Deconjugation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Sulfates to Hydroxylated PCBs by Anaerobically Cultured Mouse and Human Gut Microbiota

The role of the gut microbiome in metabolizing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic environmental contaminants, and their metabolites remains unclear. This study used mouse and human microbiomes in anaerobic cultures to investigate the metabolism of PCB sulfate to hydroxylated PCBs (OH-PCBs). All microbiomes enzymatically hydrolyzed PCB sulfates. Higher chlorinated PCB sulfates were metabolized more readily. Male mouse microbiomes exhibited more PCB sulfate hydrolysis to OH-PCBs than female mouse microbiomes. Human microbiomes metabolized PCB sulfates to a more considerable extent than mouse microbiomes. They also showed variability in PCB sulfate metabolism, depending on the microbial communities. These findings suggest that the microbiome contributes to PCB metabolism.