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Snapkow I, Smith NM, Arnesdotter E, Beekmann K, Blanc EB, Braeuning A, Corsini E, Sollner Dolenc M, Duivenvoorde LPM, Sundstøl Eriksen G, Franko N, Galbiati V, Gostner JM, Grova N, Gutleb AC, Hargitai R, Janssen AWF, Krapf SA, Lindeman B, Lumniczky K, Maddalon A, Mollerup S, Parráková L, Pierzchalski A, Pieters RHH, Silva MJ, Solhaug A, Staal YCM, Straumfors A, Szatmári T, Turner JD, Vandebriel RJ, Zenclussen AC, Barouki R. New approach methodologies to enhance human health risk assessment of immunotoxic properties of chemicals - a PARC (Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals) project. Front Toxicol 2024; 6:1339104. [PMID: 38654939 PMCID: PMC11035811 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1339104] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
As a complex system governing and interconnecting numerous functions within the human body, the immune system is unsurprisingly susceptible to the impact of toxic chemicals. Toxicants can influence the immune system through a multitude of mechanisms, resulting in immunosuppression, hypersensitivity, increased risk of autoimmune diseases and cancer development. At present, the regulatory assessment of the immunotoxicity of chemicals relies heavily on rodent models and a limited number of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines, which only capture a fraction of potential toxic properties. Due to this limitation, various authorities, including the World Health Organization and the European Food Safety Authority have highlighted the need for the development of novel approaches without the use of animals for immunotoxicity testing of chemicals. In this paper, we present a concise overview of ongoing efforts dedicated to developing and standardizing methodologies for a comprehensive characterization of the immunotoxic effects of chemicals, which are performed under the EU-funded Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals (PARC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Snapkow
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nicola M. Smith
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Emma Arnesdotter
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Karsten Beekmann
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Part of Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Albert Braeuning
- Department of Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emanuela Corsini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Université degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Loes P. M. Duivenvoorde
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Part of Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Nina Franko
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Valentina Galbiati
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Université degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Johanna M. Gostner
- Biochemical Immunotoxicology Group, Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nathalie Grova
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Arno C. Gutleb
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Rita Hargitai
- Unit of Radiation Medicine, Department of Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Aafke W. F. Janssen
- Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR), Part of Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Solveig A. Krapf
- Section for Occupational Toxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Birgitte Lindeman
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katalin Lumniczky
- Unit of Radiation Medicine, Department of Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ambra Maddalon
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “Rodolfo Paoletti”, Université degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Steen Mollerup
- Section for Occupational Toxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lucia Parráková
- Biochemical Immunotoxicology Group, Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Raymond H. H. Pieters
- Innovative Testing in Life Sciences and Chemistry, Research Center for Healthy and Sustainable Living, University of Applied Sciences, Utrecht, Netherlands
- IRAS-Toxicology, Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Maria J. Silva
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Yvonne C. M. Staal
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Anne Straumfors
- Section for Occupational Toxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tünde Szatmári
- Unit of Radiation Medicine, Department of Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jonathan D. Turner
- Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rob J. Vandebriel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | | | - Robert Barouki
- T3S, INSERM UMR-S 1124, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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2
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Habiballah S, Heath LS, Reisfeld B. A deep-learning approach for identifying prospective chemical hazards. Toxicology 2024; 501:153708. [PMID: 38104655 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153708] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
With the aim of helping to set safe exposure limits for the general population, various techniques have been implemented to conduct risk assessments for chemicals and other environmental stressors; however, none of these tools facilitate the identification of completely new chemicals that are likely hazardous and elicit an adverse biological effect. Here, we detail a novel in silico, deep-learning framework that is designed to systematically generate structures for new chemical compounds that are predicted to be chemical hazards. To assess the utility of the framework, we applied the tool to four endpoints related to environmental toxicants and their impacts on human and animal health: (i) toxicity to honeybees, (ii) immunotoxicity, (iii) endocrine disruption via ER-α antagonism, and (iv) mutagenicity. In addition, we characterized the predicted potency of these compounds and examined their structural relationship to existing chemicals of concern. As part of the array of emerging new approach methodologies (NAMs), we anticipate that such a framework will be a significant asset to risk assessors and other environmental scientists when planning and forecasting. Though not in the scope of the present study, we expect that the methodology detailed here could also be useful in the de novo design of more environmentally-friendly industrial chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohaib Habiballah
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1370, USA
| | - Lenwood S Heath
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0106, USA
| | - Brad Reisfeld
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1370, USA; Colorado School of Public Health, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1612, USA.
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3
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Phelps DW, Palekar AI, Conley HE, Ferrero G, Driggers JH, Linder KE, Kullman SW, Reif DM, Sheats MK, DeWitt JC, Yoder JA. Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances suppress the neutrophil respiratory burst. J Immunotoxicol 2023; 20:2176953. [PMID: 36788734 PMCID: PMC10361455 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2023.2176953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drake W Phelps
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine.,Comparative Medicine Institute.,Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS
| | - Anika I Palekar
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Haleigh E Conley
- Comparative Medicine Institute.,Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Giuliano Ferrero
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine.,Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS
| | - Jacob H Driggers
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Keith E Linder
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine.,Center for Human Health and the Environment
| | - Seth W Kullman
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS.,Center for Human Health and the Environment.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences.,Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - David M Reif
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS.,Center for Human Health and the Environment.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences.,Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
| | - M Katie Sheats
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Jamie C DeWitt
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS.,Center for Human Health and the Environment.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Jeffrey A Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine.,Comparative Medicine Institute.,Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS.,Center for Human Health and the Environment.,Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
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4
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Muncke J, Andersson AM, Backhaus T, Belcher SM, Boucher JM, Carney Almroth B, Collins TJ, Geueke B, Groh KJ, Heindel JJ, von Hippel FA, Legler J, Maffini MV, Martin OV, Peterson Myers J, Nadal A, Nerin C, Soto AM, Trasande L, Vandenberg LN, Wagner M, Zimmermann L, Thomas Zoeller R, Scheringer M. A vision for safer food contact materials: Public health concerns as drivers for improved testing. Environ Int 2023; 180:108161. [PMID: 37758599 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108161] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Food contact materials (FCMs) and food contact articles are ubiquitous in today's globalized food system. Chemicals migrate from FCMs into foodstuffs, so called food contact chemicals (FCCs), but current regulatory requirements do not sufficiently protect public health from hazardous FCCs because only individual substances used to make FCMs are tested and mostly only for genotoxicity while endocrine disruption and other hazard properties are disregarded. Indeed, FCMs are a known source of a wide range of hazardous chemicals, and they likely contribute to highly prevalent non-communicable diseases. FCMs can also include non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), which often are unknown and therefore not subject to risk assessment. To address these important shortcomings, we outline how the safety of FCMs may be improved by (1) testing the overall migrate, including (unknown) NIAS, of finished food contact articles, and (2) expanding toxicological testing beyond genotoxicity to multiple endpoints associated with non-communicable diseases relevant to human health. To identify mechanistic endpoints for testing, we group chronic health outcomes associated with chemical exposure into Six Clusters of Disease (SCOD) and we propose that finished food contact articles should be tested for their impacts on these SCOD. Research should focus on developing robust, relevant, and sensitive in-vitro assays based on mechanistic information linked to the SCOD, e.g., through Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) or Key Characteristics of Toxicants. Implementing this vision will improve prevention of chronic diseases that are associated with hazardous chemical exposures, including from FCMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Muncke
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Dept. of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet and Centre for Research and Research Training in Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Backhaus
- Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Scott M Belcher
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Birgit Geueke
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ksenia J Groh
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Jerrold J Heindel
- Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Frank A von Hippel
- Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Juliette Legler
- Dept. of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Olwenn V Martin
- Plastic Waste Innovation Hub, Department of Arts and Science, University College London, UK
| | - John Peterson Myers
- Dept. of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Environmental Health Sciences, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Angel Nadal
- IDiBE and CIBERDEM, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Cristina Nerin
- Dept. of Analytical Chemistry, I3A, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana M Soto
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Centre Cavaillès, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- College of Global Public Health and Grossman School of Medicine and Wagner School of Public Service, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Martin Wagner
- Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Martin Scheringer
- RECETOX, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
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5
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Leonard ER, Marques ES, Roy MA, Conlin SM, Ranjan R, Timme-Laragy AR. Dietary exposure to the food preservative tert-Butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) impairs zebrafish (Danio rerio) survival, growth, organ development, and gene expression in Nrf2a-dependent and independent ways. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 176:113788. [PMID: 37075880 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Tert-Butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a preservative used to prevent oxidative deterioration of oil, fat, and meat products, has been linked to both chemoprotective and adverse effects. This study investigates the impact of dietary tBHQ consumption on survival, growth parameters, organ development, and gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio). As tBHQ activates the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2a), a zebrafish line with a mutation in the DNA-binding domain of Nrf2a was used to identify Nrf2a-dependent vs independent effects. Homozygous Nrf2a wildtype (wt) and mutant (m) larvae were fed a diet containing 5% tBHQ or a control diet. Survival and growth parameters were assessed at 15 days and at 5 months, and samples were collected for RNA sequencing at 5 months. Dietary exposure to tBHQ throughout the larval and juvenile periods negatively impacted growth and survival. RNA-seq analysis found differentially expressed genes related to growth and development and upregulation of several immune system-related pathways. The findings herein demonstrate that dietary tBHQ exposure may impair growth and survival in both Nrf2a dependent and independent manners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Leonard
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Emily S Marques
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Monika A Roy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA; Biotechnology Training Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Sarah M Conlin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Ravi Ranjan
- Genomics Resource Laboratory, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Alicia R Timme-Laragy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
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6
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Zhang L, Louie A, Rigutto G, Guo H, Zhao Y, Ahn S, Dahlberg S, Sholinbeck M, Smith MT. A systematic evidence map of chronic inflammation and immunosuppression related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure. Environ Res 2023; 220:115188. [PMID: 36592815 PMCID: PMC10044447 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to induce chronic inflammation and immunosuppression are two key characteristics of carcinogens and important forms of immunotoxicity. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) evaluated the immunotoxicity of two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), in 2016. However, the potential pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of other PFASs remain largely uncharacterized. METHODS We developed an expanded set of search terms pertaining to the chronic inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of PFASs based on those of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and NTP. To confirm searching effectiveness and scope, we compared our search term results with those of IARC and NTP for both PFASs and two other known carcinogens, chromium (VI) and benzene. Systematic evidence maps (SEMs) were also produced using Tableau to visualize the distribution of study numbers and types reporting immunotoxic effects and specific biomarkers elicited by PFAS exposures. RESULTS In total, 1155 PFAS studies were retrieved, of which 321 qualified for inclusion in our dataset. Using our search terms, we identified a greater number of relevant studies than those obtained using IARC and NTP's search terms. From the SEM findings, increased cytokine production strengthened an association between PFAS exposure and chronic inflammation, and decreased B-cell activation and altered levels of T-cell subtypes and immunoglobulins confirmed PFAS-induced immunosuppression. CONCLUSION Our SEM findings confirm that several PFASs commonly found in both in the environment, including those that are lesser-known, may induce immunosuppression and chronic inflammation, two key characteristics of carcinogens. This approach, including development of search terms, study screening process, data coding, and evidence mapping visualizations, can be applied to other key characteristics of chemical carcinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoping Zhang
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Allen Louie
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Gabrielle Rigutto
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Helen Guo
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Yun Zhao
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Stacy Ahn
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Sarah Dahlberg
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Michael Sholinbeck
- Bioscience, Natural Resources & Public Health Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Martyn T Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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7
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Ehrlich V, Bil W, Vandebriel R, Granum B, Luijten M, Lindeman B, Grandjean P, Kaiser AM, Hauzenberger I, Hartmann C, Gundacker C, Uhl M. Consideration of pathways for immunotoxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Environ Health 2023; 22:19. [PMID: 36814257 PMCID: PMC9944481 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00958-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of public health concern, because of their ubiquitous and extremely persistent occurrence, and depending on their structure, their bio-accumulative, mobile and toxic properties. Human health effects associated with exposure to PFAS include adverse effects on the immune system. In 2020, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) defined adverse effects on the immune system as the most critical effect for human health risk assessment, based on reduced antibody responses to childhood vaccines and similar effects observed in experimental animal studies. Likewise, the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) considers PFAS-induced immunotoxicity, especially in children, as the critical effect for risk assessment. However, the mechanisms by which antibody concentrations are impacted are not completely understood. Furthermore, other targets of the immune system functions have been reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to explore PFAS-associated immune-related effects. This includes, relevant mechanisms that may underlie the observed effects on the immune system, immunosuppression as well as immunoenhancement, such as i) modulation of cell signalling and nuclear receptors, such as NF-κB and PPARs; ii) alteration of calcium signalling and homoeostasis in immune cells; iii) modulation of immune cell populations; iv) oxidative stress and v) impact on fatty acid metabolism & secondary effects on the immune system. METHODS A literature research was conducted using three databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus), which were searched in July 2021 for relevant studies published in the time frame from 2018 to 2021. In total, 487 publications were identified as potentially eligible and following expert-based judgement, articles relevant for mechanisms of PFAS induced immunotoxicity are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, we show that there is substantial evidence from both in vitro and in vivo experimental as well as epidemiological studies, supporting that various PFAS, not only PFOA and PFOS, affect multiple aspects of the immune system. Timing of exposure is critical, because the developing immune system is especially vulnerable to toxic insults, resulting in a higher risk of particularly adverse immune effects but also other organs later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Ehrlich
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wieneke Bil
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Vandebriel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Berit Granum
- Division of Climate and Environment Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Birgitte Lindeman
- Division of Climate and Environment Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Andreas-Marius Kaiser
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingrid Hauzenberger
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Hartmann
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Gundacker
- Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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8
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Abstract
People are exposed to pesticides through food, drinking water, and the environment. These compounds are associated with several disorders, such as inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and a condition related to metabolic syndrome. The immunotoxicants or immunotoxic compounds can cause a wide variety of effects on immune function, altering humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity, resulting in adverse effects to the body. Here, immune system disorders are highlighted because they are closely linked to multiple organs, including the nervous, endocrine, reproductive, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, leading to transient or permanent changes. Therefore, this study reviewed the mechanisms involved in the immunotoxicity of fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides in cells, animals, and humans in the past 11 years. According to the studies analyzed, the pesticides interfere with innate and adaptive immune functions, but the effects observed mainly on cellular and humoral immunity were highlighted. These compounds affected specific immune cells, causing apoptosis, changes in factor nuclear kappa B (NF-κB) expression, pro-inflammatory factors interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), chemokines (CXCL-c1c), and anti-inflammatory factor, such as interleukin 10 (IL-10). To verify the threats of these compounds, new evaluations with immunotoxicological biomarkers are necessary. HighlightsPesticides interfere with the innate and adaptive immune response.Cells, animals and human studies demonstrate the immunotoxicity of pesticides in the cellular and humoral immune response.Fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides alter the immune system by various mechanisms, such as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Vivan Cestonaro
- Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Sandra Manoela Dias Macedo
- Departamento de Farmacociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre - UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Vendrusculo Piton
- Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Solange Cristina Garcia
- Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Dutra Arbo
- Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Laboratório de Toxicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Faculdade de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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9
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Jeong J, Kim D, Choi J. Application of ToxCast/Tox21 data for toxicity mechanism-based evaluation and prioritization of environmental chemicals: Perspective and limitations. Toxicol In Vitro 2022; 84:105451. [PMID: 35921976 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In response to the need to minimize the use of experimental animals, new approach methodologies (NAMs) using advanced technology have emerged in the 21st century. ToxCast/Tox21 aims to evaluate the adverse effects of chemicals quickly and efficiently using a high-throughput screening and to transform the paradigm of toxicity assessment into mechanism-based toxicity prediction. The ToxCast/Tox21 database, which contains extensive data from over 1400 assays with numerous biological targets and activity data for over 9000 chemicals, can be used for various purposes in the field of chemical prioritization and toxicity prediction. In this study, an overview of the database was explored to aid mechanism-based chemical prioritization and toxicity prediction. Implications for the utilization of the ToxCast/Tox21 database in chemical prioritization and toxicity prediction were derived. The research trends in ToxCast/Tox21 assay data were reviewed in the context of toxicity mechanism identification, chemical priority, environmental monitoring, assay development, and toxicity prediction. Finally, the potential applications and limitations of using ToxCast/Tox21 assay data in chemical risk assessment were discussed. The analysis of the toxicity mechanism-based assays of ToxCast/Tox21 will help in chemical prioritization and regulatory applications without the use of laboratory animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeseong Jeong
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghyeon Kim
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhee Choi
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Segner H, Rehberger K, Bailey C, Bo J. Assessing Fish Immunotoxicity by Means of In Vitro Assays: Are We There Yet? Front Immunol 2022; 13:835767. [PMID: 35296072 PMCID: PMC8918558 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.835767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing awareness that a range of environmental chemicals target the immune system of fish and may compromise the resistance towards infectious pathogens. Existing concepts to assess chemical hazards to fish, however, do not consider immunotoxicity. Over recent years, the application of in vitro assays for ecotoxicological hazard assessment has gained momentum, what leads to the question whether in vitro assays using piscine immune cells might be suitable to evaluate immunotoxic potentials of environmental chemicals to fish. In vitro systems using primary immune cells or immune cells lines have been established from a wide array of fish species and basically from all immune tissues, and in principal these assays should be able to detect chemical impacts on diverse immune functions. In fact, in vitro assays were found to be a valuable tool in investigating the mechanisms and modes of action through which environmental agents interfere with immune cell functions. However, at the current state of knowledge the usefulness of these assays for immunotoxicity screening in the context of chemical hazard assessment appears questionable. This is mainly due to a lack of assay standardization, and an insufficient knowledge of assay performance with respect to false positive or false negative signals for the different toxicant groups and different immune functions. Also the predictivity of the in vitro immunotoxicity assays for the in vivo immunotoxic response of fishes is uncertain. In conclusion, the currently available database is too limited to support the routine application of piscine in vitro assays as screening tool for assessing immunotoxic potentials of environmental chemicals to fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Pathobiology and Infectious Diseases, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Helmut Segner,
| | - Kristina Rehberger
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Pathobiology and Infectious Diseases, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jun Bo
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen, China
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11
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Meadows AD, Swanson SA, Galligan TM, Naidenko OV, O’Connell N, Perrone-Gray S, Leiba NS. Packaged Foods Labeled as Organic Have a More Healthful Profile Than Their Conventional Counterparts, According to Analysis of Products Sold in the U.S. in 2019-2020. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093020. [PMID: 34578899 PMCID: PMC8469099 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093020] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The organic food market’s recent rapid global growth reflects the public’s interest in buying certified organic foods, including packaged products. Our analysis shows that packaged foods containing fewer ingredients associated with negative public health outcomes are more likely to be labeled organic. Previous studies comparing organic and conventional foods focused primarily on nutrient composition. We expanded this research by additionally examining ingredient characteristics, including processing and functional use. Our dataset included nutrition and ingredient data for 8240 organic and 72,205 conventional food products sold in the U.S. from 2019 to 2020. Compared to conventional foods, organic foods in this dataset had lower total sugar, added sugar, saturated fat and sodium content. Using a mixed effects logistic regression, we found that likelihood of classification as organic increased as sodium content, added sugar content and the number of ultra-processed ingredients and cosmetic additives on the product label decreased. Products containing no trans-fat ingredients were more likely to be labeled organic. A product was more likely to be classified “organic” the more potassium it contained. These features of organic foods sold in the U.S. are significant because lower dietary ingestion of ultra-processed foods, added sugar, sodium and trans-fats is associated with improved public health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Dawn Meadows
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC 20009, USA; (S.A.S.); (T.M.G.); (O.V.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(202)-667-6982
| | - Sydney A. Swanson
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC 20009, USA; (S.A.S.); (T.M.G.); (O.V.N.)
| | - Thomas M. Galligan
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC 20009, USA; (S.A.S.); (T.M.G.); (O.V.N.)
| | - Olga V. Naidenko
- Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC 20009, USA; (S.A.S.); (T.M.G.); (O.V.N.)
| | - Nathaniel O’Connell
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA;
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