Protective Effect of an Exopolysaccharide Produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BGAN8 Against Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in Caco-2 Cells.

Emilija Brdarić,Nataša Golić,Maja Tolinački,Miroslav Dinić,Patricia Ruas-Madiedo,Svetlana Soković Bajić,Jelena Đokić,Slađana Đurđić,Magdalena Stevanović,Jelena Mutić,Milica Živković

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.759378

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) ranks seventh on the list of most significant potential threats to human health based on its suspected toxicity and the possibility of exposure to it. It has been reported that some bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have the ability to bind heavy metal ions. We therefore investigated the capacity of eight EPS-producing lactobacilli to adsorb Cd in the present study, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BGAN8 was chosen as the best candidate. In addition, we demonstrate that an EPS derived from BGAN8 (EPS-AN8) exhibits a high Cd-binding capacity and prevents Cd-mediated toxicity in intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. Simultaneous use of EPS-AN8 with Cd treatment prevents inflammation, disruption of tight-junction proteins, and oxidative stress. Our results indicate that the EPS in question has a strong potential to be used as a postbiotic in combatting the adverse effects of Cd. Moreover, we show that higher concentrations of EPS-AN8 can alleviate Cd-induced cell damage.

Highlights

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal and widespread environmental pollutant with serious adverse effects on human and animal health
L. plantarum BGAN8 has been well characterized as an EPS producer and microvesicle releaser (Bajic et al, 2020a), and it was chosen for further work
size exclusion chromatography (SEC)- MALLS analyses showed that EPS derived from BGAN8 (EPS-AN8) has a high molecular weight (Table 3), the value of which is within the expected range of weight among characterized HePSs of other lactobacilli from the L. plantarum group, ranging from 104 to 106 Da (Tallon et al, 2003; Sánchez et al, 2006; Nikolic et al, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal and widespread environmental pollutant with serious adverse effects on human and animal health. In 1993, Cd was classified as a human carcinogen and teratogen (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 1993). Cd intoxication has been linked with various diseases, including cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, and osteomalacia (Genchi et al, 2020). Development of industry, fume inhalation, and use of Cd in paint pigments, Cd–nickel batteries, electroplating, and fertilizers have resulted in high exposure to this metal, with a mortality rate of 17% (International Programme On Chemical Safety, 1992; Nawrot et al, 2010). Its long half-life and low level of excretion make Cd an even more dangerous toxicant. Cd is readily transported from soil to plants with a high bioconcentration factor. For example, as one of the major staple cereal crops

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