Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
Open access
Peer reviewed
Scollr summary
What this paper is about
Findings suggest that PFAS exposure may influence trophoblast-mediated immune signaling, with potential implications for pregnancy-related processes.
Full abstract
Read the full abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants that have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and immune dysfunction. However, the impact of PFAS on trophoblast-mediated immune interactions at the maternal-fetal interface remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of human-relevant PFAS on trophoblast function and immune crosstalk using a three-dimensional (3D) trophoblast spheroid model and a co-culture system with CD4+ T cells. JEG-3 spheroids were exposed to multiple PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), individually and as a mixture at real-life concentrations to assess viability, invasion and trophoblast-derived β-hCG secretion. Using a placental–immune cell co-culture model, we examined bidirectional interactions and their respective effects on functional endpoints in both cellular compartments and further investigated how exposure to PFAS may interfere in the bidirectional communication. We report a significant decrease in trophoblast viability, after exposure to individual PFOS, PFOA and the PFAS mixture. PFAS mixture, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA and PFDA exposure significantly increased invasiveness in JEG-3 spheroids, while PFOA decreased JEG-3 invasion significantly. Additionally, β-hCG production declined after 48 hours of PFOS and PFAS mixture exposure in JEG-3 spheroids. Moreover, following PFAS mixture exposure, we observed a downregulation of CD69 and IFNγ production in CD4+ T cells, particularly within Th2 cells, while CD154 expression was also reduced. Overall, these findings suggest that PFAS exposure may influence trophoblast-mediated immune signaling, with potential implications for pregnancy-related processes.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "Impairment of placental function and maternal-fetal immunity cross-talk by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during early pregnancy" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Xia2026Impairment,
title = {Impairment of placental function and maternal-fetal immunity cross-talk by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during early pregnancy},
author = {Yu Xia and Humblenoble Stembridge Ayuk and Oddvar Myhre and Ana C. Zenclussen and Violeta Stojanovska},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120664},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120664}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research papers?
Follow Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for Impairment of placental function and maternal-fetal immunity cross-talk by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during early pregnancy. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app