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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.
Nanoplastics, in combination with pathogenic microorganisms or toxic substances, have been shown to induce oxidative stress and disrupt energy and lipid metabolism, posing significant health risks. This study evaluated the toxic effects of co-exposure to nanoplastics and Helicobacter pylori on the digestive system of mice. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the accumulation of AuPS-NPs (Au-core polystyrene nanoplastics) in the stomach, colon, and liver, while hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed dose-dependent pathological damage in these tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays quantified interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), triglyceride (TG), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, which significantly increased in co-exposure groups compared to single-exposure groups (P < 0.05). After 28 days, the 100 mg/L H. pylori-AuPS-NPs group showed the highest levels of IL-6 (172.91 ± 1.51 pg/mL in the stomach, 188.31 ± 1.49 pg/mL in the colon, and 174.85 ± 0.26 pg/mL in the liver) and MDA (13.49 ± 0.16 nmol/mg in the stomach, 14.39 ± 0.20 nmol/mg in the colon, and 15.61 ± 0.63 nmol/mg in the liver). These increases, accompanied by elevated TG and LDH levels, suggest aggravated inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disruption. Accumulation analysis showed that while AuPS-NPs content significantly increased over time and with higher concentrations, co-exposure with H. pylori reduced nanoparticle accumulation in gastric and intestinal tissues. These results indicate that co-exposure exacerbates tissue damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disruptions while modulating nanoparticle accumulation. These findings highlight the synergistic toxic effects of nanoplastics and H. pylori, underscoring the importance of understanding combined exposure risks for public health.
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Polyethylene microplastics cooperate with Helicobacter pylori to promote gastric injury and inflammation in mice
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interact with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori in mice. They found that H. pylori formed biofilms on microplastic surfaces, and that mice exposed to both microplastics and the bacteria developed more severe gastric inflammation than those exposed to either alone. The study suggests that microplastics may facilitate bacterial colonization in the stomach and amplify infection-related tissue damage.
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.
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.
Toxicity evaluation of micro- and nanoplastic particles, with co-exposure to metal ions on human intestinal models
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This study exposed human intestinal cell models to both micro- and nanoplastic particles combined with metal ions to test combined toxicity effects. The results showed that co-exposure can amplify harmful effects on intestinal cells compared to either contaminant alone. This is relevant to human health because people are simultaneously exposed to microplastics and heavy metals through food, meaning the gut may face synergistic stressors that single-contaminant studies would miss.
Polystyrene nanoparticles aggravate the adverse effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on different segments of intestine in mice
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Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoparticles and the plasticizer DEHP simultaneously, finding that co-exposure caused greater intestinal damage — including shorter villi, disrupted tight junctions, and reduced mucus coverage — than either contaminant alone, with gut microbiota alterations likely contributing to the enhanced toxicity.
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