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Polystyrene nanoplastics trigger ferroptosis to aggravate ulcerative colitis: Integrated multi-database bioinformatics, machine learning, and experimental validation
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics—the kind that break down from everyday plastic products—can make ulcerative colitis (a chronic gut disease) worse by triggering a type of cell damage called ferroptosis, where cells essentially rust and die from oxidative stress. Using lab and animal experiments, they identified five genes that seem to link plastic exposure to worsening gut inflammation, which could one day help doctors diagnose the disease earlier or develop new treatments. This adds to growing evidence that the microplastics we're constantly exposed to in daily life may have real, measurable effects on ch
BACKGROUND: Polystyrene is a common pollutant in microplastics, which can enter the human body in many ways. At the same time, the incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been rising, and there is evidence that it may be related to environmental factors. However, the specific association between PS-NPs exposure and ulcerative colitis, as well as the underlying biological mechanisms, remains poorly elucidated. METHODS: By integrating multiple databases and the transcriptome data of GEO microplastics exposure research, we found the common difference targets related to polystyrene and UC, and then conducted functional enrichment analysis. We used different machine learning methods to screen hub genes, and used them to establish UC Risk Score. The prediction effect is verified by ROC curve analysis. Finally, we confirmed the mechanism of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in regulating UC through in vitro and in vivo experimental models. RESULTS: Five cross-genes (VCAM1, IL10, GPX3, GSTP1 and CAT) were identified, which are closely related to oxidative stress responses, glutathione metabolism and ferroptosis-related pathways. The risk prognostic model constructed based on these genes exhibits good predictive performance. In addition, laboratory and animal experiments have found that exposure to PS-NPs will make ulcerative colitis worse, which may be aggravated by ferroptosis signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study found five major genes related to microplastics's exposure and ulcerative colitis. These genetic markers have a strong relationship with ferroptosis and show high predictive value. Therefore, they can be used as effective diagnostic indicators and new treatment options for ulcerative colitis.
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Microplastics, Gut Dysbiosis, and Inflammatory Pathways in Ulcerative Colitis
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This review paper pulls together existing research to explain how tiny plastic particles we swallow or breathe in — called microplastics — may worsen ulcerative colitis, a painful chronic gut disease. The theory: microplastics throw off the balance of good gut bacteria, weaken the gut's protective lining, and trigger inflammation, creating a chain reaction that damages the intestines. While this doesn't prove microplastics cause the disease in humans, it highlights a plausible way everyday plastic exposure could affect gut health, making a stronger case for reducing plastic contamination in food and water.
Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics exposure enhances the risk of ulcerative colitis: insights from multiomics integration, machine learning, and molecular docking reveal intestinal toxicity mechanisms
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Using multiomics integration, machine learning, and molecular docking, this study identified mechanisms by which PET microplastic exposure may increase the risk of ulcerative colitis. Key pathways included intestinal barrier disruption, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress triggered by PET-MP-protein interactions.
Microplastics, Gut Dysbiosis, and Inflammatory Pathways in Ulcerative Colitis
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This review pulls together existing research showing how tiny plastic particles we eat and breathe in can build up in our gut, throw off the balance of healthy gut bacteria, and trigger inflammation that may worsen or contribute to ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition causing digestive tract inflammation. While this doesn't prove microplastics cause the disease in people, it offers a clearer picture of the possible chain of events—from plastic exposure to gut bacteria disruption to inflammation—which matters because it highlights another reason to minimize plastic exposure in food and daily life while scientists work out prevention strategies.
Nanoplastics exacerbate DSS-induced colitis via histone lactate axis
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New research in mice found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can make gut inflammation worse by changing how immune cells in the colon behave at a molecular level, worsening symptoms similar to ulcerative colitis. The plastics seem to alter energy processing in immune cells in a way that turns up inflammation, offering a possible explanation for how everyday plastic exposure might harm gut health. While this study was done in mice and cells, it adds to growing evidence that nanoplastic pollution deserves serious attention as a potential risk to human digestive health.
Molecular mechanism differences between nanoplastics and microplastics in colon toxicity: nanoplastics induce ferroptosis-mediated immunogenic cell death, while microplastics cause cell metabolic reprogramming
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This study discovered that nanoplastics and microplastics damage the colon through completely different mechanisms depending on their size: nanoscale particles (100 nm) get inside cells and trigger a type of cell death called ferroptosis, while larger particles (10 micrometers) cause physical damage and force cells to switch their energy production. These findings suggest that the smallest plastic particles may pose unique health risks to the gut that differ from larger ones.
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