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Exposure to irregular microplastic shed from baby bottles activates the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway, causing intestinal inflammation

Environment International 2023 53 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Yi Zhang, Yi Zhang, Lei Wang, Yi Zhang, Zhimin Xu, Yi Zhang, Chao Wang, Xinyue Wu, Chao Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Zhimin Xu, Chao Wang, Zhimin Xu, Zhimin Xu, Lei Wang, Zhimin Xu, Chao Wang, Zhimin Xu, Zhimin Xu, Zhimin Xu, Zhimin Xu, Chao Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Jiemiao Shen, Lihong Lin, Lihong Lin, Xingying Deng, Yuxue Zhang, Yuxue Zhang, Jiemiao Shen, Lihong Lin, Lihong Lin, Xingying Deng, Lin Zheng, Xinyue Wu, Xinyue Wu, Xinyue Wu, Xinyue Wu, Lei Wang, Chao Wang, Chao Wang, Xinyue Wu, Xinyue Wu, Zhihao Xu, Zhihao Xu, Zhihao Xu, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Yi Zhang, Lei Wang, Chao Wang Lei Wang, Yi Zhang, Lei Wang, Chao Wang, Lihong Lin, Jiexiang Zhang, Yuxue Zhang, Lihong Lin, Jiexiang Zhang, Chao Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Xingying Deng, Xingying Deng, Chao Wang, Chao Wang, Jieting Chen, Xingying Deng, Xingying Deng, Yi Zhang, Zhihao Xu, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Zhihao Xu, Lei Wang, Lihong Lin, Chao Wang, Lihong Lin, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Xingying Deng, Lei Wang, Zhihao Xu, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Xinyue Wu, Xinyue Wu, Xingying Deng, Xingying Deng, Xingying Deng, Chao Wang, Chao Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Xingying Deng, Xingying Deng, Lei Wang, Xingying Deng, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Chao Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Chao Wang Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Jiexiang Zhang, Xinyue Wu, Jiexiang Zhang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lin Zheng, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Yi Zhang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Xinyue Wu, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lin Zheng, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Wang, Chao Wang Lei Wang, Renqiang Yu, Renqiang Yu, Jieting Chen, Yuxue Zhang, Zhimin Xu, Lei Wang, Zhihao Xu, Renqiang Yu, Zhihao Xu, Zhimin Xu, Jiexiang Zhang, Lei Wang, Jiexiang Zhang, Renqiang Yu, Lei Wang, Yi Zhang, Yi Zhang, Chao Wang Chao Wang, Lei Wang, Yi Zhang, Chao Wang

Summary

Researchers found that baby bottles made of polypropylene release irregularly shaped microplastics when exposed to boiling water or microwave heating, and these particles triggered inflammation in human intestinal cells. The microplastics activated a specific inflammatory pathway (NLRP3 inflammasome) that caused oxidative stress and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory signals. This is especially concerning for infant health, as babies may be exposed to these particles daily through heated formula and milk.

Polymers

Body Systems

Immune

Irregularly shaped microplastics (MPs) released from infant feeding bottles (PP-IFBs) may exhibit increased cytotoxicity, in contrast to the commonly studied spherical MPs. This study presents an initial analysis of the thermal-oxidative aging process of plastic shedding from feeding bottles, and investigates the inflammatory response induced by these atypical MPs in human intestinal cells (Caco-2). The PP-IFBs' surface displayed non-uniform white patches and increased roughness, revealing substantial structural alteration and shedding, especially during actions such as shaking, boiling water disinfection, and microwave heating. FT-IR and 2D-COS analyses revealed that oxygen targeted the C-H and C-C bonds of polypropylene molecular chain, producing RO· and ·OH, thereby hastening polypropylene degradation. When human intestinal cells were exposed to MPs from PP-IFBs, oxidative stress was triggered, resulting in lowered glutathione levels, augmented reactive oxygen species (ROS), and heightened lipid peroxidation. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNFα) signified an active inflammatory process. The inflammatory response was notably more intense when exposed to MPs released through boiling water disinfection and microwave heating treatments, primarily due to the larger quantity of MPs released and their higher proportion of smaller particles. Furthermore, the NLRP3 inflammasome was identified as critical in initiating this inflammatory chain reaction due to the mitochondrial ROS surge caused by MPs exposure. This was further validated by inhibitor studies, emphasizing the role of the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathway in in promoting intestinal inflammation. Therefore, swift actions are recommended to protect infants against the potential health effects of MPs exposure.

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