Effects of microplastics (MPs) and tributyltin (TBT) alone and in combination on bile acids and gut microbiota crosstalk in mice.

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) and tributyltin (TBT) are both potential environmental pollutants that enter organisms through the food chain and affect bodily functions. However, the effects and mechanisms of MPs and TBT exposure (especially the co-exposure of both pollutants) on mammals remain unclear. In this study, Ф5μm MPs (5MP) was administered alone or in combination with TBT to investigate the health risk of oral exposure in mice. All three treatments induced inflammation in the liver, altered gut microbiota composition and disturbed fecal bile acids profiles. In addition to decreasing triglyceride (TG) and increasing aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and macrophage-expressed gene 1 (Mpeg1), 5MP induced hepatic cholestasis by stimulating the expression of the cholesterol hydroxylase enzymes CYP8B1 and CYP27A1, and inhibiting multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 and 3 (MRP2, MRP3), and bile-salt export pump (BSEP) to prevent bile acids for entering the blood and bile. Correspondingly, 5MP treatment decreased 7-ketolithocholic acid (7-ketoLCA) and taurocholic acid (TCA), which were positively correlated with decreased Bacteroides and Marvinbryantia and negatively correlated with increased Bifidobacterium. In addition, TBT increased interferon γ (IFNγ) and Mpeg1 levels to induce inflammation, accompanied by decreased 7-ketoLCA, tauro-alpha-muricholic acid (T-alpha-MCA) and alpha-muricholic acid (alpha-MCA) levels, which were negatively related to Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 and Bifidobacterium. Co-exposure to 5MP and TBT also decreased TG and induced bile acids accumulation in the liver due to inhibited BSEP, which might be attributed to the co-regulation of decreased T-alpha-MCA and Harryflintia. In conclusion, the administration of 5MP and TBT alone and in combination could cause gut microbiome dysbiosis and subsequently alter bile acids profiles, while the combined exposure of 5MP and TBT weakened the toxic effects of 5MP and TBT alone.

• Authors: Ping Jiang, Ge-Hui Yuan, Bao-Rong Jiang, Jing-Yi Zhang, Yu-Qian Wang, Hui-Jie Lv, Zhan Zhang, Jia-Lin Wu, Qian Wu, Lei Li
• Journal: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (Ecotoxicol Environ Saf) Vol. 220 Pg. 112345 (Sep 01 2021) ISSN: 1090-2414 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 34020283 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Bile Acids and Salts
• Environmental Pollutants
• Microplastics
• Polystyrenes
• RNA, Bacterial
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
• Trialkyltin Compounds
• tributyltin

Topics

• Animals
• Bacteria (metabolism)
• Bile Acids and Salts (metabolism)
• Environmental Pollutants (adverse effects)
• Gastrointestinal Microbiome (drug effects, physiology)
• Male
• Metabolome
• Metabolomics
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Microplastics (adverse effects)
• Polystyrenes (adverse effects)
• RNA, Bacterial (analysis)
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (analysis)
• Trialkyltin Compounds (adverse effects)