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New insight into intestinal toxicity accelerated by aged microplastics with triclosan: Inflammation regulation by gut microbiota-bile acid axis

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2025 9 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 63 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Dawu Lin, Dawu Lin, Dawu Lin, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Dawu Lin, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Xiangyu Chen, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Li Zheng, Li Zheng, Li Zheng, Xiaojun Lin, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Chaonan Zhang, Xiaojun Lin, Li Zheng, Yanbin Xu, Taojie Liang, Chaonan Zhang, Taojie Liang, Chaonan Zhang, Yanbin Xu, Qingxia Qiao, Li Zheng, Yanbin Xu, Qingxia Qiao, Li Zheng, Yanbin Xu, Lu Huang, Qingxia Qiao, Qingxia Qiao, Qingxia Qiao, Qingxia Qiao, Kairong Xiong, Kairong Xiong Kairong Xiong, Kairong Xiong

Summary

Researchers exposed frogs to aged microplastics carrying triclosan, an antimicrobial chemical commonly found in personal care products, and found the combination was more toxic to the gut than either pollutant alone. The microplastics increased triclosan absorption in the gut by 89%, disrupting gut bacteria and bile acid metabolism, which led to intestinal inflammation. This study shows that microplastics can act as carriers that amplify the harmful effects of other chemicals already present in the environment.

Polymers

Body Systems

Immune

The combined toxic effects of microplastics (MPs) and their carried contaminants on organisms have been widely concerned; however, the health risks and its mechanism of "gut microbiota-host metabolism (bile acids, BA)" remain unknown. Herein, Xenopus tropicalis were exposured to aged polystyrene MPs carried triclosan (aPS+TCS) and single (a)PS-MPs & TCS, respectively. The bioaccumulation of TCS in the gut of X. tropicalis was significantly increased in aPS+TCS group, which was 89 % higher than that of PS+TCS group, causing more severe oxidative stress, inflammation and intestinal barrier disruption (leaky gut). The expressions of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in aPS+TCS group were enhanced by 276 % and 19 % and decreased by 81 %, respectively, compared to that in PS+TCS group. Moreover, co-exposure to aPS+TCS increased the number of Escherichia coli, and reduced levels of DCA and LCA (secondary BAs). Multiomics analysis further revealed that the intestinal toxicity of aPS+TCS to X. tropicalis was mainly influenced by the gut flora, BA metabolism and inflammation-related pathways. Co-exposure may exacerbate inflammation by increasing the blood levels of lipopolysaccharides and inhibiting secondary BA production, which are regulated by the gut microbiota-bile acid axis. This study provides new insights in the potential mechanisms of intestinal damage from pollutant-loaded aged MPs.

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