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Hepatotoxicity induced by polylactic acid microplastics: The mediating role of gut microbiota and uric acid metabolism
Summary
Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, often marketed as biodegradable and eco-friendly, caused liver damage in a study by disrupting gut bacteria and raising uric acid levels. The gut microbiome changes triggered by PLA microplastics were the key driver of the liver injury, not direct contact with the liver. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safe and highlights the gut-liver connection in microplastic toxicity.
Our findings demonstrate that PLA MP-induced liver damage is mediated by gut microbiota-driven elevation of uric acid. This highlights the critical role of systemic factors, particularly gut microbiota, in assessing the hepatotoxicity of PLA MPs.
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