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Synergistic Toxicity of Combined Exposure to Acrylamide and Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Gut–Liver Axis in Mice
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Researchers exposed mice to a combination of acrylamide, a common food processing byproduct, and polystyrene nanoplastics through drinking water and found that the combined exposure caused more severe gut and liver damage than either substance alone. The co-exposure disrupted gut barrier integrity, altered gut bacteria composition, and caused widespread metabolic changes. The study suggests that the interaction between nanoplastics and other food contaminants may amplify health risks beyond what each poses individually.
Acrylamide (AA) and nanoplastics (NPs) are common food toxicants. However, their combined toxicity and health risks call for further studies. This study aimed to investigate the combined toxicity of AA and polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) in mice through drinking water exposure. Co-exposure to AA and PS-NPs aggravated colon and liver damage, including more severe inflammatory infiltration, higher levels of colonic and hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokines, and elevated serum content of lipopolysaccharide and activities of diamine oxidase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase compared to single exposures. Co-exposure also significantly downregulated the expression of colonic tight-junction genes ZO-1 and Claudin-5. Metabolomics revealed that co-exposure induced more profound metabolic disorders in the liver, particularly affecting amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. 16S amplicon sequencing showed that co-exposure caused more drastic gut microbiota dysbiosis, characterized by a decrease in beneficial bacteria (unclassified_f__Oscillospiraceae, Roseburia, UCG-005, Ruminiclostridium, unclassified_o__Clostridia_UCG-014, Fournierella, and Acetatifactor) and an increase in pathogenic bacteria (Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group and Eubacterium_nodatum_group). Correlation analysis indicated a negative correlation between beneficial bacteria and intestinal-liver toxicity indicators and a positive correlation between pathogenic bacteria and these indicators. Overall, our findings showed that AA and PS-NPs exerted synergistic toxicity to the gut-liver axis in mammals, highlighting the higher health risks of their combined ingestion.
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Combined toxicity of co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and arsenic on the gut-liver axis in mice.
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Mice exposed to both nanoplastics and arsenic together, common pollutants that can show up in food and water, suffered worse gut and liver damage than expected, including a weakened gut barrier, disrupted gut bacteria, and increased inflammation. This suggests that real-world exposure to multiple pollutants at once may pose greater health risks than studying each one alone would predict.
Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbate aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic injuries by modulating the gut−liver axis
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Mice exposed to both polystyrene nanoplastics and aflatoxin B1, a common food contaminant from mold, suffered worse liver damage than from either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics disrupted gut bacteria and weakened the intestinal barrier, allowing more toxins to reach the liver through the gut-liver axis. This study is concerning because it shows that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of other food contaminants people are already exposed to.
Gut–Liver Axis Mediates the Combined Hepatointestinal Toxicity of Triclosan and Polystyrene Microplastics in Mice: Implications for Human Co-Exposure Risks
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Mice co-exposed to the antimicrobial triclosan and polystyrene microplastics showed markedly worse intestinal and liver damage than those exposed to either contaminant alone, with gut microbiome disruption identified as a key mediating mechanism.
Synergistic toxicity of nanoplastics and Helicobacter pylori on digestive system in mice
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Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of nanoplastics and the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori on the digestive systems of mice. They found that co-exposure caused more severe damage to the stomach, colon, and liver than either stressor alone, including increased inflammation and disrupted gut barrier function. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination may worsen the health effects of common gut infections.
Toxic effects of nanoplastics and microcystin-LR coexposure on the liver-gut axis of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
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Scientists exposed silver carp to both polystyrene nanoplastics and microcystin-LR (a toxin from harmful algae) and found the combination caused more severe gut and liver damage than either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics shortened intestinal structures, changed gut bacteria communities, and disrupted liver metabolism. This is concerning because both contaminants are commonly found together in aquaculture waters, and the fish affected are widely consumed by people.
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