs account for associations between lactation and diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Among 4479 parous women, breastfeeding history was defined as the number of children breastfed ≥1 month. Diabetes was identified by self-report or hemoglobin A1c >6.5%. Twenty-four POPs were measured in serum among subsamples of 668 to 1073 participants. RESULTS Compared with women without lactation history, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of having diabetes among those with 1-2 and ≥3 lactation periods were 0.83(0.61, 1.13) and 0.63(0.44, 0.91; P trend=0.03). Lifetime lactation history was inversely associated with serum concentrations of 17 out of the 24 organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), and perfluoroalkyl substances (Ptrend<0.05). Comparing the ≥3 lactations group with women without a lactation history, the relative reduction of POPs ranged from 12% (PCB-196) to 30% (oxychlordane). The inverse association between lactation and diabetes was slightly attenuated after adjustment for POPs. Age-stratified analyses showed that the inverse association between lactation periods and serum POP concentrations was observed primarily among participants <60 years, whereas age did not significantly modify the association between lactation history and diabetes prevalence. CONCLUSION Crudely-classified lifetime lactation history was inversely associated with concurrent serum POP concentrations and diabetes prevalence. Prospective studies are needed to clarify how lactation could complement diabetes prevention through decreasing the POP body burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geng Zong
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Ren XM, Zhang YF, Guo LH, Qin ZF, Lv QY, Zhang LY. Structure–activity relations in binding of perfluoroalkyl compounds to human thyroid hormone T3 receptor. Arch Toxicol 2014; 89:233-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-014-1258-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Lind L, Zethelius B, Salihovic S, van Bavel B, Lind PM. Circulating levels of perfluoroalkyl substances and prevalent diabetes in the elderly. Diabetologia 2014; 57:473-9. [PMID: 24337155 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-013-3126-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Several environmental contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, bisphenol A and phthalates, have been linked to diabetes. We therefore investigated whether other kinds of contaminants, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also called perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), are also associated with diabetes. METHODS The Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study investigated 1,016 men and women aged 70 years. Seven PFAS were detected in almost all participant sera by ultra-high performance liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometry. Diabetes was defined as use of hypoglycaemic agents or fasting glucose >7.0 mmol/l. RESULTS 114 people had diabetes. In the linear analysis, no significant relationships were seen between the seven PFAS and prevalent diabetes. However, inclusion of the quadratic terms of the PFAS revealed a significant non-linear relationship between perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and diabetes, even after adjusting for multiple confounders (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.19, 3.22, p = 0.008 for the linear term and OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08, 1.44, p = 0.002 for the quadratic term). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) also showed such a relationship (p = 0.01). PFOA was related to the proinsulin/insulin ratio (a marker of insulin secretion), but none of the PFAS was related to the HOMA-IR (a marker of insulin resistance) following adjustment for multiple confounders. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION PFNA was related to prevalent diabetes in a non-monotonic fashion in this cross-sectional study, supporting the view that this perfluoroalkyl substance might influence glucose metabolism in humans at the level of exposure seen in the general elderly population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Lind
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Scholz S, Sela E, Blaha L, Braunbeck T, Galay-Burgos M, García-Franco M, Guinea J, Klüver N, Schirmer K, Tanneberger K, Tobor-Kapłon M, Witters H, Belanger S, Benfenati E, Creton S, Cronin MT, Eggen RI, Embry M, Ekman D, Gourmelon A, Halder M, Hardy B, Hartung T, Hubesch B, Jungmann D, Lampi MA, Lee L, Léonard M, Küster E, Lillicrap A, Luckenbach T, Murk AJ, Navas JM, Peijnenburg W, Repetto G, Salinas E, Schüürmann G, Spielmann H, Tollefsen KE, Walter-Rohde S, Whale G, Wheeler JR, Winter MJ. A European perspective on alternatives to animal testing for environmental hazard identification and risk assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 67:506-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2013.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Long M, Ghisari M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Effects of perfluoroalkyl acids on the function of the thyroid hormone and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2013; 20:8045-56. [PMID: 23539207 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1628-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are perfluorinated compounds that widely exist in the environment and can elicit adverse effects including endocrine disruption in humans and animals. This study investigated the effect of seven PFAAs on the thyroid hormone (TH) system assessing the proliferation of the 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thryonine (T3)-dependent rat pituitary GH3 cells using the T-screen assay and the effect on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivation in the AhR-luciferase reporter gene bioassay. A dose-dependent impact on GH3 cells was observed in the range 1×10(-9)-1×10(-4) M: seven PFAAs (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)) inhibited the GH3 cell growth, and four PFAAs (PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFUnA) antagonized the T3-induced GH3 cell proliferation. At the highest test concentration, PFHxS showed a further increase of the T3-induced GH3 growth. Among the seven tested PFAAs, only PFDoA and PFDA elicited an activating effect on the AhR. In conclusion, PFAAs possess in vitro endocrine-disrupting potential by interfering with TH and AhR functions, which need to be taken into consideration when assessing the impact on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health and Unit of Cellular and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, Building 1260, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark,
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Choi SK, Kim JH, Park JK, Lee KM, Kim E, Jeon WB. Cytotoxicity and inhibition of intercellular interaction in N2a neurospheroids by perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. Food Chem Toxicol 2013; 60:520-9. [PMID: 23948355 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.07.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Revised: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) on the neuronal lineage marker expression, cell-cell interaction, caspase-3 mRNA transcription and reactive oxygen species production by N2a neuronal cells were assesses in 3-dimensional (3D) spheroid cultures, and the cytotoxicity were thoroughly compared with those of a conventional 2D monolayer-based toxicity assay. Increasing concentrations of PFOA or PFOS resulted in an increase in cell death. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations measured with spheroids were approximately one and a half times greater than the respective values for monolayer cells. Necrosis was prevalent in spheroids regardless of the dose, whereas the major injury mechanism in monolayers was dependent on compound concentration. Both PFOA and PFOS inhibited neuronal, astrocyte and oligodendrocyte marker gene expression by monolayers and spheroids grown under undifferentiated and all-trans-retinoic acid-induced differentiating conditions. In the presence of PFOA or PFOS, expression levels of E-cadherin and connexin-43 mRNAs were significantly downregulated, and spheroids were dissociated into single cell populations, indicating that the compounds affect the synthesis of E-cadherin and connexin-43 at the transcriptional level. Results from 3D cultures may provide an insight into potential inhibitory mode of action on gap junctional intercellular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Kyoon Choi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cellular Engineering, Division of NanoBio Technology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu 711-873, South Korea
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Farhat A, Crump D, Chiu S, Williams KL, Letcher RJ, Gauthier LT, Kennedy SW. In Ovo Effects of Two Organophosphate Flame Retardants—TCPP and TDCPP—on Pipping Success, Development, mRNA Expression, and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Chicken Embryos. Toxicol Sci 2013; 134:92-102. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kft100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Cassone CG, Taylor JJ, O'Brien JM, Williams A, Yauk CL, Crump D, Kennedy SW. Transcriptional profiles in the cerebral hemisphere of chicken embryos following in ovo perfluorohexane sulfonate exposure. Toxicol Sci 2012; 129:380-91. [PMID: 22790973 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In a recent egg injection study, we showed that in ovo exposure to perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) affects the pipping success of developing chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) embryos. We also found evidence of thyroid hormone (TH) pathway interference at multiple levels of biological organization (i.e., somatic growth, messenger RNA expression, and circulating free thyroxine levels). Based on these findings, we hypothesize that PFHxS exposure interferes with TH-dependent neurodevelopmental pathways. This study investigates global transcriptional profiles in cerebral hemispheres of chicken embryos following exposure to a solvent control, 890 or 38,000 ng PFHxS/g egg (n = 4-5 per group); doses that lead to the adverse effects indicated above. PFHxS significantly alters the expression (≥ 1.5-fold, p ≤ 0.001) of 11 transcripts at the low dose (890 ng/g) and 101 transcripts at the high dose (38,000 ng/g). Functional enrichment analysis shows that PFHxS affects genes involved in tissue development and morphology, cellular assembly and organization, and cell-to-cell signaling. Pathway and interactome analyses suggest that genes may be affected through several potential regulatory molecules, including integrin receptors, myelocytomatosis viral oncogene, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein. This study identifies key functional and regulatory modes of PFHxS action involving TH-dependent and -independent neurodevelopmental pathways. Some of these TH-dependent mechanisms that occur during embryonic development include tight junction formation, signal transduction, and integrin signaling, whereas TH-independent mechanisms include gap junction intercellular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina G Cassone
- Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3
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Li AP, Uzgare A, LaForge YS. Definition of metabolism-dependent xenobiotic toxicity with co-cultures of human hepatocytes and mouse 3T3 fibroblasts in the novel integrated discrete multiple organ co-culture (IdMOC) experimental system: results with model toxicants aflatoxin B1, cyclophosphamide and tamoxifen. Chem Biol Interact 2012; 199:1-8. [PMID: 22640811 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2012.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Revised: 05/04/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The integrated discrete multiple organ co-culture system (IdMOC) allows the co-culturing of multiple cell types as physically separated cells interconnected by a common overlying medium. We report here the application of IdMOC with two cell types: the metabolically competent primary human hepatocytes, and a metabolically incompetent cell line, mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, in the definition of the role of hepatic metabolism on the cytotoxicity of three model toxicants: cyclophosphamide (CPA), aflatoxin B1 (AFB) and tamoxifen (TMX). The presence of hepatic metabolism in IdMOC with human hepatocytes was demonstrated by the metabolism of the P450 isoform 3A4 substrate, luciferin-IPA. The three model toxicants showed three distinct patterns of cytotoxic profile: TMX was cytotoxic to 3T3 cells in the absence of hepatocytes, with slightly lower cytotoxicity towards both 3T3 cells and hepatocytes in the IdMOC. AFB was selective toxic towards the human hepatocytes and relatively noncytotoxic towards 3T3 cells both in the presence and absence of the hepatocytes. CPA cytotoxicity to the 3T3 cells was found to be significantly enhanced by the presence of the hepatocytes, with the cytotoxicity dependent of the number of hepatocytes, and with the cytotoxicity attenuated by the presence of a non-specific P450 inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole. We propose here the following classification of toxicants based on the role of hepatic metabolism as defined by the human hepatocyte-3T3 cell IdMOC assay: type I: direct-acting cytotoxicants represented by TMX as indicated by cytotoxicity in 3T3 cells in the absence of hepatocytes; type II: metabolism-dependent cytotoxicity represented by AFB1 with effects localized within the site of metabolic activation (i. e. hepatocytes); and type III: metabolism-dependent cytotoxicity with metabolites that can diffuse out of the hepatocytes to cause toxicity in cells distal from the site of metabolism, as exemplified by CPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert P Li
- In Vitro ADMET Laboratories LLC, 9221 Rumsey Rd, Suite 8, Columbia, MD 21045, USA.
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Gebbink WA, Letcher RJ. Comparative tissue and body compartment accumulation and maternal transfer to eggs of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and carboxylates in Great Lakes herring gulls. Environ Pollut 2012; 162:40-47. [PMID: 22243845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2011] [Revised: 10/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The comparative accumulation of C(4)-C(15) perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs) and carboxylates (PFCAs), and several precursors (e.g., perfluorooctane sulfonamide, N-methyl-FOSA, and fluorotelomer unsaturated acids and alcohols) was examined in tissues (liver, brain, muscle, and adipose), plasma/red blood cells (RBCs) and whole egg clutches (yolk and albumen) of female herring gulls collected in 2010 from Chantry Island, Lake Huron of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Highest mean ∑PFSA concentrations were in yolk, followed by adipose, liver, plasma, muscle, RBCs, and brain. Highest mean ∑PFCA concentrations were in yolk, followed by brain, plasma, liver, RBC, adipose and muscle. PFOS accounted for >88% of ∑PFSA in all samples; the liver, plasma/RBCs, muscle and adipose PFCA patterns were dominated by C(8)-C(11) PFCAs, whereas C(10)-C(15) PFCAs in brain and yolk. Among PFSAs and PFCAs there is tissue-specific accumulation, which could be due to a number of pharmacokinetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter A Gebbink
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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Cassone CG, Vongphachan V, Chiu S, Williams KL, Letcher RJ, Pelletier E, Crump D, Kennedy SW. In Ovo Effects of Perfluorohexane Sulfonate and Perfluorohexanoate on Pipping Success, Development, mRNA Expression, and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Chicken Embryos. Toxicol Sci 2012; 127:216-24. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Crump D, Chiu S, Kennedy SW. Effects of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate and tris(1-chloropropyl) phosphate on cytotoxicity and mRNA expression in primary cultures of avian hepatocytes and neuronal cells. Toxicol Sci 2012; 126:140-8. [PMID: 22268003 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) and tris(1-chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) belong to a group of chemicals collectively known as triester organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). OPFRs are used in a wide range of consumer products and have been detected in biota, including free-living avian species; however, data on toxicological and molecular effects of exposure are limited. An in vitro screening approach was used to compare concentration-dependent effects of TDCPP and TCPP on cytotoxicity and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in cultured hepatocytes and neuronal cells derived from embryonic chickens. TDCPP was toxic to hepatocytes (LC₅₀ = 60.3 ± 45.8μM) and neuronal cells (LC₅₀ = 28.7 ± 19.1μM), whereas TCPP did not affect viability in either cell type up to the highest concentration administered, 300μM. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR revealed alterations in mRNA abundance of genes associated with phase I and II metabolism, the thyroid hormone (TH) pathway, lipid regulation, and growth in hepatocytes. None of the transcripts measured in neuronal cells (D2, D3, RC3, and Oct-1) varied in response to TDCPP or TCPP exposure. Exposure to ≥ 10μM TDCPP and TCPP resulted in significant upregulation of CYP2H1 (4- to 8-fold), CYP3A37 (13- to 127-fold), and UGT1A9 (3.5- to 7-fold) mRNA levels. Transthyretin was significantly downregulated more than twofold by TCPP at 100μM; however, TDCPP did not alter its expression. Liver fatty acid-binding protein, TH-responsive spot 14-α, and insulin-like growth factor-1 were all downregulated (up to 10-fold) in hepatocytes exposed to ≥ 0.01μM TDCPP and TCPP. Taken together, our results indicate that genes associated with xenobiotic metabolism, the TH pathway, lipid regulation, and growth are vulnerable to TDCPP and TCPP administration in cultured avian hepatocytes. The mRNA expression data were similar to those from a previous study with hexabromocyclododecane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug Crump
- Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3.
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