Protective effects of oral administration of lactic acid bacteria strains against methylmercury-induced intestinal toxicity in a murine model.

The utilization of lactic acid bacteria has been proposed to mitigate the burden of heavy metal exposure through processes probably involving chelation and reduced metal bioaccessibility. We evaluated the effects of daily intake of two strains of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus intestinalis LE1 or Lactobacillus johnsonii LE2) on intestinal toxicity during methylmercury (MeHg) exposure through drinking water (5 mg/L) for two months in mice. MeHg exposure resulted in inflammation and oxidative stress at the colon, as well as an increase in intestinal permeability accompanied by decreased fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA).

Impact of Chronic Exposure to Arsenate through Drinking Water on the Intestinal Barrier.

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) [As(III) + As(V)], which affects millions of people, increases the incidence of some kinds of cancer and other noncarcinogenic pathologies. Although the oral pathway is the main source of exposure, studies conducted to verify the intestinal toxicity of this metalloid are scarce and are mainly focused on evaluating the toxicity of As(III). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic exposure (6 months) of BALB/c mice to As(V) (15-60 mg/L) via drinking water on the different components of the intestinal barrier and to determine the possible mechanisms involved.

Oral exposure to inorganic mercury or methylmercury elicits distinct pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant intestinal responses in a mouse model system.

Humans are mainly exposed to mercury (Hg) through contaminated foodstuffs. However, the effects of Hg on the intestinal tract have received little attention. We performed a subchronic exposure to inorganic mercury or methylmercury in mice through drinking water (1, 5 or 10 mg/L for four months) to evaluate their intestinal impact.

Lactic acid bacteria strains reduce in vitro mercury toxicity on the intestinal mucosa.

A bicameral model consisting of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX intestinal epithelial cells and THP-1-derived macrophages has been used to test the ability of two strains of Lactobacillus to protect from damage caused by mercury. Exposure to 1 mg/ml mercury [Hg(II) or methyl-Hg] for seven days in this model resulted in an inflammatory and pro-oxidant response mainly driven by macrophages. This led to an impairment in the intestinal barrier, defective tight-junctions, increased permeability and mucus hypersecretion.

Dietary microplastics: Occurrence, exposure and health implications.

The increasing use of plastic materials generates an enormous amount of waste. In the aquatic environment, a significant part of this waste is present in the form of microplastics (MPs)- particles with a diameter of between 0.1 μm and 5 mm.

In vivo evaluation of the effect of arsenite on the intestinal epithelium and associated microbiota in mice.

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) [As(III) + As(V)], which affects millions of people, increases the incidence of some kinds of cancer and other non-carcinogenic pathologies. Although the oral pathway is the main form of exposure, in vivo studies have not been conducted to verify the intestinal toxicity of this metalloid. The aim of this study is to perform an in vivo evaluation of the intestinal toxicity of inorganic As, using female BALB/c mice exposed through drinking water to various concentrations of As(III) (20, 50, and 80 mg/L) for 2 months.