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Protective effects of multi-strain probiotics against polystyrene nanoplastic-induced parotid gland toxicity: role of NRF2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways
Original title: Protective effects of multi-strain probiotics against polystyrene nanoplastic-induced parotid gland toxicity: role of NRF2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways
Summary
Tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics—the kind found increasingly in our environment—can damage salivary glands in rats by triggering inflammation and cell stress, potentially affecting saliva production and oral health. The good news: in this study, a multi-strain probiotic supplement significantly protected against this damage by boosting the body's natural antioxidant defenses and calming inflammation. While this research was done in rats, not humans, it hints that probiotics could one day be a simple, accessible way to help our bodies cope with unavoidable plastic exposure.
Background: Polystyrene nanoplastics (NPs) represent emerging environmental contaminants with potential adverse effects on salivary glands. This study investigated the protective effects of multi-strain probiotics against NPs-induced toxicity in rat parotid glands. Methods: CFU). Treatments were administered orally for 35 days. Oxidative stress markers, histopathological changes, and protein expression were evaluated. Results: NPs exposure significantly increased MDA levels (p < 0.05) and decreased SOD activity and GSH content (p < 0.05). Histopathological examination revealed moderate to severe acinar degeneration (++) and fibrosis (++) in NPs-treated animals. Western blot analysis showed significant downregulation of Bcl-2 (p < 0.01), HO-1 (p < 0.0001), NRF2 (p < 0.01), and AQP5 (p < 0.0001), with upregulation of Caspase-3 (p < 0.0001), NF-κB (p < 0.001), IL-1β (p < 0.001), and TNF-α (p < 0.001). Probiotic supplementation significantly ameliorated oxidative stress (p < 0.05), reduced histopathological damage to mild changes (+), and restored beneficial protein expression while suppressing inflammatory markers (p < 0.01-0.001). Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence that NPs induce significant oxidative stress and tissue damage in parotid glands. Multi-strain probiotics provide substantial protection by activating the NRF2/HO-1 pathway and suppressing inflammation, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy against nanoplastic-induced oral tissue damage.