<i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> GG Ameliorated Long-Term Exposure to TiO₂ Nanoparticles Induced Microbiota-Mediated Liver and Colon Inflammation and Fructose-Caused Metabolic Abnormality in Metabolism Syndrome Mice

Abstract

A huge number of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) exist in confectionery foods, which is a high-risk factor for development of diet-induced metabolism syndrome (MetS). In this study, we built a high fructose drinking-induced MetS mouse model, and oral intake of 20 mg/kg TiO₂ NPs was administered for 8 weeks. Significant pathological changes and inflammatory factors of overproduction were detected in the liver and colon. The 16S rDNA sequencing analysis results indicated that TiO₂ NPs evidently and further perturbed the gut microbiota diversity, compositions, and KEGG pathways in MetS mice. Fecal microbiota transplant experiment proved that TiO₂ NPs-altered gut microbiota drives liver and colon inflammation damage. More importantly, oral supplementation of <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> GG (LGG) ameliorated not only the TiO₂ NPs-induced inflammation but also the fructose-caused metabolic abnormality. LGG recovered the gut dysbiosis and decreased the abundance of inflammation-related bacteria (<i>Desulfovibrionaceae</i>, <i>Clostridia</i>, and <i>Proteobacteria</i>), thereby protecting against TiO₂ NPs-induced severe inflammation damage. Our study suggests the necessity of assessing the toxic effects of foodborne nanoparticles on the chronic disease population and potential usefulness of probiotics as prophylactic and therapeutic.