Insights into toxicological mechanisms of per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances by using omics-centered approaches.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing preclinical and mechanistic toxicology literature.
PubMed 39755359 · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125634
What was done
The authors reviewed literature from the past five years utilizing omics technologies (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics/lipidomics, and microbiomics) to evaluate the toxicological mechanisms of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The review focused on pathways involved in hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.
What was found
The abstract reports qualitative mechanistic summaries and provides no numerical findings or effect sizes. Reported mechanisms include disruption of lipid and amino acid metabolism, perturbations in cell signaling pathways, binding to nuclear receptors, and regulatory roles for gut microbiota in PFAS-induced hepatotoxicity.
Why it matters
Synthesizing multi-omics evidence clarifies systemic molecular pathways disrupted by legacy and emerging PFAS alternatives, aiding environmental risk assessments.
Limits
The abstract omits quantitative effect estimates, literature search parameters, inclusion criteria, and the total number of reviewed studies. Mechanistic findings derive primarily from preclinical and in vitro laboratory models rather than clinical human observations.
Cited by
- supports PFAS chemicals are linked to hormone disruption, gut microbiome disruption, and fertility issues.