Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109409 |
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| Title (Primary) | Evaluating PFAS-Induced modulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) immune response to SARS-CoV-2 spike in COVID-19 Vaccinees |
| Author | Ayuk, H.S.; Pierzchalski, A.; Tal, T.
; Myhre, O.; Lindeman, B.; Smith, N.M.; Stojanovska, V.; Zenclussen, A.C. |
| Source Titel | Environment International |
| Year | 2025 |
| Department | IMMU; ETOX |
| Volume | 198 |
| Page From | art. 109409 |
| Language | englisch |
| Topic | T9 Healthy Planet |
| Supplements | https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0160412025001606-mmc1.pdf https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0160412025001606-mmc2.docx https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0160412025001606-mmc3.docx |
| Keywords | PFAS mixtures; PFAS exposure; Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2); Spike protein; peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); COVID-19 vaccination; COVID-19 infection; Proinflammatory chemokines |
| Abstract | The persistent nature of the environmental contaminants per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has recently received considerable attention, particularly because of their adverse effects on immune system functionality in the context of vaccine responses to infectious diseases. Following COVID-19 vaccination, some studies have shown a significant negative correlation between serum PFAS concentrations and the humoral immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein vaccination. However, the influence of PFAS on the cell-mediated immune response to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein post-COVID-19 vaccination remains underexplored. In the present study, we investigated the impact of a human blood-relevant PFAS mixture, containing perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) on innate (monocytes and NK cells), cell-mediated (T cells) and B cells adaptive immune responses in COVID-19-vaccinated female and male healthy donors. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were exposed to a mixture of the six PFAS at real life concentrations and subsequently stimulated with the SARS-CoV-2 spike peptide. We report a significant upregulation of IFNγ production in T and NK cells, particularly among male donors exposed to high concentrations of the PFAS mixture. Conversely, we observed a decrease in the total B-cell population, particularly among female donors. A significant reduction in the secretion of the pro-inflammatory chemokines MIP-1α (CCL3) and MIP-3α (CCL20) was observed at high PFAS mixture concentrations. Overall, these findings suggest that high PFAS exposure may differentially affect immune responses in a sex-specific manner, with a potential impact on vaccine efficacy. |
| Persistent UFZ Identifier | https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=30621 |
| Ayuk, H.S., Pierzchalski, A., Tal, T., Myhre, O., Lindeman, B., Smith, N.M., Stojanovska, V., Zenclussen, A.C. (2025): Evaluating PFAS-Induced modulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) immune response to SARS-CoV-2 spike in COVID-19 Vaccinees Environ. Int. 198 , art. 109409 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109409 |
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