Exposure to dechlorane 602 induces perturbation of gut immunity and microbiota in female mice

The homeostasis of gut immunity and microbiota are associated with the health of the gut. Dechlorane 602 (Dec 602) with food web magnification potential has been detected in daily food. People who were orally exposed to Dec 602 may encounter increased risk of health problems in the gut. In order to reveal the influence of short-term exposure of Dec 602 on gut immunity and microbiota, adult female C57BL/6 mice were administered orally with Dec 602 (low/high doses: 1.0/10.0 μg/kg body weight per day) for 7 days. Lymphocytes were examined by flow cytometry. Gut microbiota was measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that fecal IgA was upregulated after exposure to the high dose of Dec 602, suggesting that there might be inflammation in the gut. Then, changes of immune cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and colonic lamina propria were examined. We found that exposure to the high dose of Dec 602 decreased the percentages of the anti-inflammatory T regulatory cells in mesenteric lymph nodes. In colonic lamina propria, the production of gut protective cytokine interleukin-22 by CD4⁺ T cells was decreased, and a decreased trend of interleukin-22 production was also observed in type 3 innate lymphoid cells in the high dose group. Furthermore, an altered microbiota composition toward inflammation in the gut was observed after exposure to Dec 602. Additionally, the altered microbiota correlated with changes of immune parameters, suggesting that there were interactions between influenced microbiota and immune parameters after exposure to Dec 602. Taken together, short-term exposure to Dec 602 induced gut immunity and microbiota perturbations, and this might be the mechanisms for Dec 602 to elicit inflammation in the gut.