Foodborne TiO2 Nanoparticles Induced More Severe Hepatotoxicity in Fructose-Induced Metabolic Syndrome Mice via Exacerbating Oxidative Stress-Mediated Intestinal Barrier Damage

The hazard of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) in diseased population should be given focus due to the huge number of these NPs in foods and medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the stronger biological adverse effect of oral exposure to TiO2NPs in a fructose-induced metabolic syndrome mouse model. Compared to the normal mice, low-dose (2 mg/kg) TiO2NPs did not cause severe hepatotoxicity. However, high-dose (20 mg/kg) TiO2NPs induced aggravated hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis, with substantial alteration of related biochemical parameters in the mouse model. Moreover, significantly increased Ti and lipopolysaccharide burden were observed in metabolic syndrome murine liver and serum, which possibly worsened the portend intestinal leakage. The expression of tight junction-related protein showed that TiO2NPs induced further increase in serious intestinal permeability. The intestinal inflammatory and oxidative stress response in the model were also assessed. Results showed that TiO2NPs caused more severe intestinal inflammatory injury by intensifying the oxidative stress in metabolic syndrome mice and then induced further liver injury. This work provides information on the insights into the toxic effect of TiO2NPs in sub-healthy population.Keywords:titanium dioxide nanoparticles;fructose;metabolic syndrome;hepatotoxicity;intestinal barrier