Transcriptomic analysis reveals chronic PFBA exposure at environmental levels induces liver damage in zebrafish

Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), a short-chain PFAS, is a persistent and bioaccumulative pollutant of increasing ecological concern. However, the long-term effects of environmentally relevant PFBA concentrations on fish liver function remain unclear. In this study, male zebrafish were exposed to 1000 ng/L PFBA for 7, 35, and 64 days to assess hepatotoxicity and molecular alterations over time. Histopathological analysis revealed progressive liver damage, including lipid vacuolization and hemorrhage, which intensified with prolonged exposure. Transcriptome profiling identified thousands of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with distinct temporal patterns—early immune activation and metabolic disruption (Day 7), peak inflammatory response (Day 35), and partial attenuation or adaptation (Day 64). GO and KEGG analyses highlighted key pathways, including Toll-like receptor (TLR), Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) , and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways. qPCR validation of TLR pathway genes (tlr1, tlr2, tlr3, tlr5, tlr7, tlr8, pik3cd, pik3r2, akt3b, akt1, mapk1, mapk3, mapk11, mapk14, nfκb1, tab2, il-8, tnfα) confirmed the upregulation of these genes, supporting the findings from transcriptome analysis and highlighting the significance of the TLR pathway in the immune response to PFBA exposure. These findings provide valuable insights into the chronic effects of environmentally relevant PFBA exposure on liver function and immune responses in zebrafish, with important implications for understanding the ecological risks of PFBA in aquatic environments.