US EPA

4238499 

Journal Article 

Perfluorohexadecanoic acid increases paracellular permeability in endothelial cells through the activation of plasma kallikrein-kinin system 

Liu, QS; Hao, F; Sun, Z; Long, Y; Zhou, Q; Jiang, G 

2018 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD 

OXFORD 

190 

191-200 

English 

28987408 

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.002 

WOS:000414881600021 

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0045653517315758
Exit
 

is supplemented by 4442170 : Supplementary materials

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are ubiquitous and high persistent in human blood, thus potentially inducing a myriad of deleterious consequences. Plasma kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), which physiologically regulates vascular permeability, is vulnerable to exogenous stimulators, like PFASs with long-chain alkyl backbone substituted by electronegative fluorine. The study on the interactions of PFASs with the KKS and the subsequent effects on vascular permeability would be helpful to illustrate how the chemicals penetrate the biological vascular barriers to reach different tissues. In present study, three representative PFASs, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexadecanoic acid (PFHxDA), were investigated for their effects on the activation of the KKS, paracellular permeability in human retina endothelial cells (HRECs) and integrity of the adherens junctions. In contrast to either PFOS or PFOA, PFHxDA efficiently triggered KKS activation in a concentration-dependent manner based on protease activity assays. The plasma activated by PFHxDA significantly increased paracellular permeability of HRECs through the degradation of adherens junctions. As evidenced by the antagonistic effect of aprotinin, PFHxDA-involved effects on vascular permeability were mediated by KKS activation. The results herein firstly revealed the mechanistic pathway for PFHxDA induced effects on vascular endothelial cells. Regarding the possible structure-related activities of the chemicals, this finding would be of great help in the risk assessment of PFASs. 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; Kallikrein-kinin system; Endothelial cells; Paracellular permeability; Adherens junctions; Vascular endothelial cadherin