Associations of PFAS and OH-PCBs with risk of multiple sclerosis onset and disability worsening

Exposure to per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) is associated with adverse human health effects, including immunosuppression. It is unknown if these substances can affect the course of autoimmune diseases. This study was based on 907 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 907 matched controls, where the MS cases were followed longitudinally using the Swedish MS register. We demonstrate sex- and disease-specific differences in serum PFAS concentrations between individuals with MS and controls. Moreover, two OH-PCBs (4-OH-CB187 and 3-OH-CB153) are associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis, regardless of sex and immigration status. With a clinical follow-up time of up to 18 years, an increase in serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) decreases the risk of confirmed disability worsening in both sexes, as well as perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), only in males with MS. These results show previously unknown associations between OH-PCBs and the risk of developing MS, as well as the inverse associations between PFAS exposure and the risk of disability worsening in MS.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-02-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57172-3
Citations
13
Primary Topic
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
11.18

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article

Associations of PFAS and OH-PCBs with risk of multiple sclerosis onset and disability worsening

Torbjörn Åkerfeldt, Tomas Olsson, Yassine Noui, Ida Erngren et al.
13 citations
Nature Communications
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
11.18
article

Associations of PFAS and OH-PCBs with risk of multiple sclerosis onset and disability worsening

Torbjörn Åkerfeldt, Tomas Olsson, Yassine Noui, Ida Erngren, Eva Freyhult, Ola Spjuth, Aina Vaivade, Ingrid Skelton Kockum, Lars S. Alfredsson, Payam Emami Khoonsari, Kim Kultima, Anna Karin Hedström, V. Gallo, Joachim Burman, Asma Al-Grety, Henrik Carlsson, Anders Olof Larsson
article en
13 citations

Abstract

Exposure to per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) is associated with adverse human health effects, including immunosuppression. It is unknown if these substances can affect the course of autoimmune diseases. This study was based on 907 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 907 matched controls, where the MS cases were followed longitudinally using the Swedish MS register. We demonstrate sex- and disease-specific differences in serum PFAS concentrations between individuals with MS and controls. Moreover, two OH-PCBs (4-OH-CB187 and 3-OH-CB153) are associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis, regardless of sex and immigration status. With a clinical follow-up time of up to 18 years, an increase in serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) decreases the risk of confirmed disability worsening in both sexes, as well as perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), only in males with MS. These results show previously unknown associations between OH-PCBs and the risk of developing MS, as well as the inverse associations between PFAS exposure and the risk of disability worsening in MS.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Uppsala University (SE), Karolinska University Hospital (SE), Stockholm University (SE), University of Groningen (NL), Fryske Akademy (NL), Science for Life Laboratory (SE), Karolinska Institutet (SE), Centre for Palaeogenetics (SE)
Swedish Foundation for MS Research, Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Vetenskapsrådet, Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd, Uppsala Universitet, Science for Life Laboratory, Marcus och Amalia Wallenbergs minnesfond, Region Uppsala
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
11.18
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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