Perfluoroalkyl substances are increased in patients with late-onset ulcerative colitis and induce intestinal barrier defects <i>ex vivo</i> in murine intestinal tissue
Frida Fart, Samira Salihović, Aidan McGlinchey, Mélanie G. Gareau, Matej Orešič, Jonas Halfvarson, Tuulia Hyötyläinen, Ida Schoultz
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Environmental factors are strongly implicated in late-onset of inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we investigate whether high levels of perfluoroalkyl substances are associated with (1) late-onset inflammatory bowel disease, and (2) disturbances of the bile acid pool. We further explore the effect of the specific perfluoroalkyl substance perfluorooctanoic acid on intestinal barrier function in murine tissue. METHODS: = 9). RESULTS: exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid induced a significantly altered ileal and colonic barrier function. The distribution of bile acids, as well as the correlation pattern between (1) perfluoroalkyl substances and (2) bile acids, differed between patient and control groups. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that perfluoroalkyl substances levels are increased in patients with late-onset ulcerative colitis and may contribute to the disease by inducing a dysfunctional intestinal barrier.