Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) Impair Lipid Metabolism in Rana nigromaculata: A Field Investigation and Laboratory Study

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants, causing environmental threats and public health concerns, but information regarding PFAS hepatotoxicity remains elusive. We investigated the effects of PFASs on lipid metabolism in black-spotted frogs through a combined field and laboratory study. In a fluorochemical industrial area, PFASs seriously accumulate in frog tissues. PFAS levels in frog liver tissues are positively related to the hepatosomatic index along with triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (TC) contents. In the laboratory, frogs were exposed to 1 and 10 μg/L PFASs, respectively (including PFOA, PFOS, and 6:2 Cl-PFESA). At 10 μg/L, PFASs change the hepatic fatty acid composition and significantly increase the hepatic TG content by 1.33 to 1.87 times. PFASs induce cross-talk accumulation of TG, TC, and their metabolites between the liver and serum. PFASs can bind to LXRα and PPARα proteins, further upregulate downstream lipogenesis-related gene expression, and downregulate lipolysis-related gene expression. Furthermore, lipid accumulation induced by PFASs is alleviated by PPARα and LXRα antagonists, suggesting the vital role of PPARα and LXRα in PFAS-induced lipid metabolism disorders. This work first reveals the disruption of PFASs on hepatic lipid homeostasis and provides novel insights into the occurrence and environmental risk of PFASs in amphibians.

Legacy and Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Surveillance in Bufo gargarizans from Inlet Watersheds of Chaohu Lake, China: Tissue Distribution and Bioaccumulation Potential

“…With the insertion of oxygen atoms and the substitution of fluorine by chlorine, the estimated log K OW values of Cl-PFESAs are higher than those of certain detected legacy PFAS . This means that 6:2 Cl-PFESA is more likely to bind to animal tissues and has higher tissue enrichment properties . HFPO-DA was found to exhibited low bioaccumulation potential in the teleost through laboratory experiments.…”

“…75 This means that 6:2 Cl-PFESA is more likely to bind to animal tissues and has higher tissue enrichment properties. 76 HFPO-DA was found to exhibited low bioaccumulation potential in the teleost through laboratory experiments. Nevertheless, in recent years, HFPO-DA has been detected in wild animals such as carp, bivalves, striped bass, and marine cetaceans.…”

Effects of kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis) polysaccharides on metabolites and gut microbiota of acrylamide-induced mice

“…Concurrently, in case of liver damage, bile circulation is blocked, ALP activity increases, the utilization of free fatty acids decreases, and the level of free fatty acids in the blood increases, ultimately increasing serum TG levels. Therefore, the variation in serum ALP and TG levels indirectly reflects the degree of liver damage ( 30 ). Our results showed that the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and TG levels were significantly increased in AA-induced mice, indicating serious liver damage ( Figure 2 ).…”

Bisphenol S Impairs Behaviors through Disturbing Endoplasmic Reticulum Function and Reducing Lipid Levels in the Brain of Zebrafish

“…Brain lipid metabolism and the use of different lipids as markers of neurodegenerative diseases have received increasing attention in recent years . Most of the environmental neurotoxic pollutants, such as phthalates, bisphenols, and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been reported to interfere with lipid metabolism. − Therefore, the mechanism by which neurotoxicants function in the whole development period may be through disturbing lipid metabolism and generating abnormal brain lipid levels. During early embryonic zebrafish development, TC comprises the main lipid class in the zebrafish yolk and body .…”