PUBLICATION

Multiple approaches to assess the effects of F-53B, a Chinese PFOS alternative, on thyroid endocrine disruption at environmentally relevant concentrations

Authors
Deng, M., Wu, Y., Xu, C., Jin, Y., He, X., Wan, J., Yu, X., Rao, H., Tu, W.
ID
ZDB-PUB-171219-16
Date
2017
Source
The Science of the total environment   624: 215-224 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
F-53B, T-screen assay, Thyroid endocrine disruption, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Alkanesulfonates/analysis*
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endocrine Disruptors/analysis*
  • Larva/drug effects
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone/agonists
  • Thyroid Gland/drug effects*
  • Thyroid Hormones/blood
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
29253770 Full text @ Sci. Total Environ.
Abstract
A Chinese perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) substitute frequently detected in the environment, 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), has a similar structure to PFOS and it is proposed to cause thyroid dysfunction. To further confirm this hypothesis, the effects of F-53B on the thyroid endocrine system and underlying mechanisms were investigated in vitro and in vivo using rat pituitary GH3 cells and developing zebrafish, respectively. In GH3 cells, F-53B enhanced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, indicative of thyroid receptor agonistic activity. In zebrafish larvae, F-53B exposure induced significant developmental inhibition and increased thyroxine (T4) but not 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) levels accompanied by a decrease in thyroglobulin (TG) protein and transcript levels of most genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Interestingly, T4 levels remained significantly increased while TG protein and gene transcription levels were markedly upregulated after depuration. Molecular docking studies revealed that F-53B binds to transthyretin (TTR) by forming hydrogen bonds with Lys123 and Lys115, thereby interfering with thyroid hormone homeostasis. Our collective in vitro, in vivo and in silico studies provide novel evidence that F-53B disrupts the thyroid endocrine system at environmentally relevant concentrations, which cannot be recovered after depuration. Given the persistence of F-53B in the environment, the long-term consequences of thyroid hormone disruption by this chemical warrant further investigation.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping