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The Human Gut Microbiome's Influence on Arsenic Toxicity
Michael Coryell1, Barbara A Roggenbeck1, Seth T Walk1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, 109 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
Current Pharmacology Reports
|January 14, 2020
Summary
The human gut microbiome significantly impacts arsenic metabolism, affecting its toxicity and bioavailability. Future research should explore these microbiome-arsenic interactions in human health studies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Microbiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Arsenic exposure is a global public health issue with varied health outcomes.
- Arsenic metabolism is crucial in determining its toxicity.
- The human gut microbiome's role in arsenic metabolism is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on how the human gut microbiome influences arsenic metabolism, bioavailability, and toxicity.
- To discuss current knowledge and methodologies in this field.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent publications.
- Analysis of culture-based, biochemical, and molecular genetic studies.
- In vitro incubation of stool samples.
- Review of in vivo studies on microbiome disruption.
Main Results:
- Gut bacteria can biochemically transform arsenic compounds (arsenicals).
- Microbiome alterations affect arsenic toxicity and body burden via excretion and biotransformation.
- In vitro studies confirm the microbiome's potential to alter arsenic speciation and bioavailability.
Conclusions:
- The gut microbiome metabolizes arsenic, influencing its oxidation state, methylation, thiolation, bioavailability, and excretion.
- The microbiome should be considered in future human arsenic exposure studies.
- Further epidemiologic and toxicologic research is warranted.
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