Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses
Background. <i>tert</i>-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) is an antioxidant commonly used as a food additive. Studies suggest that tBHQ could modulate immune responses to influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection. In our transcriptomic analysis we explored the molecular mechanisms behind tBHQ’s modulato...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/5/642 |
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| author | Krisztina Németh Peter Petschner Krisztina Pálóczi Nóra Fekete Éva Pállinger Edit I. Buzás Viola Tamási |
| author_facet | Krisztina Németh Peter Petschner Krisztina Pálóczi Nóra Fekete Éva Pállinger Edit I. Buzás Viola Tamási |
| author_sort | Krisztina Németh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. <i>tert</i>-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) is an antioxidant commonly used as a food additive. Studies suggest that tBHQ could modulate immune responses to influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection. In our transcriptomic analysis we explored the molecular mechanisms behind tBHQ’s modulatory properties and the relationships to respiratory viral infections. Methods. tBHQ was administered <i>per os</i> to BALB/c mice (1.5% [<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>]) for 20 days. Splenic T cells were isolated with magnetic separation and subjected to transcriptomic analysis. Gene-set enrichment analysis and g:Profiler was conducted to provide a functional interpretation of significantly changed genes. Further analysis for AHR/NRF2 binding sites was performed with GeneHancer. Results. In CD4<sup>+</sup> cells, we found significantly altered expression of 269 genes by tBHQ. Of them, many had relevance in influenza infection such as genes responsible for virus entry (<i>Anxa1/2</i>, <i>Cd14</i>), interferon signaling (<i>Dusp10</i>, <i>Tnfsf13</i>), or prostaglandin synthesis (Ptgs1/2). In SARS-CoV-2 infections, interferon signaling (<i>Ifitm</i>1), proteolytic enzymes (<i>CtsB</i>), and also cell-surface proteins (<i>Cd14</i>, <i>Cd151</i>) were among the prominent alterations after tBHQ exposure. Of these genes, many had one or more binding sites for AHR and NRF2, two major xenosensors triggered by tBHQ. Conclusions. Our results strongly suggest that a common food additive, tBHQ, can modulate virus-dependent processes in both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:06Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb8cbc201c014734a11553f77ce9f6852023-11-23T11:49:15ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292022-04-0112564210.3390/life12050642Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza VirusesKrisztina Németh0Peter Petschner1Krisztina Pálóczi2Nóra Fekete3Éva Pállinger4Edit I. Buzás5Viola Tamási6Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, HungaryBackground. <i>tert</i>-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) is an antioxidant commonly used as a food additive. Studies suggest that tBHQ could modulate immune responses to influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection. In our transcriptomic analysis we explored the molecular mechanisms behind tBHQ’s modulatory properties and the relationships to respiratory viral infections. Methods. tBHQ was administered <i>per os</i> to BALB/c mice (1.5% [<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>]) for 20 days. Splenic T cells were isolated with magnetic separation and subjected to transcriptomic analysis. Gene-set enrichment analysis and g:Profiler was conducted to provide a functional interpretation of significantly changed genes. Further analysis for AHR/NRF2 binding sites was performed with GeneHancer. Results. In CD4<sup>+</sup> cells, we found significantly altered expression of 269 genes by tBHQ. Of them, many had relevance in influenza infection such as genes responsible for virus entry (<i>Anxa1/2</i>, <i>Cd14</i>), interferon signaling (<i>Dusp10</i>, <i>Tnfsf13</i>), or prostaglandin synthesis (Ptgs1/2). In SARS-CoV-2 infections, interferon signaling (<i>Ifitm</i>1), proteolytic enzymes (<i>CtsB</i>), and also cell-surface proteins (<i>Cd14</i>, <i>Cd151</i>) were among the prominent alterations after tBHQ exposure. Of these genes, many had one or more binding sites for AHR and NRF2, two major xenosensors triggered by tBHQ. Conclusions. Our results strongly suggest that a common food additive, tBHQ, can modulate virus-dependent processes in both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/5/642tBHQSARS-CoV-2influenzaCD4T cellsfood additive |
| spellingShingle | Krisztina Németh Peter Petschner Krisztina Pálóczi Nóra Fekete Éva Pállinger Edit I. Buzás Viola Tamási Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses Life tBHQ SARS-CoV-2 influenza CD4 T cells food additive |
| title | Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses |
| title_full | Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses |
| title_fullStr | Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses |
| title_short | Chronic Exposure to the Food Additive tBHQ Modulates Expression of Genes Related to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses |
| title_sort | chronic exposure to the food additive tbhq modulates expression of genes related to sars cov 2 and influenza viruses |
| topic | tBHQ SARS-CoV-2 influenza CD4 T cells food additive |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/5/642 |
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