Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances induce lipid metabolic impairment in fish: Integration on field investigation and laboratory study

Qiyu Wang; Xueyan Gu; Limin Mo; Nannan Wan; Liu Wu; Shuai Liu; Miao Zhang; Mingqi Li; Xi Liu; Yu Liu

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2024.108687

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances induce lipid metabolic impairment in fish: Integration on field investigation and laboratory study

Environ Int. 2024 Apr 23:187:108687. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108687. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Qiyu Wang¹, Xueyan Gu², Limin Mo³, Nannan Wan¹, Liu Wu⁴, Shuai Liu¹, Miao Zhang¹, Mingqi Li¹, Xi Liu¹, Yu Liu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China.
² Physical Education College, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China.
³ Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China; School of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China.
⁴ Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China; School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
⁵ Research Institute of Microbiology, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330012, China. Electronic address: liuyu@jxas.ac.cn.

PMID: 38677088
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108687

Abstract

The biotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) to aquatic organisms has been widely concerned. However, studies on toxic effects of PFASs are usually evaluated directly by using laboratory exposure rather than laboratory validation based on data obtained in the field. In this study, wild catfish (Silurus meridinalis) was explored on the relationship between PFASs bioaccumulation and lipid disorders. Nine and thirteen lipid metabolites were significantly associated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 6:2/8:2Cl-PFESA (trade name F-53B) exposures, respectively; and the correlated lipid metabolites were the fatty acid (FA) and conjugates, FA esters, steroids, and glycerophosphate subclasses. The effects of PFASs on lipid metabolism of fish and its mechanism were further analyzed through exposure experiments. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) of different sexes underwent PFOS and F-53B exposures for 21 days at 100 ng/L and 100 μg/L. By determining gene expression levels, hepatic lipid contents, and histopathological change, the adverse effects order on lipid metabolism in male or female was 100 μg/L F-53B > 100 μg/L PFOS > 100 ng/L F-53B > 100 ng/L PFOS; the stress response in male was more intensive than that in female. PFOS and F-53B activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor pathway, promoting the processes of FA and total cholesterol (T-CHO) transport, FA β-oxidation, FA synthesis, and finally induced FA and T-CHO transportation from blood into liver, then accelerated FA to FA ester transformation, and CHO into steroids. Laboratory experiments confirmed the field analysis. This study innovatively explored the adverse effects of PFOS and F-53B on lipid metabolism and their mechanisms at field and laboratory levels, highlighting concerns regarding PFASs health risks.

Keywords: Catfish; Lipid metabolism; Mechanism; PFASs; Zebrafish.