Hepatic transcriptomic assessment of Sprague Dawley rats in response to dietary perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) ingestion

Perfluorobutane sulfonate is a short-chain PFAS that is a less toxic replacement for the rather more toxic long-chain perfluorooctane sulfonate. PFBS is widespread in the environment and has raised environmental and health concerns. The study goal was to investigate whether dietary ingestion of PFBS would induce hepatic damage. Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to three PFBS treatment groups for 11 weeks followed by clinical markers analyses in the serum and liver. There was a significant increase in liver and body weights of PFBS rats. Total antioxidant capacity was significantly reduced in the PFBS-treated group. ALT levels increased based on concentration ingested. Close to 1000 gene transcripts were differentially expressed. Further, transmembrane transport and oxidation-reduction processes were the most up-regulated biological processes. Inflammatory genes were up-regulated in the exposed group and those associated with oxidative damage were down-regulated. In conclusion, PFBS ingestion produced mild effects in the liver of Sprague Dawley rats. •PFBS treated groups showed an increase in the liver and body weights relative to the control group.•Total Antioxidant Capacity was reduced in treated groups reflective of oxidative damage.•Serum ALT levels increased in a concentration-dependent manner suggestive of hepatic damage.•Transcriptomic analysis showed 1127 and 902 genes were differentially expressed.•Transmembrane transport and oxidation-reduction processes were up-regulated.