Metabolomics study reveals increased deoxycholic acid contributes to deoxynivalenol-mediated intestinal barrier injury

Abstract

AimsDeoxynivalenol (DON), namely vomitoxin, is one of the most prevalent fungal toxins in cereal crops worldwide. However, the underlying toxic mechanisms of DON remain largely unknown. Main methodsDON exposure-caused changes in the murine plasma metabolome and gut microbiome were investigated by an LC-MS/MS-based nontargeted metabolomics approach and sequencing of 16S rRNA in fecal samples, respectively. Cellular models were then used to validate the findings from the metabolomics study. Key findingsDON exposure increased intestinal barrier permeability evidenced by its-mediated decrease in colonic Claudin 5 and E-cadherin, as well as increases in colonic Ifn-γ, Cxcl9, Cxcl10, and Cxcr3. Furthermore, DON exposure resulted in a significant increase in murine plasma levels of deoxycholic acid (DCA). Also, DON exposure led to gut microbiota dysbiosis, which was associated with DON exposure-caused increase in plasma DCA. In addition, we found not only DON but also DCA dose-dependently caused a significant increase in the levels of IFN-γ, CXCL9, CXCL10, and/or CXCR3, as well as a significant decrease in the expression levels of Claudin 5 and/or E-cadherin in the human colonic epithelial cells (NCM460). SignificanceDON-mediated increase in DCA contributes to DON-caused intestinal injury. DCA may be a potential therapeutic target for DON enterotoxicity.