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Polystyrene microplastics aggravate acute pancreatitis in mice
Junyuan Zheng1, Zhenlin Tan1, Jianyu Wu1
1Department of gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, Guangdong Province, China.
Abstract:
Microplastics (MPs) with a diameter of < 5 mm are emerging as a new type of environmental pollutants. With the discovery of MPs in human tissues, the health risks of MPs have attracted considerable attention in recent years. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of MPs on acute pancreatitis (AP). We exposed male mice to 100 and 1000 μg/L polystyrene MPs for 28 days, then intraperitoneally injected mice with cerulein to develop acute pancreatitis (AP). The results demonstrated that MPs dose-dependently exacerbated pancreatic injuries and inflammation in AP. High-dose MPs significantly increased intestinal barrier disruption in AP mice, which may be partly responsible for the aggravation of AP. Moreover, through tandem mass tag (TMT)- based proteomics of pancreatic tissues, we screened 101 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between AP mice and high-dose MPs-treated AP mice. Gene Ontology and KEGG Pathway analysis revealed that the DEPs were mainly implicated in the molecular events including cytoskeleton organization, acute inflammatory response, arginine metabolism, etc. These mechanisms may also contribute to the aggravating AP effects of MPs. Collectively, our data provide new evidence for the harmful potential of MPs.
Insights
Microplastics exposure worsened acute pancreatitis in mice, increasing pancreatic damage and inflammation. This exacerbation was linked to gut barrier disruption and altered protein expression in pancreatic tissues.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Microplastics (<5mm) are prevalent environmental pollutants.
- Discovery of microplastics in human tissues raises health concerns.
- The impact of microplastics on acute pancreatitis is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of polystyrene microplastics on acute pancreatitis in a mouse model.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms by which microplastics may aggravate pancreatitis.
Main Methods:
- Male mice were exposed to polystyrene microplastics (100 and 1000 μg/L) for 28 days.
- Acute pancreatitis was induced by cerulein injection.
- Pancreatic tissue was analyzed using TMT-based proteomics, and intestinal barrier integrity was assessed.
Main Results:
- Microplastics dose-dependently worsened pancreatic injury and inflammation in acute pancreatitis.
- High-dose microplastics significantly disrupted the intestinal barrier.
- Proteomic analysis identified 101 differentially expressed proteins related to cytoskeleton organization and inflammatory responses.
Conclusions:
- Microplastics can exacerbate acute pancreatitis through mechanisms including intestinal barrier disruption and altered protein expression.
- These findings highlight the potential health risks associated with microplastic exposure.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of microplastics on human health.
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