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Unraveling the impact of micro- and nano-sized polymethyl methacrylate on gut microbiota and liver lipid metabolism: Insights from oral exposure studies
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Mice that drank water containing tiny acrylic-type plastic particles (PMMA) for eight weeks developed liver damage, gut microbiome changes, and disrupted fat metabolism. The plastic particles accumulated in the liver and colon, triggering oxidative stress and activating pathways that increased cholesterol production. This study suggests that chronic exposure to even common plastic types through drinking water could harm liver health by disrupting the gut-liver connection.
Microplastics, particularly polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), have emerged as significant environmental pollutants, with growing concerns about their impact on various biological processes. However, the effects of chronic PMMA exposure on hepatic lipid metabolism remain insufficiently studied. This research aimed to examine the consequences of chronic exposure to PMMA particles of different sizes (100 nm and 2 μm) on hepatic lipid metabolism in mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were administered PMMA particles in drinking water over an 8-week period, and the effects on intestinal and liver morphology and function were evaluated. Histopathological analyses, gut microbiota profiling, and serum and liver assays were conducted to assess oxidative stress, lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, and liver metabolomics. The results revealed that PMMA particles accumulated in both the liver and colon, causing liver injury characterized by elevated ALT and AST levels. The exposure also induced oxidative stress by inhibiting the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, PMMA exposure resulted in significant alterations to the gut microbiota and hepatic metabolism. These changes were linked to increased microbial diversity, which impacted cholesterol metabolism through the gut-liver axis. Additionally, the activation of the PI3K/AKT/PPARγ signaling pathway disrupted hepatic lipid metabolism, leading to increased cholesterol synthesis and hepatic lipid accumulation. This study underscores the potential of PMMA to disrupt both hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota composition, suggesting a novel mechanism by which PMMA exposure could contribute to metabolic disorders and liver disease.
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Chronic exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics induces gut microbiota dysbiosis and disordered hepatic lipid metabolism in mice
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Researchers found that mice exposed to PET microplastics (the type commonly found in plastic bottles) over 17 weeks developed liver damage, including fat buildup, oxidative stress, and cell death. The study revealed that the damage was driven by changes in gut bacteria that altered lipid metabolism, and when researchers depleted the gut bacteria, the liver damage was reduced. This suggests the gut microbiome plays a key role in how microplastics cause harm to internal organs.
Oral exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics alters the intestinal environment and metabolic outcomes in mice
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In a mouse study, oral exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics caused fatty liver disease and abnormal blood lipid levels even without prior gut leakiness. The microplastics triggered intestinal inflammation through immune cells, disrupted gut bacteria, and altered how the body processes nutrients. These results suggest that swallowing microplastics could contribute to metabolic problems and liver disease in humans.
Chronic PET‐Microplastic Exposure: Disruption of Gut–Liver Homeostasis and Risk of Hepatic Steatosis
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Researchers exposed mice to PET microplastics ground from plastic bottles over 29 weeks and found that the particles caused obesity, liver enlargement, fatty liver disease, and early-stage scarring of liver tissue. The microplastics also disrupted gut bacteria and bile acid metabolism, pointing to damage along the gut-liver connection. The findings raise concerns about the long-term health effects of chronic exposure to the type of microplastics commonly found in food and beverages.
Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Microplastic Exposure Cause Cholestasis and Bile Acid Metabolism Dysregulation through a Gut-Liver Loop in Mice
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Mice exposed to environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene microplastics for 30 days developed damaged intestinal barriers, liver injury, and disrupted bile acid metabolism. The study revealed a gut-liver feedback loop where microplastics alter gut bacteria, which changes bile acid production, which in turn causes further liver damage, suggesting a mechanism by which everyday microplastic exposure could harm digestive health.
Gut dysbiosis exacerbates inflammatory liver injury induced by environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics via the gut-liver axis
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This mouse study found that swallowing nanoplastics at levels found in the environment disrupted gut bacteria and damaged the intestinal barrier, allowing toxins to leak into the bloodstream and cause liver inflammation. When researchers transplanted gut bacteria from nanoplastic-exposed mice into healthy mice, those mice also developed liver damage. This demonstrates that nanoplastics may harm the liver indirectly by first disrupting the gut, a finding relevant to understanding how everyday plastic exposure could affect human health.
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