Metabolic effects and biotransformation of perfluorohexyloctane in human hepatocytes
: Alijagic, Andi; Chaker, Jade; Barbosa, João Marcos G.; Duberg, Daniel; Castro-Alves, Victor; Dickens, Alex M.; Orešič, Matej; Hyötyläinen, Tuulia
Publisher: Elsevier
: 2026
Environment International
: 110112
: 208
: 0160-4120
: 1873-6750
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110112
: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110112
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/509012082
Perfluorohexyloctane (F6H8) is a semifluorinated alkane recently approved for ophthalmic treatment of dry eye disease. Although considered locally safe for topical use, its structural similarity to persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) raises concerns about systemic accumulation and long-term toxicity. To investigate potential hepatic effects, we examined the metabolic impact of F6H8 exposure in human HepaRG hepatocytes across a broad concentration range representing short- and long-term exposure scenarios. Combined targeted and untargeted metabolic profiling by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOFMS) was performed on intracellular extracts and extracellular media. F6H8 induced pronounced, concentration-dependent metabolic alterations, many of which exhibited non-monotonic responses. Low concentrations primarily affected amino acid, fatty acid, and lipid metabolism, while central carbon metabolism was disrupted only at the highest exposures. Notably, a putative biotransformation product, perfluorohexyloctanoic acid, was detected, suggesting metabolic persistence and conversion to a PFAS-like structure. This metabolite showed strong associations with cellular metabolic profiles and elicited metabolic changes that only partially overlapped with those induced by the parent compound, indicating distinct biological activity following biotransformation. These findings indicate that F6H8 elicits broad metabolic reprogramming and may not be metabolically inert as previously assumed. Given its clinical use and structural similarity to persistent fluorochemicals, the results highlight the need for comprehensive, long-term safety assessment of F6H8 and related semifluorinated alkanes.
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This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council (grants no. and 2020-03674 and 2016-05176 to T.H and M.O), Formas (grant no. to T.H and M.O), Novo Nordisk Foundation (Grants no. NNF20OC0063971 and NNF21OC0070309 to T.H. and M.O.), and by the “Investigation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals as contributors to progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease” (EDC-MASLD) consortium funded by the Horizon Europe Program of the European Union under Grant Agreement 101136259 (to MO and TH). The study was also partially supported by grant from the Swedish Knowledge Foundation (Grant 20220122).