From the liver to the immune system: New insights on the structure-activity relationship of PFASs. An in vitro toxicological approach

The present thesis aimed to improve our current understanding of the structure-activity relationship of PFASs. Therefore, PFASs with various chemical structures have been tested for their effect on the liver and the native immune system. PFASs with common headgroups were investigated, sulfonic (PFSAs) and carboxylic (PFCAs), as well as alcoholic (FTOHs).
Overall, this thesis successfully demonstrates a potential structure-activity relationship through the use of a novel approach: the in vitro relative potency factor. A useful tool allowing for fast and easy comparison of compounds between experiments and publications. Furthermore, FTOHs have been demonstrated to be vastly more toxic to the innate immune system than other PFASs in vitro. It also helped better to understand the mechanisms underlying PFASs' hepatotoxicity and immunotoxicity.
Overall, this thesis demonstrates that future research should focus on assessing the headgroup effect of PFASs, thereby providing a more effective tool to identify high-risk compounds in the future.