Papers

Involvement and repair of epithelial barrier dysfunction in allergic diseases

This review summarizes how environmental factors including pollution, climate change, and industrial chemicals are damaging the protective barriers of our skin, airways, and gut, contributing to the rising rates of allergic diseases worldwide. The authors discuss the "epithelial barrier hypothesis," which proposes that repairing these damaged barriers could be a new strategy for preventing and treating allergies, asthma, and related conditions.

Transport of microplastics in the body and interaction with biological barriers, and controlling of microplastics pollution

This review summarizes how microplastics enter the human body through food, water, and air, and what happens when they encounter the body's protective barriers like the gut lining, skin, and blood-brain barrier. Smaller microplastics can cross these barriers and accumulate in organs, potentially causing inflammation and other harmful effects. The review also covers emerging methods for removing microplastics from the environment to reduce human exposure.

Gut microbiota combined with metabolome dissects long-term nanoplastics exposure-induced disturbed spermatogenesis

Researchers studied how long-term exposure to nanoplastics affects sperm production in mice by analyzing changes in gut bacteria and metabolic pathways. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted spermatogenesis, with amino-modified nanoplastics causing more severe effects than standard polystyrene particles. The study suggests that nanoplastics may harm male reproductive health by altering gut microbiota and lipid metabolism.

Long-term release kinetic characteristics of microplastic from commonly used masks into water under simulated natural environments

Researchers studied the long-term release of microplastics from four types of face masks (cotton, fashion, N95, and disposable surgical) in simulated natural water conditions over 12 months. The study found that all mask types continuously released microplastic fibers and fragments in a time-dependent manner, with particles predominantly smaller than 20 micrometers, accompanied by physical degradation and photo-oxidation. These findings suggest that improperly discarded masks are an ongoing source of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

Long‐term nanoplastics exposure contributes to impaired steroidogenesis by disrupting the hypothalamic‐testis axis: Evidence from integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis

Researchers exposed male mice to nanoplastics for 12 weeks and found that long-term exposure disrupted the hormonal signaling pathway between the brain and testes, leading to reduced sperm quality and lower testosterone levels. Evidence indicates that the disruption involved changes in key enzymes and metabolic pathways responsible for producing reproductive hormones.

Baicalin targets YTHDC2 and alleviates male reproductive toxicity caused by co-exposure to nanoplastics and manganese through m6A-dependent pathway

Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and manganese (a heavy metal) caused worse damage to male reproductive function in mice than either toxin alone, disrupting sperm production by blocking a key RNA-processing protein called YTHDC2. Notably, baicalin — a natural plant compound — helped protect against this damage, pointing toward a potential therapeutic approach.

Parental polystyrene nanoplastics exposure increases susceptibility to pathogen infection in offspring via H3K36me3-UPRER-collagen pathway

Scientists exposed tiny worms to plastic nanoparticles and found that not only did the exposed worms become more vulnerable to dangerous infections, but their children and grandchildren were also more likely to get sick. The plastic particles weakened the immune system by changing how genes work, and these changes were passed down through generations even though the offspring were never directly exposed to the plastic. This research suggests that today's plastic pollution could be making future generations more susceptible to infections through inherited genetic changes.

Integrated multi-omics of gut-liver axis to dissect the mechanism underlying hepatotoxicity induced by sub-chronic tire wear particles exposure in mice

Researchers gavaged female mice with tire wear particles (a major microplastic source) at three doses and performed integrated gut-liver multi-omics analysis, finding that sub-chronic exposure disrupted lipid metabolism, promoted liver inflammation, and altered gut microbial communities in a dose-dependent manner.

On microplastics abundance in waters of Guizhou, China

The potential roles of interleukin-25 in infectious diseases

This review examined the roles of interleukin-25 (IL-25) in infectious disease contexts, summarizing evidence that this cytokine bridges innate and adaptive immunity and influences responses to parasitic, bacterial, and viral pathogens. The authors identified IL-25 as a potential therapeutic target given its regulatory role in type 2 immune responses.

Nanomaterial-induced pyroptosis: a cell type-specific perspective

This review examined how various nanomaterials induce pyroptosis (inflammatory cell death) across different non-tumorous cell types, analyzing the diverse pathways and mechanisms involved. The review highlights significant knowledge gaps regarding less-studied pyroptosis pathways and calls for more systematic investigation of nanomaterial-cell interactions.

Role of TRPC6 in apoptosis of skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion injury

This study used TRPC6 knockout mice and hypoxia/reoxygenation cell models to show that TRPC6 is a key ion channel in skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury, with its deletion reducing calcium overload, decreasing apoptosis, and partially restoring exercise capacity.

Gut Microbiota Combined with Metabolome Dissects Long-Term Nanoplastics Exposure-Induced Disturbed Spermatogenesis

Kinetic characteristics of microplastic release from commonly used masks in aquatic environment

Researchers tested four mask types (normal, fashion, N95, and disposable surgical) by exposing them to simulated natural water environments over 12 months at 3-month intervals to characterize the kinetics of microplastic release. They found time-dependent release patterns that varied by mask construction, documenting structural degradation and quantifying microplastic fiber shedding as a function of duration, with implications for environmental risk assessment of pandemic-related mask pollution.

Analysis of microplastics released from plastic take-out food containers based on thermal properties and morphology study

This study measured microplastics released from three types of plastic take-out food containers — polypropylene, polyethylene, and expanded polystyrene — when filled with hot water. Expanded polystyrene released the most particles by far (up to 2.8 million per liter), and over 96% of particles from all containers were smaller than 10 micrometers, small enough to be absorbed into the gut.

Long-Term Kinetic Characteristics of Microplastic Release From Commonly Used Masks Into Water Under Simulated Natural Environments