Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) exerts cytotoxic effects on leydig cells via the ER stress/JNK/β-trcp/mcl-1 axis

Abstract

Hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) is an alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and is widely used in various industries. The effects of HFPO-TA on the male reproductive system and the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study, TM3 mouse Leydig cells were used as the main model to evaluate the cytotoxicity of HFPO-TA in vitro. HFPO-TA inhibited the viability and expression of multiple biomarkers of Leydig cells. HFPO-TA also induced Leydig cell apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Moreover, HFPO-TA induced the ubiquitination and degradation of Mcl-1 in a β-TrCP-dependent manner. Further investigations showed that HFPO-TA treatment led to the upregulation of ROS, which activated the ER stress/JNK/β-TrCP axis in Leydig cells. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the cytotoxic effects of HFPO-TA on the male reproductive system.

Keywords: Apoptosis; ER stress; HFPO-TA; Leydig cells; ROS.