Lycopene Antagonizes Deoxynivalenol-Induced Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cell Senescence by Inhibiting TXNIP-Mediated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

Mycotoxins are fungi-derived secondary metabolites that pose ecological and human health hazards. Deoxynivalenol (DON), as one of the most prevalent contaminating mycotoxins, has a detrimental impact on intestinal inflammation. Lycopene (LYC), a strong lipophilic carotenoid, is one of the most vital dietary antioxidants for human health. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), as a thioredoxin inhibitory protein, regulates NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. We performed this work to probe the mechanisms by which LYC antagonizes DON-induced intestinal epithelium damage and the role of TXNIP in it. In the present study, we demonstrated that LYC relieved DON-induced structural and functional injury. We observed that LYC mitigated DON-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, thereby delaying cellular senescence. LYC also mitigated DON-induced activation of TLR4/NF-κB/TNF-α signaling and inflammatory reaction. In addition, LYC prevented DON-induced up-regulation of TXNIP, thus inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. Interestingly, TXNIP overexpression reversed the protective effect of LYC on DON-induced pyroptosis and senescence, but NLRP3 inhibitor restored these impairments. Our study suggested that LYC antagonized DON-induced intestinal epithelial cell senescence by suppressing TXNIP-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. These findings show that TXNIP modulates intestinal function and thereby is a new curative molecule for intestinal diseases.