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  3. Mitigating lead-induced osteoporosis: The role of butyrate in gut-bone axis restoration

Mitigating lead-induced osteoporosis: The role of butyrate in gut-bone axis restoration

  • Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2024 Sep 15:283:116943. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116943.
Yuqiu Ge 1,  Zhongtang Jia 2,  Shiting Zhao 2,  WenChao Zhang 2,  Xian Shi 2,  Ruijin Xie 3,  Yan Gong 4,  Jixiang Sheng 2,  Rob J van 't Hof 5,  Jiatao Yang 2,  Chunqing Han 2,  Xiping Hu 2,  Yafeng Wang 2,  Yu Wu 6,  Chunping Li 7,  Miaomiao Wang 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 MOE Medical Basic Research Innovation Center for Gut Microbiota and Chronic Diseases, Wuxi School of medicine, Jiangnan University, China; Lab of Modern Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health Research, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
  • 2 Lab of Modern Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health Research, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
  • 3 Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
  • 4 Department of Occupational Medicine, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
  • 5 Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
  • 6 MOE Medical Basic Research Innovation Center for Gut Microbiota and Chronic Diseases, Wuxi School of medicine, Jiangnan University, China; Lab of Modern Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health Research, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China; Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: wuyu@jiangnan.edu.cn.
  • 7 Department of Occupational Medicine, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: njlcp@163.com.
  • 8 Department of Occupational Medicine, Wuxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: wmmpandafigo@163.com.
PMID: 39216219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116943
Abstract

Lead (Pb) is an environmentally widespread bone toxic pollutant, contributes to the development of osteoporosis. Butyric acid, mainly produced by the fermentation of indigestible dietary fiber by gut microbiota, plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of bone homeostasis. However, the effects of butyric acids on the Pb induced osteoporosis have not yet been elucidated. In this study, our results showed that Pb exposure was negatively related to the abundance of butyric acid, in the Pb-exposed population and Pb-exposed mice. Pb exposure caused gut microbiota disorders, resulting in the decline of butyric acid-producing bacteria, such as Butyrivibrio_crossotus, Clostridium_sp._JN9, and the butyrate-producing Enzymes through the acetyl-CoA pathway. Moreover, results from the NHANES data suggested that dietary intake of butyrate was associated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis in lead-burdened populations, particularly among men or participants aged 18-60 years. In addition, butyrate supplementation in mice with chronic Pb exposure improved the bone microarchitectures, repaired intestinal damage, upregulated the proportion of Treg cells. Taken together, these results demonstrated that chronic Pb exposure disturbs the gut-bone axis, which can be restored by butyric acid supplement. Our results suggest that butyrate supplementation is a possible therapeutic strategy for lead-induced bone toxicity.

Keywords

Butyrate; Gut-bone axis; Lead exposure; NHANES; Osteoporosis; Treg cell.

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