Prophylactic supplementation with biogenic selenium nanoparticles mitigated intestinal barrier oxidative damage through suppressing epithelial-immune crosstalk with gut-on-a-chip

Abstract

Introduction

Biogenic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have emerged as novel promising modulators of biological reactions such as redox and immune responses due to their multiple bioactivities and unique physicochemical properties.

Objectives

The research objective of this investigation is to explore the mechanism of uptake and metabolism of SeNPs by intestinal epithelial cells and its protective effect on intestinal barrier function with gut-on-a-chip.

Methods

We designed a gut-on-a-chip to replicate key structural and environmental features of the intestinal tract to investigate the effects of oxidative stress on the intestinal barrier function and immune homeostasis of the intestinal epithelial cells as well as the regulatory role of SeNPs, and verified it through mice and piglet models.

Results

Biogenic SeNPs can be effectively taken up by IPEC-J2 cells via clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis and further metabolized into selenocystine and trace amounts of selenite within cells, which are then incorporated into the synthesis of antioxidant selenoenzymes. A gut-on-a-chip model confirmed that Diquat-induced oxidative stress significantly impaired intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and damaged villi-like structures. In addition, the oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 cells induced activation of intestinal mucosal mast cells (MCs) to release IL-1β and TNF-α, further exacerbating oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 cells and leading to excessive ROS generation. However, SeNPs treatment increased cellular selenium content and antioxidant selenoenzyme activities, modulated AMPK/NLRP3/Nrf2 pathways, effectively alleviated oxidative stress, maintained mitochondrial homeostasis, inhibited pro-inflammatory factors expression. The mice and early-weaned piglet models further confirmed that SeNPs can increase the selenoproteins expression in the jejunum, reduce MCs activation, inhibited cell pyroptosis, and eventually exhibit an effective protective effect against intestinal barrier oxidative damage.

Conclusions

These results indicated that biogenic SeNPs reinforced antioxidant enzyme defenses, maintained mitochondrial homeostasis, inhibited crosstalk between inflammatory cells and intestinal epithelial cells, thereby protecting the intestinal epithelial barrier against oxidative stress damage.