Protective Effects of Astaxanthin on PFOS-Induced Liver Injury via Fatty Acid and Cholesterol Metabolic Pathways

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent bioaccumulative pollutant that can induce significant liver injury and functional impairment. Astaxanthin (ASX) is a naturally occurring carotenoid with potent bioactive properties and hepatoprotective effects. However, whether ASX can mitigate PFOS-induced liver injury and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The results indicate that ASX supplementation significantly alleviatess PFOS-induced liver injury. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that lipid metabolic disorder may be a primary driver of PFOS-induced liver damage, and ASX may mitigate it by modulating cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that ASX effectively alleviates PFOS-induced accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol as well as alterations in the expression of proteins associated with cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism. This study demonstrates that ASX can mitigate PFOS-induced hepatic injury by regulating cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism, supporting its potential as a promising natural compound against liver damage.