Chronic Arsenic Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress and Perturbs Serum Lysolipids and Fecal Unsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism

Chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water is a global public health issue, which is associated with numerous human diseases and influences millions of people worldwide. The effects of arsenic exposure to the metabolic networks remain elusive. Here, we exposed female C57BL/6J mice to 1 ppm inorganic arsenic in drinking water for 3 months to investigate how arsenic exposure perturbs serum and fecal metabolic profiles. We found decreased levels of serum compounds with antioxidative activities in arsenic-treated mice, in accordance with elevated oxidative stress indicated by higher urinary 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) levels. Moreover, the levels of multiple lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPCs) were significantly increased in the sera of arsenic-exposed mice, including lysoPC (O-18:0), lysoPC (20:3), lysoPC (18:1), and lysoPC (22:6). Arsenic exposure perturbed the levels of several key polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the fecal samples in concert with alterations in related microbial pathways. Additionally, changes in the abundances of many functional metabolites, together with decreased levels of amino acids, were found in the fecal samples of arsenic-treated mice. By delineating the impact of arsenic exposure on the metabolic profiles, the findings may provide new biomarkers and mechanistic insights into arsenic-associated diseases.