A metabolomics strategy to assess the combined toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Feidi; Zhang, Haijun; Geng, Ningbo; Ren, Xiaoqian; Zhang, Baoqin; Gong, Yufeng; Chen, Jiping
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 234(2018)
• Page Start: 572
• Page End: 580
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Combined toxicity -- Metabolomics -- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: The combined toxicity of mixed chemicals is usually evaluated according to several specific endpoints, and other potentially toxic effects are disregarded. In this study, we provided a metabolomics strategy to achieve a comprehensive understanding of toxicological interactions between mixed chemicals on metabolism. The metabolic changes were quantified by a pseudotargeted analysis, and the types of combined effects were quantitatively discriminated according to the calculation of metabolic effect level index (MELI). The metabolomics strategy was used to assess the combined effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) on the metabolism of human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Our data suggested that exposure to a combination of PAHs and SCCPs at human internal exposure levels could result in an additive effect on the overall metabolism, whereas diverse joint effects were observed on various metabolic pathways. The combined exposure could induce a synergistic up-regulation of phospholipid metabolism, an additive up-regulation of fatty acid metabolism, an additive down-regulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolysis, and an antagonistic effect on purine metabolism. SCCPs in the mixture acted as the primary driver for the acceleration of phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism. Lipid metabolism disorder caused by exposure to a combination of PAHs and SCCPs should be an important concern for human health. Graphical abstract: Highlights: A metabolomics strategy was used to assess the combined effects of PAHs and SCCPs. The combined exposure could induce an additive effect on the overall metabolism. The combined exposure cause diverse joint effects on various metabolic pathways. Lipid metabolism disorder was a notable effect induced by the combined exposure. Abstract : Exposure to a combination of PAHs and SCCPs could induce an additive effect on the overall metabolism and diverse joint effects on various metabolic pathways.