Polychlorinated biphenyl 153 alters the intestinal epithelial cell transcriptome

Polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB153) is one of the most persistent environmental pollutants and abundant PCB congeners detected in human tissues, primarily acquired through dietary exposure. The intestinal epithelium therefore represents a critical initial target for PCB-related toxicity. However, the molecular mechanisms by which PCB153 disrupts normal intestinal epithelial function remain incompletely understood. The present study investigated the effects of PCB153 exposure on non-transformed human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) using transcriptomic profiling. The data revealed that PCB153 induced dose-dependent alterations in the IEC transcriptome. Key pathways affected by PCB153 included Wnt signaling, ABC transporters, cGMP-PKG signaling and metallothionein-mediated metal homeostasis. High-dose exposure further activated inflammatory and tumorigenic pathways such as TNF and NF-κB signaling, while suppressing mitochondrial metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation and cellular detoxification processes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that reveals the extensive transcriptomic remodeling in normal human IECs in response to PCB153 exposure, highlighting the disrupted intestinal regeneration, immune response and metabolic regulation. These findings provide novel mechanistic insights into how PCB153 compromises intestinal epithelial health, and establishes a transcriptomic framework for identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets related to environmental toxicant exposure.