title: Gut microbiota limits heavy metals burden caused by chronic oral exposure.
abstract: Environmental exposure to pollutants such as heavy metal(s) is responsible for various altered physiological functions which are detrimental for health. The gut microbiota is critical for intestinal homeostasis but its role on xenobiotic handling is not fully understood, especially when continuous sub-chronic exposure is addressed. We first confirmed the essential role of the intestinal microbiome to limit heavy metal body burden by using germ-free mice following 6-weeks oral exposure. Significant increases of cadmium and lead absorption and dissemination in blood and target organs were measured in germ-free mice when compared with conventional specific pathogen free (SPF) mice. Besides the "barrier" function of the luminal microbiota, this may involve specific host-genes such as metallothioneins, which are differentially expressed in the gastrointestinal tract of each group of mice. Considering genes relevant for divalent metal transporters and oxidative pathways, significant differences in basal gene expression were measured between control and germ-free mice. Moreover, the magnitude of induction of these genes upon stimulation by heavy metals varied greatly depending on the dose and type of metal as well as the microbial status of the animal. Collectively, these data illustrate the complex host-microbes interplay occurring with environmental pollutants inside the gut.
authors.affiliation: Bactéries Lactiques & Immunité des Muqueuses, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Inserm U 1019, CNRS UMR 8204 Université Lille Nord de France, 1 rue du Pr Calmette, BP 245, F-59019 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pothion
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Froux
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sauty
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pot
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Foligné
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead; C029891:lead chloride; D019256:Cadmium Chloride
keywords: Bioavailability; Cadmium; Gene expression; Germ-free mice; Gut microbiota; Lead