title: Subchronic effects of perfluorooctanesulfonate exposure on inflammation in adult male C57BL/6 mice.
abstract: Previous studies indicate that exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), a ubiquitous and highly persistent environmental contaminant, induces immunotoxicity in mice. However, few studies have specifically assessed the effects of PFOS on inflammation. This study utilized a standard 60-day oral exposure period to assess the effects of PFOS on the response of inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)]. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were dosed daily by oral gavage with PFOS at 0, 0.0083, 0.0167, 0.0833, 0.4167, 0.8333 or 2.0833 mg/kg/day to yield a targeted Total Administered Dose (TAD) over 60 days of 0, 0.5, 1, 5, 25, 50, or 125 mg PFOS/kg, respectively. The percentage of peritoneal macrophages (CD11b+ cells) was significantly increased at concentrations ≥ 1 mg PFOS/kg TAD in a dose-dependent manner. Ex vivo IL-1β production by peritoneal macrophages was elevated substantially at concentrations of ≥ 5 mg PFOS/kg TAD. Moreover, PFOS exposure markedly enhanced the ex vivo production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 by peritoneal and splenic macrophages when stimulated either in vitro or in vivo with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The serum levels of these inflammatory cytokines observed in response to in vivo stimulation with LPS were elevated substantially by exposure to PFOS. PFOS exposure elevated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and proto-oncogene, c-myc, in the spleen. These data suggest that exposure to PFOS modulates the inflammatory response, and further research is needed to determine the mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, People's Republic of China. ghdong@mail.cmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Guang-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ying-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zai-Fu
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yi-He
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Qin-Cheng
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D016207:Cytokines; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid