Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic organic compounds that have captured the attention of scientists, decision-makers, and the public due to their widespread presence in the environment. Although PFAS have usefulness in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products and processes, a growing body of evidence has linked their exposure to adverse health outcomes, including effects on the immune system. Immune effects observed in epidemiological and experimental model studies of PFAS include reductions in adaptive and innate immune function, increases in inappropriate immune stimulation, and altered inflammation.
Immune perturbations arising from PFAS exposure appear to be critical effects underlying public health decisions by a variety of agencies and entities. However, some immune effects and underlying mechanisms remain understudied and undetermined and many PFAS found in the environment and in the bodies of living organisms remain understudied immunotoxicologically.
We invite authors to consider submitting manuscripts focusing on immune effects of PFAS exposure in human populations as well as in experimental models, including mechanistic studies of legacy/long-chain and alternative/short-chain/understudied PFAS, descriptive immunotoxicological studies of understudied PFAS, and new approach methodologies for screening PFAS in a special collection on PFAS immunotoxicity. Original research manuscripts and reviews will be considered and all manuscripts will be reviewed by qualified reviewers and accepted articles will be published online as gold open access after proofing and formatting.
Jamie DeWitt is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (ECU). She is a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and is active within the Society of Toxicology and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Her laboratory’s research program focuses on functional effects of environmental chemicals on the immune system and its interactions with the nervous system during development and adulthood. A major emphasis of her current research program is on effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the immune system.
AtLee Watson is a Toxicology Study Director at Inotiv where he manages the conduct of in vivo GLP toxicity studies. Prior to joining Inotiv, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the Division of Translational Toxicology at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, where he served as a project leader to evaluate the toxicity of environmental agents including PFAS. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and is active in the Society of Toxicology.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. DeWitt is funded to study the immunotoxicity of PFAS with state (North Carolina) and federal (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Environmental Protection Agency) funds. She also serves/has served as a plaintiff’s expert witness in cases concerning PFAS. Dr. Watson's employer, Inotiv, was awarded a subcontract to perform in vivo GLP toxicity studies investigating PFAS for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He serves as a Study Director for ongoing studies under this contract.
