Chronic oral exposure to pesticides and their consequences on metabolic regulation: role of the microbiota

Abstract

Pesticides have long been used in agriculture and household treatments. Pesticide residues can be found in biological samples for both the agriculture workers through direct exposure but also to the general population by indirect exposure. There is also evidence of pesticide contamination in utero and trans-generational impacts.Whilst acute exposure to pesticides has long been associated with endocrine perturbations, chronic exposure with low doses also increases the prevalence of metabolic disorders such as obesity or type 2 diabetes. Dysmetabolism is a low-grade inflammation disorder and as such the microbiota plays a role in its etiology. It is therefore important to fully understand the role of microbiota on the genesis of subsequent health effects. The digestive tract and mostly microbiota are the first organs of contact after oral exposure. The objective of this review is thus to better understand mechanisms that link pesticide exposure, dysmetabolism and microbiota.One of the key outcomes on the microbiota is the reduced Bacteroidetes and increased Firmicutes phyla, reflecting both pesticide exposure and risk factors of dysmetabolism. Other bacterial genders and metabolic activities are also involved. As for most pathologies impacting microbiota (including inflammatory disorders), the role of prebiotics can be suggested as a prevention strategy and some preliminary evidence reinforce this axis.

Chronic Perigestational Exposure to Chlorpyrifos Induces Perturbations in Gut Bacteria and Glucose and Lipid Markers in Female Rats and Their Offspring

“…The study allowed us to gather new evidence of resilient and indirect impact on offspring of CPF in metabolic disorders as summarized in Table 5 . Modulations in specific bacterial populations as well as glucose and lipid profiles suggest mechanisms of dysmetabolism typical of obesity and diabetes [ 58 ]. The large number of endpoints measured would require statistical partitioning among variables, and this is a bias that may need to be highlighted when reaching overall conclusions.…”

“…Contamination of CPF during this period can lead to delayed maturation of the gut microbiota, affecting the bowel function [ 57 ]. This may contribute to the onset of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) later in life [ 58 ].…”

Impacts of Pesticides on Oral Cavity Health and Ecosystems: A Review

“…A study has revealed that the most widely used pesticides worldwide are OC, OP, P, C, and triazines [ 22 ]. Most of the pesticides described in Table 1 are organic and hydrophobic.…”

“…Previous reports have revealed that the development of oral and systemic diseases is linked to changes in microbial balance in the biofilm. This phenomenon is known as dysbiosis, and it involves decreases in beneficial microorganisms and increases in the pathogenic colonies [ 22 , 39 ]. In contrast, eubiosis is a state of homeostasis between beneficial microorganisms and the host, thereby forming a barrier that prevents the adherence of pathogenic bacteria to the mucosa [ 27 , 34 , 35 ].…”

DNA Double-Strand Breaks Induced in Human Cells by 6 Current Pesticides: Intercomparisons and Influence of the ATM Protein

“…While pesticides are abundantly used in agriculture, there is increasing evidence that their contact and handling may be associated with various cancer, neurodegenerative, respiratory, metabolic, and developmental diseases [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. However, the complexity of the molecular mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenesis, the lack of specificity of some biomarkers, the diversity of cellular models, the number of experimental protocols applied, and the absence of data intercomparisons have made the quantitative evaluation of the risks linked to pesticides difficult [ 6 , 8 , 9 ].…”