In vitro toxicological characterization of two arsenosugars and their metabolites. Issue 7 (8th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leffers, Larissa; Ebert, Franziska; Taleshi, Mojtaba S.; Francesconi, Kevin A.; Schwerdtle, Tanja
• Is Part Of: Molecular nutrition & food research. Volume 57:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1270
• Page End: 1282
• Publication Date: 2013-04-08
• Subjects: Arsenosugars -- Cellular and intestinal bioavailability -- Cellular toxicity -- Genotoxicity -- Marine food; Food -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Food -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food Microbiology -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; 664.0705
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201200821
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-4125

Abstract

Abstract : Scope: In their recently published Scientific Opinion on Arsenic in Food, the European Food Safety Authority concluded that a risk assessment for arsenosugars is currently not possible, largely because of the lack of relevant toxicological data. To address this issue, we carried out a toxicological in vitro characterization of two arsenosugars and six arsenosugar metabolites. Methods and results: The highly pure synthesized arsenosugars, DMA V ‐sugar‐glycerol and DMA V ‐sugar‐sulfate, investigated in this study, as well as four metabolites, oxo‐dimethylarsenoacetic acid (oxo‐DMAA V ), oxo‐dimethylarsenoethanol (oxo‐DMAE V ), thio‐DMAA V and thio‐DMAE V, exerted neither cytotoxicity nor genotoxicity up to 500 μM exposure in cultured human bladder cells. However, two arsenosugar metabolites, namely dimethyl‐arsinic acid (DMA V ) and thio‐dimethylarsinic acid (thio‐DMA V ), were toxic to the cells; thio‐DMA V was even slightly more cytotoxic than arsenite. Additionally, intestinal bioavailability of the arsenosugars was assessed applying the Caco‐2 intestinal barrier model. The observed low, but significant transfer rates of the arsenosugars across the barrier model provide further evidence that arsenosugars are intestinally bioavailable. Conclusion: In a cellular system that metabolizes arsenosugars, cellular toxicity likely arises. Thus, in strong contrast to arsenobetaine, arsenosugars cannot be categorized as nontoxic for humans and a risk to human health cannot be excluded.