Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (GenX): Hepatic stress and bile acid metabolism with different pathways

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) are organic chemicals that are widely used in the manufacture of a wide range of human-made products. Many monitoring findings revealed the presence of PFASs and PFECAs in numerous environmental sources, including water, soil, and air, which drew more attention to both chemicals. Because of their unknown toxicity, the discovery of PFASs and PFECAs in a variety of environmental sources was viewed as a cause for concern. In the present study, male mice were given orally one of the typical PFASs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and one of the representative PFECAs, hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA). The liver index showing hepatomegaly rose significantly after 90 d of exposure to PFOA and HFPO-DA, respectively. While sharing similar suppressor genes, both chemicals demonstrated unique hepatotoxic mechanisms. In different ways, these two substances altered the expression of hepatic stress-sensing genes as well as the regulation of nuclear receptors. Not only are bile acid metabolism-related genes in the liver altered, but cholesterol metabolism-related genes as well. These results indicate that PFOA and HFPO-DA both cause hepatotoxicity and bile acid metabolism impairment with distinct mechanisms.

Keywords: GenX; Hepatotoxicity; Hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid; PFOA; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance; Perfluorooctanoic acid.