Toxicological impact of acute exposure to E171 food additive and TiO2 nanoparticles on a co-culture of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX intestinal cells

Marie Dorier (1) , Céline Tisseyre (1) , Fanny Dussert (1) , David Béal (1) , Marie-Edith Arnal (1) , Thierry Douki (1) , Vanessa Valdiglesias (2) , Blanca Laffon (3) , Sonia Fraga (4) , Fatima Brandao (4) , Nathalie Herlin-Boime (5) , Frédérick Barreau (6) , Thierry Rabilloud (7) , Marie Carrière (1)

1 CIBEST - Chimie Interface Biologie pour l’Environnement, la Santé et la Toxicologie
2 Universidade A Coruña
3 Universidade da Coruña
4 Universidade do Porto = University of Porto
5 LEDNA - Laboratoire Edifices Nanométriques
6 IRSD - Institut de Recherche en Santé Digestive
7 ProMD - Protéomique, Métaux et Différenciation

TiO2 particles are widely used in products for everyday consumption, such as cosmetics and food; their possible adverse effects on human health must therefore be investigated. The aim of this study was to document in vitro impact of the food additive E171, i.e. TiO2, and of TiO2 nanoparticles, on a co-culture of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cells, which is an in vitro model for human intestine. Cells were exposed to TiO2 particles three days after seeding, i.e. while they were not fully differentiated. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and DNA integrity were assessed, by MTT assay, DCFH-DA assay, alkaline and Fpg-modified comet assay and 8-oxo-dGuo measurement by HPLC-MS/MS. The mRNA expression of genes involved in ROS regulation, DNA repair via base-excision repair, and endoplasmic reticulum stress was assessed by RT-qPCR. Exposure to TiO2 particles resulted in increased intracellular ROS levels, but did not impair cell viability and did not cause any oxidative damage to DNA. Only minor changes in mRNA expression were detected. Altogether, this shows that E171 food additive and TiO2 nanoparticles only produce minor effects to this in vitro intestinal cell model.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Biologie cellulaire; Toxicologie

Marie Dorier, Céline Tisseyre, Fanny Dussert, David Béal, Marie-Edith Arnal, et al.. Toxicological impact of acute exposure to E171 food additive and TiO2 nanoparticles on a co-culture of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX intestinal cells. Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 2019, 845, pp.402980. ⟨10.1016/j.mrgentox.2018.11.004⟩. ⟨hal-01978322⟩