Selenium-enriched Kazachstania unispora KU2 ameliorates patulin-induced intestinal injury in mice by mediating the gut microbiota and selenoprotein P synthesis

Furong Wang; Xian Wang; Yilei Xiao; Ruixin Liu; Xiaoben Li; Jinpeng Hu; Wei Song; Kewei Feng; Yahong Yuan; Tianli Yue

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138129

Selenium-enriched Kazachstania unispora KU2 ameliorates patulin-induced intestinal injury in mice by mediating the gut microbiota and selenoprotein P synthesis

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Jul 15:492:138129. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138129. Epub 2025 Apr 1.

Authors

Furong Wang¹, Xian Wang¹, Yilei Xiao¹, Ruixin Liu¹, Xiaoben Li¹, Jinpeng Hu¹, Wei Song¹, Kewei Feng¹, Yahong Yuan², Tianli Yue³

Affiliations

¹ College of Food Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Laboratory of Nutritional and Healthy Food-Individuation Manufacturing Engineering, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Research Center of Food Safety Risk Assessment and Control, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
² College of Food Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Laboratory of Nutritional and Healthy Food-Individuation Manufacturing Engineering, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Research Center of Food Safety Risk Assessment and Control, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China. Electronic address: yyh@nwu.edu.cn.
³ College of Food Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Laboratory of Nutritional and Healthy Food-Individuation Manufacturing Engineering, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Research Center of Food Safety Risk Assessment and Control, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China. Electronic address: yuetl421@nwu.edu.cn.

PMID: 40179778
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138129

Abstract

Patulin (PAT) is a foodborne mycotoxin that causes intestinal injury. Selenium (Se)-enriched Kazachstania unispora (K. unispora) KU2 is a novel dietary Se carrier, and Se exerts important roles in intestinal homeostasis. Here, we examined the ameliorative effects of K. unispora KU2 and Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 against PAT-induced intestinal injury. Results indicated that both K. unispora KU2 and Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 alleviated PAT-induced inflammatory infiltration, disrupted gut microbiota, and associated metabolic imbalances, indicating the probiotic potential of this strain. Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 exhibited more pronounced remediation comparable to K. unispora KU2, revealing the promoting effect of Se. Furthermore, Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 restored intestinal Se homeostasis by upregulating SEPP1 levels to mitigate intestinal injury. Using pseudo germ-free mouse models, we confirmed that gut microbiota was required for the improvement in SEPP1 synthesis and intestinal transport mediated by Se-enriched K. unispora KU2. These findings elucidate a mechanism whereby the alleviation of PAT-induced intestinal injury by Se-enriched K. unispora KU2 is linked to upregulation of SEPP1 by the gut microbiota, suggesting its potential therapeutic relevance for intestinal diseases.

Keywords: Gut microbiota; Intestinal injury; Patulin; SEPP1; Selenium-enriched Kazachstania unispora KU2.

MeSH terms

Animals
Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / drug effects
Intestines / drug effects
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Patulin* / toxicity
Probiotics* / pharmacology
Selenium* / pharmacology
Selenoprotein P* / biosynthesis
Selenoprotein P* / metabolism

Substances

Selenium
Patulin
Selenoprotein P