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Differential Impacts of Environmentally Relevant Microplastics on Gut Barrier Integrity in Mice Fed High-Fat Diet Versus Normal Chow Diet

Metabolites 2025 3 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Huixia Niu, Ying Yang, Yuting Zhou, Xue Ma, Zhehao Ding, Manjin Xu, Lizhi Wu, Xueqing Li, Mingluan Xing, Mingluan Xing, Qin Zhang, Hao Chen, Xiaoyan Tao, Zhe Mo, Zhijian Chen, Pengcheng Tu, Xiaoming Lou

Summary

Researchers found that the impact of microplastics on gut barrier integrity differs significantly depending on diet, with mice fed high-fat diets showing different responses than those on normal diets. The gut microbiome and its metabolites, particularly the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, appear to play a critical role in mediating these effects. The study highlights the importance of considering dietary patterns when evaluating how microplastics affect digestive health.

Body Systems
Models

These results collectively indicate that the impact of microplastics on the intestinal barrier differs significantly between mice fed normal and high-fat diets. The gut microbiota and its metabolites, particularly butyrate, may play a critical role, possibly through modulating PPARγ signaling. This study contributes valuable insights into understanding the toxicity profiles of microplastics and establishing crucial links between dietary patterns and the health effects of emerging pollutants.

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