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Polystyrene microplastics mediate inflammatory responses in the chicken thymus by Nrf2/NF-κB pathway and trigger autophagy and apoptosis
Summary
Researchers exposed chickens to polystyrene microplastics and found significant damage to the thymus, a key immune organ. The microplastics triggered oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death through specific molecular pathways. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could compromise immune function in animals by damaging organs responsible for immune cell development.
Microplastics (MPs) are a hot environmental contaminant now. However, researchers paid little attention to their effects on immune organs such as the thymus. Here, we exposed chickens to a concentration gradient of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and then followed the decrease in the thymus index. HE staining showed cellular infiltration in the thymus. The assay kit corroborated that PS-MPs impelled oxidative stress in the thymus: increased MDA levels, downregulated antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, and GSH, and significantly undermined total antioxidant capacity. Western blotting and qRT-PCR results showed that Nrf2/NF-κB, Bcl-2/Bax, and AKT signaling pathways were activated in the thymus after exposure to PS-MPs. It stimulated the increased expression of downstream such as IL-1β, caspase-3, and Beclin1, triggering thymus inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy. This study provides new insights into the field of microplastic immunotoxicity and highlights potential environmental hazards in poultry farming.
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