Perinatal foodborne titanium dioxide exposure-mediated dysbiosis predisposes mice to develop colitis through life

Perinatal exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO₂), as a foodborne particle, may influence the intestinal barrier function and the susceptibility to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) later in life. Here, we investigate the impact of perinatal foodborne TiO₂ exposure on the intestinal mucosal function and the susceptibility to develop IBD-associated colitis. Pregnant and lactating mother mice were exposed to TiO₂ until pups weaning and the gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function of their offspring was assessed at day 30 post-birth (weaning) and at adult age (50 days). Epigenetic marks was studied by DNA methylation profile measuring the level of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytosine (5-Me-dC) in DNA from colic epithelial cells. The susceptibility to develop IBD has been monitored using dextran-sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. Germ-free mice were used to define whether microbial transfer influence the mucosal homeostasis and subsequent exacerbation of DSS-induced colitis.

In pregnant and lactating mice, foodborne TiO₂ was able to translocate across the host barriers including gut, placenta and mammary gland to reach embryos and pups, respectively. This passage modified the chemical element composition of foetus, and spleen and liver of mothers and their offspring. We showed that perinatal exposure to TiO₂ early in life alters the gut microbiota composition, increases the intestinal epithelial permeability and enhances the colonic cytokines and myosin light chain kinase expression. Moreover, perinatal exposure to TiO₂ also modifies the abilities of intestinal stem cells to survive, grow and generate a functional epithelium. Maternal TiO₂ exposure increases the susceptibility of offspring mice to develop severe DSS-induced colitis later in life. Finally, transfer of TiO₂-induced microbiota dysbiosis to pregnant germ-free mice affects the homeostasis of the intestinal mucosal barrier early in life and confers an increased susceptibility to develop colitis in adult offspring.

Our findings indicate that foodborne TiO₂ consumption during the perinatal period has negative long-lasting consequences on the development of the intestinal mucosal barrier toward higher colitis susceptibility. This demonstrates to which extent environmental factors influence the microbial-host interplay and impact the long-term mucosal homeostasis.