title: Transcriptome sequencing reveals prenatal PFOS exposure on liver disorders.
abstract: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a hepatic toxicant and a potential hepatocarcinogen, is commonly used in industrial products. The widespread contamination of PFOS in human maternal and cord blood has raised concerns about its potential risks to the fetus. It is believed that adverse environmental exposure during the critical period of embryo development can have long-lasting consequences in later life. In this report, we used transcriptome sequencing, followed by bioinformatics analysis, to elucidate the potential hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic effects of prenatal PFOS exposure in the fetus. Our results demonstrated that prenatal PFOS exposure could activate the synthesis and metabolism of fatty acids and lipids, leading to liver damage and interference with liver development in the fetus. In addition, a number of cancer-promoting signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin, Rac, and TGF-β, were found to be activated in the fetal liver. More importantly, hepatic transaminase activity, including aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase activity, was induced in the liver of mice offspring after prenatal PFOS exposure. For the first time, our results demonstrate that the hepatotoxic effects of prenatal exposure to PFOS may predispose to a long-term liver disorder in the offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: kengplai@cityu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Keng Po
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Jing Woei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Partner State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Baki
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Billah
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ting Fung
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Partner State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: ckcwong@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Chris Kong Chu
authors.initials: CKC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid