Effects of combined exposure to heavy metals on lower respiratory flora and its role of lung injury in rats

作者：Ping Ding, Xiaoxia Wang, Nan Li, Shuxia Yu, Yiwen Zhang, Junpu Yu, Tao Tian, Rentong Chen, Bin Luo, Li Ma, Rongxuan Zhang · 发表于：Frontiers in Microbiology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fmicb.2025.1615130 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity、Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals、Gut microbiota and health

Introduction Exposure to heavy metals is a growing environmental concern. Although exposure to individual metals is associated with pulmonary damage, real-world exposure typically involves multiple metals simultaneously. This study hypothesizes that combined exposure to nickel, copper, and arsenic induces lung injury through disruption of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) microbial ecosystem in rats. The primary objective of this study was to verify the hypothesis. Methods Thirty-two male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to four groups: one control group and three exposure groups (low, medium, and high doses). The exposed groups received mixed heavy metal aerosols containing nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As) at low (Ni: 210.9 ng/m 3 , Cu: 108.4 ng/m 3 , As: 104.6 ng/m 3 ), medium (5 × low), and high (10 × low) concentrations. Exposure occurred via inhalation twice daily for 1 h over 90 days. Lung function was assessed non-invasively, and histological examinations, 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) sequencing, and microbial functional predictions were performed to evaluate exposure effects. We measured heavy metal concentrations in lung tissues and assessed the associations with microbial changes. Microbial community structure and function were further analyzed using LEfSe, PICRUSt2, and ecological network analysis. Results Compared exposure to Ni, Cu, and As induced dose-dependent lung damage, including inflammation, alveolar deformation, and bronchia...