Food Contaminants Effects on an In Vitro Model of Human Intestinal Epithelium

Abstract

Pesticide residues represent an important category of food contaminants. Furthermore, during food processing, some advanced glycation end-products resulting from the Maillard reaction can be formed. They may have adverse health effects, in particular on the digestive tract function, alone and combined. We sought to validate an in vitro model of the human intestinal barrier to mimic the effects of these food contaminants on the epithelium. A co-culture of Caco-2/TC7 cells and HT29-MTX was stimulated for 6 h with chlorpyrifos (300 μM), acrylamide (5 mM), Nε-Carboxymethyllysine (300 μM) alone or in cocktail with a mix of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The effects of those contaminants on the integrity of the gut barrier and the inflammatory response were analyzed. Since the co-culture responded to inflammatory stimulation, we investigated whether this model could be used to evaluate the effects of food contaminants on the human intestinal epithelium. CPF alone affected tight junctions’ gene expression, without inducing any inflammation or alteration of intestinal permeability. CML and acrylamide decreased mucins gene expression in the intestinal mucosa, but did not affect paracellular intestinal permeability. CML exposure activated the gene expression of MAPK pathways. The co-culture response was stable over time. This cocktail of food contaminants may thus alter the gut barrier function.

Hibiscus, Rooibos, and Yerba Mate for Healthy Aging: A Review on the Attenuation of In Vitro and In Vivo Markers Related to Oxidative Stress, Glycoxidation, and Neurodegeneration

“…Some dietary AGEs are of great interest to the food industry because of the appealing and sensorial aspects of food, such as flavor, aroma, and color, in addition to increasing the pool of glycation products in vivo [ 31 , 32 ]. In contrast, several AGEs (e.g., acrylamide, and carboxymethyl-lysine—CML) act as potential activators of inflammation, oxidative stress, or even disturbing gut epithelial homeostasis [ 33 ].…”

Advanced Glycation End-Products and Their Effects on Gut Health

“…Elevated levels of AGEs have been directly implicated in increased gut permeability both in vitro and in vivo. Using an in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium, Guibourdenche et al [ 121 ] demonstrated reduced tight junction and mucin gene expression in the intestinal mucosa following a 6 h exposure to AGEs (carboxymethyllysine and acrylamide), with no significant changes in paracellular intestinal permeability measured by changes in FITC-Dextran efflux. In other studies by Shi et al [ 122 , 123 ], the treatment of small intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6 cells) with glycated caseinate hydrolysates led to a reduced expression of tight junction proteins and increased intestinal permeability, measured by changes in transepithelial resistance.…”

Simulate the Dynamic Interactions Across Nutritional Supplements, the Polybiome, and the Biochemical Approach Dependent on Patient-Derived Gastrointestinal Knowledge

“…Concerns about the pharmacological effects of endogenous phytonutrients and genetically altered microbes nevertheless remain in large numbers. Research methods that are now being used to examine the effects of food ingredients on inflammatory disorders, bioaccumulation interactions between food components and the human body, the examination of the intestinal poly-biome, and the potential antibacterial capabilities of phytochemicals, such as phytonutrients vs. malignancy, all rely heavily on supplying natural biological molecules to a variety of mammalian species using two-dimensional carcinoma models [45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]. The pharmacological effects of different classes of drugs cannot be assigned to their original components but must be attributed to their metabolites [57][58][59].…”