Abstract
Arsenic is an important hazardous metalloid commonly found in polluted soil, rivers and groundwater. However, few studies exist regarding the effect of arsenic trioxide (ATO) on the gut-liver axis and consequent hepatotoxicity in waterfowl. Here, we investigated the influence of ATO on duck intestines and livers, and explored the role of the gut-liver axis in ATO-induced hepatotoxicity and intestinal toxicity. Our results demonstrated that ATO-exposure induced intestinal damage, liver inflammatory cell infiltration and vesicle steatosis. Additionally, the intestinal microbiota community in ATO-exposed ducks displayed significantly decreased α-diversity and an altered bacterial composition. Moreover, ATO-exposure markedly reduced the expression of intestinal barrier-related proteins (Claudin-1, MUC2, ZO-1 and Occludin), resulting in increased intestinal permeability and elevated lipopolysaccharide levels. Simultaneously, ATO-exposure also upregulated pyroptosis-related index levels in the liver and jejunum, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β). Our further mechanistic studies showed that ATO-induced liver and jejunum inflammation were provoked by the activation of the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome. In summary, these results manifested that ATO exposure can cause liver and jejunal inflammation and pyroptosis, and the indirect gut-liver axis pathway may play an essential role in the potential mechanism of ATO-induced hepatotoxicity.