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Gender difference in hepatic AMPK pathway activated lipid metabolism induced by aged polystyrene microplastics exposure

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2022 35 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Di Wu, Qing Wang Di Wu, Di Wu, Xiaona Yang, Qing Wang Di Wu, Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Xiaona Yang, Qing Wang Xiaona Yang, Di Wu, Di Wu, Jin Jiang, Jin Jiang, Di Wu, Jin Jiang, Di Wu, Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Xiaona Yang, Qing Wang Xiaona Yang, Jingui Duan, Qing Wang Jin Jiang, Qing Wang Jin Jiang, Yankai Xia, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Na Chen, Di Wu, Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Di Wu, Qing Wang Di Wu, Yankai Xia, Qing Wang Qing Wang Di Wu, Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Yankai Xia, Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Xiaona Yang, Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Yankai Xia, Qing Wang Yankai Xia, Di Wu, Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Qing Wang Yankai Xia, Qing Wang Yankai Xia, Qing Wang

Summary

Researchers found gender-specific effects of aged polystyrene microplastics on lipid metabolism in mice, with females showing significant fat reduction and altered estrogen-AMPK signaling pathways in the liver, while males showed different metabolic responses.

Polymers

Body Systems

Hepatic Immune Reproductive

Models

Mouse

Microplastics (MPs) pollution becomes an increasing concern and researchers keep exploring the health effects caused by MPs exposure. The ageing process in the environment significantly alters the physicochemical characteristics of MPs and subsequently affects their toxicities. The health effects of aged MPs exposure and the mechanism underlying are worthy of exploration. Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) (with size less than 50 µm) were obtained by grinding and screening polystyrene materials. PS-MPs continued to be aged by ozone treatment (0.4 mg/min, 9 h). Both male and female C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed to 0 or 2 mg/kg/d aged PS-MPs for 28 days. Results showed that PS-MPs were found in liver, ovary and spleen of females and liver, testis and spleen of males in the aged PS-MPs group. Exposure to aged PS-MPs significantly decreased abdominal fat/body coefficient, the adipocyte size and the serum LDL-C level in females. Compared to the control, serum estradiol (E2) level, the mRNA expression levels of genes regulating E2 production (17β-hsd, 3β-hsd and Star) in ovary and the protein expression levels of E2 receptors (ERα, ERβ), AMPKα and p-AMPKα1 in liver increased significantly, and the mRNA expression levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) downstream genes (Srebp-1c, Fas and Scd1) in liver decreased significantly in the female aged PS-MPs group. Liver metabolomic profiling showed that differential metabolites between female aged PS-MPs group and female control group were enriched in biotin metabolism and the level of biotin increased significantly in the female aged PS-MPs group. However, no significant changes were detected in males. These results indicated that aged PS-MPs exposure increased ovarian E2 production and activated the AMPK pathway in the liver which might inhibit liver lipid synthesis only in females. Our findings provide new insights into the potential sex-specific health effects of environmental MPs pollution.

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