Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40480305›Full record

ArticleDevelopmental biology2025

PFAS compounds PFOA and Gen X are teratogenic to sea urchin embryos.

Alexandra T Lion, Sophie M Bodine, Kelley R McCutcheon, Mayank Ghogale, Santhan Chandragiri, Deema Abayawardena, Bikram D Shrestha, Abigail Descoteaux, Kathryn Alvarez, J'nesse A Balkman and 6 more

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Article in Developmental biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Alexandra T LionMolecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Sophie M BodineBiology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Kelley R McCutcheonBiology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Mayank GhogaleBioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Santhan ChandragiriDepartment of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Deema AbayawardenaDepartment of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Bikram D ShresthaDepartment of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Abigail DescoteauxMolecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Biological Design Center, College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Kathryn AlvarezDepartment of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
J'nesse A BalkmanDepartment of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Breelyn CockeDepartment of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Athula H WikramanayakeDepartment of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Jennifer SchlezingerEnvironmental Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Joyce Y WongDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Vivek N PrakashDepartment of Physics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Cynthia A BradhamMolecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Biology Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Biological Design Center, College of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: cbradham@bu.edu.

Funding

Predoctoral Training in Bioinformatics and Computational BiologyT32GM100842 · NIGMS · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · PI TULLIUS, THOMAS D · 2012 to 2022
$2.8M
Spatiotemporal Regulation of Developmental Pattern FormationR35GM152180 · NIGMS · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · PI CYNTHIA A BRADHAM · 2024 to 2026
$1.3M
NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM152180NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM100842
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Per-and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds used in the production of fluoropolymer coatings found in products such as non-stick pans, clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging. These highly persistent molecules are known as "forever chemicals" since they neither degrade environmentally nor break down enzymatically within biological systems. PFAS compounds readily contaminate water sources, and as a result, certain PFAS molecules have bioaccumulated in exposed species including humans. The purpose of this study was to define the effect of two PFAS molecules, the ostensibly more toxic perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and the more recent, reportedly safer chemical hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (Gen X), on the development of Lytechinus variegatus sea urchin embryos. We examined the effects of PFOA and Gen X on development and patterning using morphological analysis, immunostaining, HCR-FISH, and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The results show that both PFAS compounds are teratogenic to sea urchin embryos. PFOA and Gen X each function at different intervals during development and provoke distinct phenotypic and gene expression outcomes. Despite beliefs that Gen X would be a safer alternative, our findings indicate that Gen X has earlier and more severe effects on endomesoderm and dorsal-ventral axis specification, neural development and function, and pattern formation compared to PFOA. These results illustrate the dangerous teratogenic potential of environmentally accumulating PFAS like Gen X, underscoring the negative ecological implications that accompany continuing commercial and industrial use of PFAS in the absence of remediation strategies.

Indexed as

CaprylatesEmbryo, NonmammalianFluorocarbonsLytechinusSea UrchinsTeratogensAnimalsBody PatterningEmbryonic DevelopmentGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalWater Pollutants, ChemicalCaprylatesFluorocarbonsperfluorooctanoic acidTeratogensWater Pollutants, ChemicalCiliaGen XNeuralPFOATeratogen

Identifiers

PMID40480305
PMCPMC12281492

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.