TiO2nanoparticles abrogate the protective effect of the Crohn’s disease-associated variation within the PTPN22 gene locus

Abstract

ObjectiveInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial condition driven by genetic and environmental risk factors. A genetic variation in the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene has been associated with autoimmune disorders while protecting from the IBD subtype Crohn’s disease. Mice expressing the murine orthologous PTPN22-R619W variant are protected from intestinal inflammation in the model of acute dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. We previously identified food-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2, E171) as a neglected IBD risk factor. Here, we investigate the interplay of the PTPN22 variant and TiO2-mediated effects during IBD pathogenesis.DesignAcute DSS colitis was induced in wild-type and PTPN22 variant mice (PTPN22-R619W) and animals were treated with TiO2nanoparticles during colitis induction. Disease-triggering mechanisms were investigated using bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing.ResultsIn mice, administration of TiO2nanoparticles abrogated the protective effect of the variant, rendering PTPN22-R619W mice susceptible to DSS colitis. In early disease, cytotoxic CD8+T-cells were found to be reduced in the lamina propria of PTPN22-R619W mice, an effect reversed by TiO2administration. Normalisation of T-cell populations correlated with increasedIfngexpression and, at a later stage of disease, the promoted prevalence of proinflammatory macrophages that triggered severe intestinal inflammation.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the consumption of TiO2nanoparticles might have adverse effects on the gastrointestinal health of individuals carrying the PTPN22 variant. This demonstrates that environmental factors interact with genetic risk variants and can reverse a protective mechanism into a disease-promoting effect.