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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Hepatotoxicity induced by polylactic acid microplastics: The mediating role of gut microbiota and uric acid metabolism
ClearPolylactic acid micro/nanoplastic-induced hepatotoxicity: Investigating food and air sources via multi-omics
Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA) — a plastic marketed as biodegradable — caused liver damage in mice whether the particles were ingested through food or inhaled through air, disrupting gut and lung microbiomes along the way. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safe and suggest that micro- and nanoplastics from any source can pose a risk to liver health.
PLA plastic particles disrupt bile acid metabolism leading to hepatic inflammatory injury in male mice
Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, often considered a safer biodegradable alternative, caused inflammatory liver damage in male mice by disrupting bile acid metabolism. Both cell and animal experiments showed that PLA particles triggered inflammation and altered the chemical signaling pathways that regulate bile acid production. The study suggests that even biodegradable microplastics may pose health risks that deserve further scrutiny.
Oral exposure to PLA microplastics induces time-dependent nanotoxicity via the gut-liver axis
Researchers fed mice polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, a type derived from biodegradable plastic, and tracked health effects over time using advanced metabolic and microbiome analysis. Short-term exposure caused gut inflammation and altered gut bacteria composition, followed by metabolic disturbances in the liver and intestine. However, prolonged exposure triggered adaptive changes, suggesting the body can partially adjust to sustained microplastic presence, though the long-term implications remain uncertain.
Polyethylene microplastics induced gut microbiota dysbiosis leading to liver injury via the TLR2/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in mice
Mice exposed to polyethylene microplastics developed liver damage that was traced back to disrupted gut bacteria -- the microplastics increased harmful bacteria while decreasing beneficial ones, triggering inflammation through the TLR2/NF-kB/NLRP3 immune pathway. This study provides new evidence that microplastics may harm the liver not just through direct contact, but indirectly by first throwing off the balance of gut bacteria.
Gut Microbiota Participates in Polystyrene Microplastics-Induced Hepatic Injuries by Modulating the Gut–Liver Axis
This mouse study showed that polystyrene microplastics cause liver damage partly through disrupting gut bacteria, which then triggers harmful signals along the gut-liver connection. When researchers eliminated gut bacteria with antibiotics, liver damage from microplastics was reduced, confirming the gut microbiome plays a key role. Green tea extract (EGCG) helped protect the liver by restoring healthy gut bacteria, suggesting diet may help counteract some effects of microplastic exposure.
Gut dysbiosis exacerbates inflammatory liver injury induced by environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics via the gut-liver axis
This mouse study found that swallowing nanoplastics at levels found in the environment disrupted gut bacteria and damaged the intestinal barrier, allowing toxins to leak into the bloodstream and cause liver inflammation. When researchers transplanted gut bacteria from nanoplastic-exposed mice into healthy mice, those mice also developed liver damage. This demonstrates that nanoplastics may harm the liver indirectly by first disrupting the gut, a finding relevant to understanding how everyday plastic exposure could affect human health.
Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Microplastic Exposure Cause Cholestasis and Bile Acid Metabolism Dysregulation through a Gut-Liver Loop in Mice
Mice exposed to environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene microplastics for 30 days developed damaged intestinal barriers, liver injury, and disrupted bile acid metabolism. The study revealed a gut-liver feedback loop where microplastics alter gut bacteria, which changes bile acid production, which in turn causes further liver damage, suggesting a mechanism by which everyday microplastic exposure could harm digestive health.
Oligomer nanoparticle release from polylactic acid plastics catalysed by gut enzymes triggers acute inflammation
Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA), a popular 'eco-friendly' biodegradable plastic, releases nanoplastic particles when broken down by gut enzymes during digestion. In mice, these PLA fragments accumulated in the liver, intestine, and brain, causing intestinal damage and acute inflammation by interfering with a key immune enzyme, raising important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are truly safer for human health.
Chronic exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics induces gut microbiota dysbiosis and disordered hepatic lipid metabolism in mice
Researchers found that mice exposed to PET microplastics (the type commonly found in plastic bottles) over 17 weeks developed liver damage, including fat buildup, oxidative stress, and cell death. The study revealed that the damage was driven by changes in gut bacteria that altered lipid metabolism, and when researchers depleted the gut bacteria, the liver damage was reduced. This suggests the gut microbiome plays a key role in how microplastics cause harm to internal organs.
Microplastic-mediated new mechanism of liver damage: From the perspective of the gut-liver axis
This review describes how microplastics can damage the liver through the gut-liver axis: they first disrupt the gut's protective barrier and beneficial bacteria, allowing harmful substances to leak through the weakened intestinal wall into the bloodstream and travel to the liver. Once there, these substances cause inflammation, metabolic problems, and oxidative stress, offering a new explanation for how microplastic exposure could lead to liver disease.
Incorporation of polylactic acid microplastics into the carbon cycle as a carbon source to remodel the endogenous metabolism of the gut
Researchers discovered that gut bacteria can break down so-called biodegradable PLA microplastics and incorporate the carbon into their own metabolism, fundamentally altering the gut's energy balance. This process reduced beneficial short-chain fatty acids that fuel gut lining cells and caused decreased appetite and weight loss in mice, suggesting that biodegradable plastics may not be as harmless inside the body as assumed.
Unraveling the impact of micro- and nano-sized polymethyl methacrylate on gut microbiota and liver lipid metabolism: Insights from oral exposure studies
Mice that drank water containing tiny acrylic-type plastic particles (PMMA) for eight weeks developed liver damage, gut microbiome changes, and disrupted fat metabolism. The plastic particles accumulated in the liver and colon, triggering oxidative stress and activating pathways that increased cholesterol production. This study suggests that chronic exposure to even common plastic types through drinking water could harm liver health by disrupting the gut-liver connection.
Gut microbiota and liver metabolomics reveal the potential mechanism of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG modulating the liver toxicity caused by polystyrene microplastics in mice
Researchers found that the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG helped protect mice from liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure. The probiotic worked by restoring healthy gut bacteria and normalizing liver metabolic pathways disrupted by the microplastics. The study suggests that supporting gut health through beneficial bacteria may help mitigate some of the toxic effects microplastics have on the liver.
Gut microbiota-mediated poly(ε-caprolactone) microplastic degradation exacerbates metabolic dysregulation
Researchers investigated the health effects of poly(epsilon-caprolactone), a biodegradable plastic commonly used in food packaging and medicine, and found that its microplastic form disrupted lipid metabolism and worsened metabolic problems in mice on a high-fat diet. They discovered that gut bacteria capable of breaking down this biodegradable plastic actually amplified its harmful metabolic effects. The study raises important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are truly safer than conventional plastics once they fragment into microplastics.
Comparative Analysisof Metabolic Dysfunctions Associatedwith Pristine and Aged Polyethylene Microplastic Exposure via theLiver-Gut Axis in Mice
Researchers fed mice low doses of pristine and aged polyethylene microplastics for several weeks and analyzed changes in blood metabolites, liver proteins, and gut bacteria. Both forms caused lipid metabolism disruptions and reduced beneficial gut bacteria, with aged microplastics showing greater toxicity linked to changes in fatty acid processing enzymes.
Insights into mouse metabolic health and gut microbiota responses to conventional and biodegradable microplastics released from plastic food containers
Researchers compared how conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics from food containers affect mice over four weeks. They found that both types disrupted lipid metabolism and increased harmful gut bacteria, but the biodegradable PLA microplastics actually caused more severe metabolic disruption than conventional polyethylene. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be safer than traditional plastics when it comes to microplastic exposure from food packaging.
Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of polylactic acid (PLA) biodegradable microplastics and their interaction with the gut microbiota
Researchers simulated what happens when humans swallow polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, a common bioplastic labeled as biodegradable, by running them through an artificial digestive system. While PLA did not dramatically alter the overall gut bacterial community, it did increase certain bacteria and change how the microbial community metabolized nutrients. The study also found that stomach acid caused physical changes to the PLA particles, suggesting that even supposedly safe bioplastics may interact with our gut in ways we do not yet fully understand.
Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of two different sources of biodegradable microplastics and the influence on gut microbiota
Researchers used a simulated human digestive system to study what happens to biodegradable microplastics when we swallow them. They found that PLA (polylactic acid) microplastics started breaking down in stomach acid, while PCL (polycaprolactone) microplastics stayed intact until reaching the large intestine, where both types disrupted beneficial gut bacteria. This is concerning because biodegradable plastics, often marketed as safer alternatives, may still harm gut health when ingested.
Gut microbiota dysbiosis exacerbates polystyrene microplastics-induced liver inflammation via activating LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway in ducks
This study found that polystyrene microplastics exacerbate gut microbiota dysbiosis in ducks, and that this disruption of the gut microbial community amplifies liver inflammation through the gut-liver axis, revealing a mechanism by which MP exposure causes hepatic injury.
Polylactic Acid Microplastics Do Not Exhibit Lower Biological Toxicity in Growing Mice Compared to Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics
Researchers compared the health effects of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics to conventional polyvinyl chloride microplastics in growing mice over six weeks. Contrary to expectations, the biodegradable microplastics caused equal or more severe harm, including greater disruption of gut bacteria, stronger inflammatory responses, and more intestinal damage. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be safer than conventional plastics once they break down into microplastic-sized particles.
Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in C57BL/6-Lepem1hwl/Korl mice during microplastics-caused hepatic metabolism disruption
Researchers administered polypropylene microplastics orally to obese mice for 9 weeks and found disruption of hepatic lipid, glucose, and amino acid metabolism alongside structural changes in gut microbiota, with microplastic-treated mice showing decreased hepatic lipid accumulation and altered abundance of specific bacterial genera.
Environmental release behavior, cell toxicity and intracellular distribution of novel biodegradable plastic materials
Researchers tested five types of commercially available biodegradable plastics and found that several still released microplastics and showed significant toxicity to human cells, including liver and intestinal cells. Polylactic acid (PLA), often marketed as an eco-friendly alternative, showed higher environmental mobility and concerning toxic effects. The study also showed that human immune cells actively engulfed and absorbed biodegradable microplastic particles, suggesting that 'biodegradable' does not necessarily mean safe for human health.
Investigating the toxicity of polylactic acid microplastics on the health and physiology of freshwater fish, Cirrhinus mrigala
Researchers fed freshwater fish polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, often considered a more eco-friendly plastic alternative, for 90 days at various concentrations. They found that PLA microplastics negatively affected the fish's growth, nutrient digestibility, blood chemistry, and caused tissue damage to the liver and intestines. The findings suggest that even biodegradable plastics can be harmful to aquatic organisms when ingested over time.
Microplastic-induced gut microbiota and serum metabolic disruption in Sprague-Dawley rats
Researchers exposed rats to a mixture of common microplastic types at concentrations reflecting real-world human exposure and found significant disruptions to gut bacteria and blood metabolites. The microplastic mixture altered the balance of beneficial and harmful gut microbes and changed metabolic pathways related to amino acids and lipids. The study suggests that everyday microplastic exposure from food and water may affect mammalian gut health and metabolism.