title: Oral Administration of Probiotics Inhibits Absorption of the Heavy Metal Cadmium by Protecting the Intestinal Barrier.
abstract: The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant that causes adverse health effects in humans and animals. Our previous work demonstrated that oral administration of probiotics can significantly inhibit Cd absorption in the intestines of mice, but further evidence is needed to gain insights into the related protection mode. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether probiotics can inhibit Cd absorption through routes other than the Cd binding, with a focus on gut barrier protection. In the in vitro assay, both the intervention and therapy treatments of Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM8610 alleviated Cd-induced cytotoxicity in the human intestinal cell line HT-29 and protected the disruption of tight junctions in the cell monolayers. In a mouse model, probiotics with either good Cd-binding or antioxidative ability increased fecal Cd levels and decreased Cd accumulation in the tissue of Cd-exposed mice. Compared with the Cd-only group, cotreatment with probiotics also reversed the disruption of tight junctions, alleviated inflammation, and decreased the intestinal permeability of mice. L. plantarum CCFM8610, a strain with both good Cd binding and antioxidative abilities, exhibited significantly better protection than the other two strains. These results suggest that along with initial intestinal Cd sequestration, probiotics can inhibit Cd absorption by protecting the intestinal barrier, and the protection is related to the alleviation of Cd-induced oxidative stress. A probiotic with both good Cd-binding and antioxidative capacities can be used as a daily supplement for the prevention of oral Cd exposure.
  
  
  
  The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant that causes adverse health effects in humans and animals. For the general population, food and drinking water are the main sources of Cd exposure due to the biomagnification of Cd within the food chain; therefore, the intestinal tract is the first organ that is susceptible to Cd contamination. Moreover, Cd exposure causes the disruption of the intestinal barrier and further induces the amplification of Cd absorption. The present study confirms that, along with initial intestinal Cd sequestration, oral administration of probiotics can inhibit Cd absorption by protecting the intestinal barrier. A probiotic with both good Cd-binding and antioxidative capacities can be used as a daily supplement for the prevention of oral Cd exposure.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People's Republic of China UK-China Joint Centre on Probiotic Bacteria, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Qixiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People's Republic of China UK-China Joint Centre on Probiotic Bacteria, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fengwei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People's Republic of China UK-China Joint Centre on Probiotic Bacteria, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: UK-China Joint Centre on Probiotic Bacteria, Norwich, United Kingdom Gut Health and Food Safety Programme, Institute of Food Research, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narbad
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People's Republic of China Beijing Innovation Centre of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology & Business University, Beijing, People's Republic of China UK-China Joint Centre on Probiotic Bacteria, Norwich, United Kingdom chenwei66@jiangnan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010539:Permeability; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium