ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Can PM2.5 Exposure Change the Expression
of ARGs in Intestinal Flora of Wistar Rats?
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1
Key Laboratory of Medical Microecology (Putian University),
Fujian Province University, Putian, Fujian, 351100, China
2
Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Putian University, Putian Fujian 351100, China
Submission date: 2022-11-08
Final revision date: 2022-12-09
Acceptance date: 2022-12-28
Online publication date: 2023-02-13
Publication date: 2023-03-14
Corresponding author
Xueying Cheng
Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Putian University, 999 Dongzhen East St., China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(2):1689-1698
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ABSTRACT
The mechanism of PM2.5 in the air on health is complicated, in which the gut flora may play a role.
The work aimed to study the changes of intestinal microflora in PM2.5 inhaled rats, further, to analyze
the expression of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in intestinal flora of the rats. The PM2.5 in the
air of Fujian Province of China was collected to establish the rat model of PM2.5 inhaled. The fecal
samples were sequenced by metagenomic method. Intestinal flora species annotation, common function
database annotation and ARGs were analyzed between PM2.5 inhaled rats and normal control rats.
The results showed that the number of Firmicutes was significantly decreased while that of Bacteroides
was increased in the PM2.5 inhaled rats compared with the control rats at phylum level. In addition,
from genus level to species level, the composition of intestinal flora in PM2.5 inhaled group was totally
different from those of control group. Especially, PM2.5 exposure can change the expression of ARGs
in intestinal flora. The ARGs of rpoB2, Tet44, TetW and TetO increased significantly in the PM2.5
inhaled Wistar rats. Controlling air pollution and reducing PM2.5 emissions are crucial to maintain
public health.