Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in plasma and their blood–brain barrier transmission efficiency–A pilot study

Meng-Yi Xie; Zhi-Ying Lin; Xiang-Fei Sun; Jing-Jing Feng; Lei Mai; Chen-Chou Wu; Guang-Long Huang; Po Wang; Ya-Wei Liu; Liang-Ying Liu; Eddy Y. Zeng

Environment International (May 2024)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in plasma and their blood–brain barrier transmission efficiency–A pilot study

Meng-Yi Xie,
Zhi-Ying Lin,
Xiang-Fei Sun,
Jing-Jing Feng,
Lei Mai,
Chen-Chou Wu,
Guang-Long Huang,
Po Wang,
Ya-Wei Liu,
Liang-Ying Liu,
Eddy Y. Zeng

Affiliations

Meng-Yi Xie: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
Zhi-Ying Lin: Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, China
Xiang-Fei Sun: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters (Ministry of Education), School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jing-Jing Feng: Guangxi Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin 541006, China
Lei Mai: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Subingtian Center for Speed Research and Training/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Speed-Capability Research, School of Physical Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Chen-Chou Wu: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters (Ministry of Education), School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Guang-Long Huang: Department of Neurosurgery, Laboratory for Precision Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Nanfang Glioma Center, Guangzhou 510515, China
Po Wang: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
Ya-Wei Liu: Department of Neurosurgery, Laboratory for Precision Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
Liang-Ying Liu: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
Eddy Y. Zeng: Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters (Ministry of Education), School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 187
p. 108719

Abstract

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been shown to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and accumulate in human brain. The BBB transmission and accumulation efficiency of PFAS, as well as the potential health risks from human co-exposure to legacy and emerging PFAS due to differences in transport efficiency, need to be further elucidated. In the present pilot study, 23 plasma samples from glioma patients were analyzed for 17 PFAS. The concentrations of PFAS in six paired brain tissue and plasma samples were used to calculate the BBB transmission efficiency of PFAS (RPFAS). This RPFAS analysis was conducted with utmost care and consideration amid the limited availability of valuable paired samples. The results indicated that low molecular weight PFAS, including short-chain and emerging PFAS, may have a greater potential for accumulation in brain tissue than long-chain PFAS. As an alternative to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) exhibited brain accumulation potential similar to that of PFOS, suggesting it may not be a suitable substitute concerning health risk in brain. The BBB transmission efficiencies of perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOS, and 6:2 Cl-PFESA showed similar trends with age, which may be an important factor influencing the entry of exogenous compounds into the brain. A favorable link between perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and the development and/or progression of glioma may be implicated by a strong positive correlation (r2 = 0.94; p < 0.01) between RFOSA and Ki-67 (a molecular marker of glioma). However, a causal relationship between RFOSA and glioma incidence were not established in the present study. The present pilot study conducted the first examination of BBB transmission efficiency of PFAS from plasma to brain tissue and highlighted the importance of reducing and/or controlling exposure to PFAS.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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