Microbiota-dependent TLR2 signaling reduces silver nanoparticle toxicity to zebrafish larvae

Many host-microbiota interactions depend on the recognition of microbial constituents by toll-like receptors of the host. The impacts of these interactions on host health can shape the hosts response to environmental pollutants such as nanomaterials. Here, we assess the role of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling in the protective effects of colonizing microbiota against silver nanoparticle (nAg) toxicity to zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish larvae were exposed to nAg for two days, from 3 to 5 days post-fertilization. Using an il1ß-reporter line, we first characterized the accumulation and particle-specific inflammatory effects of nAg in the total body and intestinal tissues of the larvae. This showed that silver gradually accumulated in both the total body and intestinal tissues, yet specifically caused particle-specific inflammation on the skin of larvae. Subsequently, we assessed the effects of microbiota-dependent TLR2 signaling on nAg toxicity. This was done by comparing the sensitivity of loss-of-function zebrafish mutants for TLR2, and each of the TLR2-adaptor proteins MyD88 and TIRAP (Mal), under germ-free and microbially-colonized conditions. Irrespective of their genotype, microbially-colonized larvae were less sensitive to nAg than their germ-free siblings, supporting the previously identified protective effect of microbiota against nAg toxicity. Under germ-free conditions, tlr2, myd88 and tirap mutants were equally sensitive to nAg as their wildtype siblings. However, when colonized by microbiota, tlr2 and tirap mutants were more sensitive to nAg than their wildtype siblings. The sensitivity of microbially-colonized myd88 mutants did not differ significantly from that of wildtype siblings. These results indicate that the protective effect of colonizing microbiota against nAg-toxicity to zebrafish larvae involves TIRAP-dependent TLR2 signaling. Overall, this supports the conclusion that host-microbiota interactions affect nanomaterial toxicity to zebrafish larvae.