Perfluorobutanesulfonate exposure induces metabolic disturbances in different regions of mouse gut

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2023-03, Vol.866, p.161261, Article 161261
• Main Authors: Chen, Ling, Zhu, Mengyuan, Liu, Yafeng, Yang, Zhongchao, Li, Huan, Mu, Hongxin, Liu, Su, Wu, Bing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkanesulfonic Acids - toxicity; Animals; Colon; Fluorocarbons - chemistry; Fluorocarbons - toxicity; Gut toxicity; Ileum; Mammals; Metabolic disturbances; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mouse; Perfluorobutanesulfonate; Sulfonic Acids; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161261

Perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS), an alternative to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), has raised many health concerns. However, PFBS toxicity in the mammalian gut remains unclear. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 10 μg/L and 500 μg/L PFBS or 500 μg/L PFOS in their water supply for 28 days. PFBS toxicity in the ileum and colon was explored and compared to that of PFOS. Biochemical analysis showed that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels increased in the ileum exposed to 10 μg/L PFBS, whereas no significant changes were observed in those levels in the colon. Catalase (CAT) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), TNF-α, and IL-1β levels increased and glutathione (GSH) levels decreased in the ileum of the 500 μg/L-PFBS group, whereas only MDA levels increased in the colon of the 500 μg/L-PFBS group. The results showed that more severe damage occurred in the ileum than in the colon after PFBS exposure, and these align with the 500 μg/L-PFOS group exposure as well. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis revealed glutathione metabolism as a vital factor in inducing PFBS and PFOS toxicities in the ileum. Steroid hormone and amino acid metabolisms were other important factors involved in PFBS and PFOS toxicities, respectively. In the colon, GSH, pyrimidine, and glucose (especially galactose) metabolism was the main contributor to PFBS toxicity, and sulfur amino acid metabolism was the main pathway for PFOS toxicity. This study provides more evidence of the health hazards due to low-dose PFBS exposure in the mammalian gut. [Display omitted] •Adverse effects of low-dose PFBS on different regions of mouse gut were explored.•More severe oxidative damage and inflammation occurred in the ileum than in the colon.•Metabolomics revealed that glutathione and steroid hormone metabolism was changed by PFBS in the ileum.•PFBS altered glucose, glutathione and pyrimidine metabolism in the colon.