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Segú H, Jalševac F, Sierra-Cruz M, Feliu F, Movassat J, Rodríguez-Gallego E, Terra X, Pinent M, Ardévol A, Blay MT. Assessing the impact of insect protein sources on intestinal health and disease: insights from human ex vivo and rat in vivo models. Food Funct 2024; 15:4552-4563. [PMID: 38584501 DOI: 10.1039/d4fo00381k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The exploration of edible insects, specifically Alphitobius diaperinus and Tenebrio molitor, as sustainable sources of protein for human consumption is an emerging field. However, research into their effects on intestinal health, especially in relation to inflammation and permeability, remains limited. Using ex vivo and in vivo models of intestinal health and disease, in this study we assess the impact of the above insects on intestinal function by focusing on inflammation, barrier dysfunction and morphological changes. Initially, human intestinal explants were exposed to in vitro-digested extracts of these insects, almond and beef. Immune secretome analysis showed that the inflammatory response to insect-treated samples was comparatively lower than it was for samples exposed to almond and beef. Animal studies using yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and buffalo (Alphitobius diaperinus) flours were then used to evaluate their safety in healthy rats and LPS-induced intestinal dysfunction rats. Chronic administration of these insect-derived flours showed no adverse effects on behavior, metabolism, intestinal morphology or immune response (such as inflammation or allergy markers) in healthy Wistar rats. Notably, in rats subjected to proinflammatory LPS-induced intestinal dysfunction, T. molitor consumption did not exacerbate symptoms, nor did it increase allergic responses. These findings validate the safety of these edible insects under healthy conditions, demonstrate their innocuity in a model of intestinal dysfunction, and underscore their promise as sustainable and nutritionally valuable dietary protein sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Segú
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Florijan Jalševac
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Marta Sierra-Cruz
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Francesc Feliu
- Servei de Gastroenterologia, Institut Sanitari Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Jamileh Movassat
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Esther Rodríguez-Gallego
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Ximena Terra
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Montserrat Pinent
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Anna Ardévol
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - M Teresa Blay
- MoBioFood Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel.lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
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Sands C, Hedin KA, Vazquez-Uribe R, Sommer MOA. Saccharomyces boulardii promoters for control of gene expression in vivo. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:16. [PMID: 38185666 PMCID: PMC10771652 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02288-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interest in the use of engineered microbes to deliver therapeutic activities has increased in recent years. The probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii has been investigated for production of therapeutics in the gastrointestinal tract. Well-characterised promoters are a prerequisite for robust therapeutic expression in the gut; however, S. boulardii promoters have not yet been thoroughly characterised in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS We present a thorough characterisation of the expression activities of 12 S. boulardii promoters in vitro in glucose, fructose, sucrose, inulin and acetate, under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, as well as in the murine gastrointestinal tract. Green fluorescent protein was used to report on promoter activity. Promoter expression was found to be carbon-source dependent, with inulin emerging as a favourable carbon source. Furthermore, relative promoter expression in vivo was highly correlated with expression in sucrose (R = 0.99). CONCLUSIONS These findings provide insights into S. boulardii promoter activity and aid in promoter selection in future studies utilising S. boulardii to produce therapeutics in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Sands
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karl Alex Hedin
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ruben Vazquez-Uribe
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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Yang TN, Li XN, Li XW, Li JY, Huang YQ, Li JL. DEHP triggers a damage severity grade increase in the jejunum in quail (Coturnix japonica) by disturbing nuclear xenobiotic receptors and the Nrf2-mediated defense response. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 96:104012. [PMID: 36372389 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.104012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As a plasticizer, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) has been listed as a potential endocrine disruptor by The World Health Organization. The toxicity of DEHP has been widely studied, but its toxicity on the digestive tract of birds has not been clarified. Female quail were treated by gavage with DEHP (250, 500, 750 mg/kg), with the blank and vehicle control groups reserved. The result showed that DEHP raised the damage severity grade, and decreased the ratio of villus length to crypt depth. The content and activity of cytochrome P450 system (CYP450s) were increased by DEHP. DEHP interfered with the transcription of nuclear xenobiotic receptors (NXRs), CYP isoforms, and the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. This study revealed DEHP could cause the imbalance in CYP450s mediated by NXRs, and then promote Nrf2 mediated antioxidant defense. This study provided new evidence about the mechanisms of DEHP-induced toxic effects on digestive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Ning Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Xue-Nan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Xiao-Wei Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Jin-Yang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yue-Qiang Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Jin-Long Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Laboratory Animals and Comparative Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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Squizani S, Jantsch J, Rodrigues FDS, Braga MF, Eller S, de Oliveira TF, Silveira AK, Moreira JCF, Giovenardi M, Porawski M, Guedes RP. Zinc Supplementation Partially Decreases the Harmful Effects of a Cafeteria Diet in Rats but Does Not Prevent Intestinal Dysbiosis. Nutrients 2022; 14:3921. [PMID: 36235574 PMCID: PMC9571896 DOI: 10.3390/nu14193921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) plays an important role in metabolic homeostasis and may modulate neurological impairment related to obesity. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Zn supplementation on the intestinal microbiota, fatty acid profile, and neurofunctional parameters in obese male Wistar rats. Rats were fed a cafeteria diet (CAF), composed of ultra-processed and highly caloric and palatable foods, for 20 weeks to induce obesity. From week 16, Zn supplementation was started (10 mg/kg/day). At the end of the experiment, we evaluated the colon morphology, composition of gut microbiota, intestinal fatty acids, integrity of the intestinal barrier and blood-brain barrier (BBB), and neuroplasticity markers in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Obese rats showed dysbiosis, morphological changes, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) reduction, and increased saturated fatty acids in the colon. BBB may also be compromised in CAF-fed animals, as claudin-5 expression is reduced in the cerebral cortex. In addition, synaptophysin was decreased in the hippocampus, which may affect synaptic function. Our findings showed that Zn could not protect obese animals from intestinal dysbiosis. However, an increase in acetate levels was observed, which suggests a partial beneficial effect of Zn. Thus, Zn supplementation may not be sufficient to protect from obesity-related dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samia Squizani
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Jeferson Jantsch
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Fernanda da Silva Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Matheus Filipe Braga
- Acadêmico do Curso de Biomedicina, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Sarah Eller
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Tiago Franco de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Kleber Silveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
| | - José Cláudio Fonseca Moreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Marcia Giovenardi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Marilene Porawski
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Hepatologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Renata Padilha Guedes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
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