We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Taurine attenuates polystyrene microplastic–associated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic changes in the spleen of mice
Original title: Taurine attenuates polystyrene microplastic–associated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic changes in the spleen of mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Mice exposed to microplastics showed damage to their spleen (a key immune organ), including increased inflammation, cell stress, and cell death—but the amino acid taurine, a common supplement ingredient, helped protect against much of this damage. While this is animal research and more studies are needed before we know if it applies to humans, it hints that a cheap, widely available nutrient might one day help offset some health risks from the microplastics we're increasingly exposed to in daily life.
Introduction: Microplastic (MP) contamination is an emerging environmental threat with potential adverse effects on oxidative stress, immune function, and inflammatory homeostasis. This study investigated the oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory, and immunotoxic effects of polystyrene microplastics (PMPs) and evaluated the protective role of the nutraceutical taurine (TN) in male Swiss mice following 60 days of oral exposure. Methods: Mice were assigned to four groups: control, PMPs (10 mg/kg b.wt.), TN-treated (200 mg/kg b.wt.), and PMPs + TN. Hematological parameters and serum immune markers, including immunoglobulins G and M (IgG and IgM), complement component 3 (C3), and nitric oxide (NO), were assessed. Splenic tissue was analyzed for oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD); pro-inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB); apoptotic markers, including caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2); and immune-regulatory genes, including cluster of differentiation 4 and 8 (CD4 and CD8). Histopathology (hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining) and immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and caspase-3 were performed to evaluate structural alterations and inflammatory/apoptotic signaling in the spleen. Results: PMPs exposure induced significant hematological disturbances, systemic inflammation, immune alterations, and elevated NO levels. In splenic tissue, PMPs caused oxidative stress and inflammation, evidenced by increased MDA, and TNF-α levels and reduced CAT and SOD activities. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed structural splenic damage with enhanced Caspase-3 and COX-2 expression, indicating elevated apoptosis and inflammatory signaling. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, and Caspase-3, and CD8, wheras BCL-2 and CD4 were significantly downregulated. Taurine supplementation effectively mitigated PMPs-induced effects by restoring hematological, alleviating immune alterations, enhancing antioxidant defenses, reducing inflammatory and apoptotic markers, and improving gene expression profiles. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that TN exerts protective effects against PMPs-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and immune-related alterations in splenic tissue. TN partially attenuated PMPs-induced immunotoxic and histopathological changes in this experimental mouse model, although further mechanistic, dose-response, and functional immune studies are required to confirm its potential therapeutic or nutraceutical applications against PMPs -induced toxicity.
More Papers Like This
Palliative effect of taurine against hepatic injury induced by polystyrene microplastics through antioxidant and metabolic pathway modulation in mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused liver damage in an animal model through oxidative stress and lipid metabolic disruption, and that taurine supplementation exerted a protective effect by modulating oxidative and metabolic pathways. The results support taurine as a potential therapeutic agent for microplastic-induced hepatotoxicity.
Protective effects of taurine against microplastic-induced nephrotoxicity through suppression of oxidative stress, NF-κB/Caspase-3 activation, and pro-fibrotic signaling
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed mice to oral polystyrene microplastics for 60 days and documented kidney damage through oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis, then showed that taurine supplementation could substantially reverse these effects by restoring antioxidant defenses and suppressing pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.
Polystyrene microplastics impact on cardiac and pulmonary physiology and microenvironment in a mouse model: Role of taurine supplementation and molecular docking insights
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on heart and lung tissues in mice and found that exposure disrupted antioxidant defenses, increased lipid peroxidation, and elevated cardiac injury markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Microplastic exposure also upregulated inflammatory and pyroptotic gene expression in both tissues. Co-administration of taurine significantly ameliorated these alterations, suggesting it may offer protective effects against microplastic-induced cardiopulmonary damage.
Taurine Mitigates Microplastic-Induced Neurotoxicity Through Modulation of Neurobehavior, Neurotransmitters, Oxidative Stress, and AKT-1/CREB-1/BDNF Signaling in Mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed mice to microplastics for 60 days and documented pronounced anxiety, memory impairment, elevated oxidative stress, and disrupted dopamine and GABA signaling, then showed that co-treatment with taurine—an amino acid—substantially reversed these neurotoxic effects by restoring antioxidant capacity and BDNF expression.
Microplastics–Induced Male Reproductive Toxicity Via Modulation of Steroidogenic Genes and Testicular Tissue Alterations in the Mouse Model: In Silico and In Vivo Approaches
AI summary Read the abstract
In mice, exposure to polystyrene microplastics (tiny plastic particles found in food, water, and everyday products) lowered testosterone, damaged testicular tissue, and disrupted genes needed for making sex hormones. The good news: taurine, a compound found in energy drinks and supplements, helped protect against much of this damage by fighting the cell stress the plastics caused. While this was an animal study and more research is needed to confirm effects in humans, it adds to growing evidence that microplastics may harm male fertility—and hints at a possible way to reduce that risk.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.