Protection of human intestinal epithelial cells from oxidative stress caused by mercury using lactic acid bacteria

Hideki Kinoshita; Mai Jumonji; Shin Yasuda; Keiji Igoshi

doi:10.12938/bmfh.2019-049

Protection of human intestinal epithelial cells from oxidative stress caused by mercury using lactic acid bacteria

Biosci Microbiota Food Health. 2020;39(3):183-187. doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2019-049. Epub 2020 May 2.

Authors

Hideki Kinoshita¹, Mai Jumonji², Shin Yasuda¹, Keiji Igoshi¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan.
² Department of Food Management, School of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Miyagi University, 2-2-1 Hatatate, Taihaku-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan.

Abstract

Heavy metals are harmful to human health. Therefore, we investigated the biosorption of heavy metals by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Of all the tested heavy metals, biosorption by LAB was highest for mercury, followed by lead, cadmium, and finally arsenic. The viability of HCT-116 cells was reduced by half in the presence of 7.5 µg/mL mercury but recovered after the addition of selected LAB strains. HCT-116 cells showed increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, whereas glutathione peroxidase activities decreased significantly. Addition of Lactobacillus sakei TOKAI 57m recovered all antioxidant enzyme activities. Our results suggest that this strain can be used for cellular detoxification.

Keywords: antioxidant enzyme; heavy metal; lactic acid bacteria; mercury.