The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone risk

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be associated with an increased prevalence of some kidney diseases. Kidney stones are common and have a high prevalence of kidney diseases. However, there is no evidence for the effect and potential mechanisms of PFAS on kidney stone risk. I...

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Main Authors: Ying Cui, Aitong Wu, Hao Liu, Yuanyuan Zhong, Kefan Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325004233
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author Ying Cui
Aitong Wu
Hao Liu
Yuanyuan Zhong
Kefan Yi
author_facet Ying Cui
Aitong Wu
Hao Liu
Yuanyuan Zhong
Kefan Yi
author_sort Ying Cui
collection DOAJ
description Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be associated with an increased prevalence of some kidney diseases. Kidney stones are common and have a high prevalence of kidney diseases. However, there is no evidence for the effect and potential mechanisms of PFAS on kidney stone risk. In this study, we designed a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) data from 2017 to 2020. Our results revealed that PFAS were positively associated with kidney stone risk, and PFDA was the main contributing compound among PFAS. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the systemic immune-inflammatory (SII) index had significant mediation effects. In addition, target proteins, such as IL-6, TNF, ALB, IL-1B, and AKT1, and signaling pathways, including TNF and IL-17 pathways, might be potential mechanisms of PFAS in promoting kidney stone risk. In conclusion, PFAS, especially PFDA, increases the risk of kidney stones by the mediation effects of the TyG index and SII index. TNF and IL-17 signaling pathways may be potential mechanisms. Our findings provide new evidence for the effects and potential mechanisms of PFAS exposure in increasing kidney stone risk. However, in the future, it is still imperative to further explore and validate the underlying mechanisms of PFAS-induced kidney stone formation through experimental studies.
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spelling doaj-art-7f3d27dfee4b4bf79830461c2754d3bf2025-08-20T02:26:08ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-04-0129411808710.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118087The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone riskYing Cui0Aitong Wu1Hao Liu2Yuanyuan Zhong3Kefan Yi4Guangdong Food and Drug Vocational College, Guangzhou 510520, ChinaChina Agriculture University, Beijing 100083, ChinaGuangdong Food and Drug Vocational College, Guangzhou 510520, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Third People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan 650011, ChinaClinical Nutrition Department, Shanghai Deji Hospital, Qingdao University, Shanghai 200331, China; Corresponding author.Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be associated with an increased prevalence of some kidney diseases. Kidney stones are common and have a high prevalence of kidney diseases. However, there is no evidence for the effect and potential mechanisms of PFAS on kidney stone risk. In this study, we designed a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) data from 2017 to 2020. Our results revealed that PFAS were positively associated with kidney stone risk, and PFDA was the main contributing compound among PFAS. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the systemic immune-inflammatory (SII) index had significant mediation effects. In addition, target proteins, such as IL-6, TNF, ALB, IL-1B, and AKT1, and signaling pathways, including TNF and IL-17 pathways, might be potential mechanisms of PFAS in promoting kidney stone risk. In conclusion, PFAS, especially PFDA, increases the risk of kidney stones by the mediation effects of the TyG index and SII index. TNF and IL-17 signaling pathways may be potential mechanisms. Our findings provide new evidence for the effects and potential mechanisms of PFAS exposure in increasing kidney stone risk. However, in the future, it is still imperative to further explore and validate the underlying mechanisms of PFAS-induced kidney stone formation through experimental studies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325004233Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substancesKidney stonesTriglyceride-glucose indexSystemic immune-inflammatory index
spellingShingle Ying Cui
Aitong Wu
Hao Liu
Yuanyuan Zhong
Kefan Yi
The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone risk
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Kidney stones
Triglyceride-glucose index
Systemic immune-inflammatory index
title The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone risk
title_full The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone risk
title_fullStr The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone risk
title_full_unstemmed The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone risk
title_short The effect and potential mechanisms of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on kidney stone risk
title_sort effect and potential mechanisms of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances pfas exposure on kidney stone risk
topic Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Kidney stones
Triglyceride-glucose index
Systemic immune-inflammatory index
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325004233
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