Effects of subchronic oral toxic metal exposure on the intestinal microbiota of mice

Qixiao Zhai; Tianqi Li; Leilei Yu; Yue Xiao; Saisai Feng; Jiangping Wu; Jianxin Zhao; Hao Zhang; Wei Chen

doi:10.1016/j.scib.2017.01.031

Effects of subchronic oral toxic metal exposure on the intestinal microbiota of mice

Sci Bull (Beijing). 2017 Jun 30;62(12):831-840. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.01.031. Epub 2017 Jan 25.

Authors

Qixiao Zhai¹, Tianqi Li¹, Leilei Yu¹, Yue Xiao², Saisai Feng², Jiangping Wu², Jianxin Zhao², Hao Zhang¹, Wei Chen³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; UK-China Joint Centre on Probiotic Bacteria, Norwich, UK and Wuxi, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; UK-China Joint Centre on Probiotic Bacteria, Norwich, UK and Wuxi, China; Beijing Innovation Centre of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology & Business University, Beijing 100048, China. Electronic address: chenwei66@jiangnan.edu.cn.

PMID: 36659316
DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2017.01.031

Abstract

Oral exposure to toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) can induce various adverse health effects in humans and animals. However, the effects of these metals on the gut microbiota have received limited attention. The present study demonstrated that long-term toxic metal exposure altered the intestinal microbiota of mice in a metal-specific and time-dependent manner. Subchronic oral Cu exposure for eight weeks caused a profound decline in gut microbial diversity in mice, whereas no significant changes were observed in groups treated with other metals. Cd exposure significantly increased the relative abundances of organisms from the genera Alistipes and Odoribacter and caused marked decreases in Mollicutes and unclassified Ruminococcaceae. Pb exposure significantly decreased the abundances of eight genera: unclassified and uncultured Ruminococcaceae, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, Ruminiclostridium_9, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Oscillibacter, Anaerotruncus and Lachnoclostridium. Cu exposure affected abundances of the genera Alistipes, Bacteroides, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Allobaculum, Mollicutes_RF9_norank, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Ruminococcaceae_unclassified and Turicibacter. Al exposure increased the abundance of Odoribacter and decreased that of Anaerotruncus. Exposure to any metal for eight weeks significantly decreased the abundance of Akkermansia. These results provide a new understanding regarding the role of toxic metals in the pathogenesis of intestinal and systemic disorders in the host within the gut microbiota framework.

Keywords: Aluminum; Cadmium; Copper; Gut microbiota; Lead; Metal.