title: Alterations in cell membrane properties caused by perfluorinated compounds.
abstract: The recent detection of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in wildlife from even remote locations has spurred interest in the environmental occurrence and effects of these chemicals. While the global distribution of PFCs is increasingly understood, there is still little information available on their effects on wildlife. The amphiphillic nature of PFCs suggests that their effects could be primarily on cell membranes. In this study we measured the effects of PFCs on membrane fluidity and mitochondrial membrane potential using flow cytometry and effects on membrane permeability using cell bioassay procedures (H4IIE, MCF-7, PLHC-1). Of the PFCs tested, only perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) increased the permeability of cell membranes to the hydrophobic ligands used. Three PFCs were tested in the membrane fluidity assay: PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). PFOS increased membrane fluidity in fish leukocytes in a dose-dependent fashion, while PFHS and PFBS had no effect in the concentration range tested. The lowest effective concentrations for the membrane fluidity effects of PFOS were 5-15 mg/l. Effects on mitochondrial membrane potential occurred in the same concentration range as effects on membrane fluidity. This suggests that PFOS effects membrane properties at concentrations below those associated with other adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: National Food Safety and Toxicology Center, Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Wen yue
authors.initials: Wy
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: DeCoen
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fraker
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newsted
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Giesy
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005399:Fishes; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1