Food additive sodium bisulfite induces intracellular imbalance of biothiols levels in NCM460 colonic cells to trigger intestinal inflammation in mice

Wei Wu; Gaoqing Fu; Rongrong Xuan; Leilei Zhai; Yujia Lu; Min Tang; Jingwangwei Liu; Chundan Zhang; Haimin Chen; Feng Wang

doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.019

Food additive sodium bisulfite induces intracellular imbalance of biothiols levels in NCM460 colonic cells to trigger intestinal inflammation in mice

Toxicol Lett. 2022 Apr 15:359:73-83. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.019. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Authors

Wei Wu¹, Gaoqing Fu¹, Rongrong Xuan², Leilei Zhai¹, Yujia Lu¹, Min Tang³, Jingwangwei Liu¹, Chundan Zhang¹, Haimin Chen⁴, Feng Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
² Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China.
³ State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China. Electronic address: chenhaimin@nbu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ningbo Medical Centre Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315040, China. Electronic address: dr-wangfeng@163.com.

PMID: 35114314
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.019

Abstract

Sulfites and other preservatives are considered food additives to prevent pathogen growth in food, and they are generally regarded as safe since the late 1950s. However, the possible effects of sulfites on potential damage to host intestinal tissue remain largely unexplored. Given that endogenous sulfite mainly comes from the metabolism of biothiol, we attempted to clarify the relationship among biothiol levels, gut and food additives sulfite, including sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃), and the possible mechanism of sulfite affecting the intestine. In the present study, the NaHSO₃ treatments markedly increased the homocysteine (Hcy) level but decreased the cysteine (Cys) level by promoting the expression of Hcy synthase and inhibiting the activities of cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase in NCM460 cells. The level of methionine (Met) was not significantly changed, but NaHSO₃ promoted ROS-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway, and increased the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines by regulating the levels of Hcy and Cys in NCM460 cells. Vitamin B₆ (VB₆) supplementation successfully ameliorated NaHSO₃-induced damage in NCM460 cells and the colon of Balb/c mice. Altogether, our study provided valuable insights into the safety evaluation of food preservatives. Besides, VB₆ could be used as a promising candidate in novel therapies for sodium bisulfite-induced intestinal inflammation.

Keywords: Food preservatives; Intestinal inflammation; Oxidative stress; Sodium bisulfite; Vitamin B(6).

MeSH terms

Animals
Cells, Cultured / drug effects
Colon / drug effects*
Disease Models, Animal
Food Additives / toxicity*
Humans
Inflammation / chemically induced*
Inflammation / drug therapy*
Intestinal Diseases / chemically induced*
Intestinal Diseases / drug therapy*
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Sulfhydryl Compounds / metabolism*
Vitamin B 6 / therapeutic use*

Substances

Food Additives
Sulfhydryl Compounds
Vitamin B 6