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Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Shotgun Lipidomics of Rodent Tissues
Published on: November 18, 2022
Impacts of polypropylene microplastics on lipid profiles of mouse liver uncovered by lipidomics analysis and Raman
Mingying Liu1, Ju Mu1, Miao Wang1
1School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China.
Abstract:
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants, and there are only limited studies reporting the impacts of some MPs on liver lipid metabolism in animals. In this study, we investigated the accumulation of polypropylene-MPs in mouse liver and unraveled the change in lipid metabolic profiles by both lipidomics and Raman spectroscopy. Polypropylene-MP exposure did not cause obvious health symptoms, but hematoxylin-eosin staining showed pathological changes that polypropylene-MPs induced lipid droplet accumulation in liver. Lipidomics results showed a significant change in lipid metabolic profiles and the most influenced categories were triglycerides, fatty acids, free fatty acids and lysophosphatidylcholine, implying the effects of polypropylene-MPs on the hemostasis of lipid droplet biogenesis and catabolism. Most altered lipids contained unsaturated bonds and polyunsaturated phospholipids, possibly affecting the fluidity and curvature of membrane surfaces. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the major spectral alterations of liver tissues were related to lipids, evidencing the altered lipid metabolism and cell membrane components in the presence of polypropylene-MPs. Our findings firstly disclosed the impacts of polypropylene-MPs on lipid metabolisms in mouse liver and hinted at their detrimental disturbance on membrane properties, cellular lipid storage and oxidation regulation, helping our deeper understanding on the toxicities and corresponding risks of polypropylene-MPs to mammals.
Insights
Polypropylene microplastics (MPs) accumulate in mouse livers, altering lipid metabolism and causing lipid droplet accumulation. These findings reveal potential risks of MPs to mammal health and membrane properties.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Metabolomics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent environmental contaminants.
- Limited research exists on the impact of MPs on animal liver lipid metabolism.
- Polypropylene (PP) is a common type of plastic with widespread use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the accumulation of polypropylene-MPs in mouse liver.
- To analyze the changes in liver lipid metabolic profiles induced by polypropylene-MPs.
- To understand the toxicological effects of polypropylene-MPs on lipid homeostasis and membrane properties.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of mice to polypropylene-MPs.
- Hematoxylin-eosin staining for pathological examination.
- Lipidomics analysis to profile metabolic changes.
- Raman spectroscopy to confirm spectral alterations related to lipids.
Main Results:
- Polypropylene-MPs induced lipid droplet accumulation in mouse liver, despite no obvious health symptoms.
- Significant alterations in lipid metabolic profiles were observed, particularly in triglycerides, fatty acids, and lysophosphatidylcholine.
- Altered lipids, rich in unsaturated bonds, suggest impacts on membrane fluidity and curvature.
- Raman spectroscopy confirmed lipid-related spectral changes in liver tissues.
Conclusions:
- Polypropylene-MPs disrupt lipid metabolism and homeostasis in the mouse liver.
- These MPs can negatively affect membrane properties, cellular lipid storage, and oxidation regulation.
- The study provides insights into the toxicological risks of polypropylene-MPs to mammals.
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