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Polystyrene microplastics induce potential toxicity through the gut-mammary axis
Zhanhang Wang1, Shiyu Wang1, Shujuan Liu1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Abstract:
Microplastics (MPs), as an emerging environmental pollutant, pose a grave threat to food safety and public health. However, studies on MP toxicity to organs other than the intestine remain limited, especially its link to the intestinal microbiota. To address this gap, we evaluated the potential toxicity of polystyrene (PS)-MPs to the gut and mammary glands during lactation exposure in mice. PS-MPs (~1 μm) can disrupt the intestinal barrier and cause colonic inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Moreover, they can accumulate in mammary tissue and cause inflammatory damage. Transcriptome data suggested that PS-MPs cause maternal mammary lipid metabolism disorders and ferroptosis. Fecal microbial transplant (FMT) was then performed, and it reproduced the observed leakage of the blood-milk barrier and inflammation of the mammary gland. This study demonstrated that MPs induced gut and mammary inflammation and exacerbated inflammatory damage through the gut-mammary axis. In addition, MPs caused mammary lipid disorders and ferroptosis. The findings confirmed that PS-MPs may be transported to mammalian organs other than the intestine (e.g., mammary gland) and revealed the critical role of the intestinal microbiota. These findings will provide guidance for further studies on the potential foodborne risks of MPs.
Insights
Polystyrene microplastics (MPs) harm the gut and mammary glands, disrupting the gut microbiota and causing inflammation. This damage extends through the gut-mammary axis, impacting milk production and maternal health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants with limited research on toxicity beyond the intestine.
- The link between MPs, intestinal microbiota, and organ toxicity is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the toxicity of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the gut and mammary glands during lactation in mice.
- To explore the role of the gut microbiota in MP-induced toxicity via the gut-mammary axis.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of mice to PS-MPs (~1 μm) during lactation.
- Analysis of intestinal barrier function, colonic inflammation, and gut microbiota composition.
- Assessment of MP accumulation and inflammatory damage in mammary tissue.
- Transcriptome analysis for mammary gland disorders and ferroptosis.
- Fecal microbial transplant (FMT) to confirm the role of gut microbiota.
Main Results:
- PS-MPs disrupted the intestinal barrier, induced colonic inflammation, and caused gut microbiota dysbiosis.
- MPs accumulated in mammary tissue, leading to inflammatory damage, lipid metabolism disorders, and ferroptosis.
- Fecal microbial transplant (FMT) reproduced blood-milk barrier leakage and mammary gland inflammation.
- The gut-mammary axis plays a critical role in mediating MP-induced inflammation and damage.
Conclusions:
- PS-MPs can translocate to organs beyond the intestine, such as the mammary gland.
- Gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by MPs exacerbates inflammation and toxicity in the mammary gland.
- MPs pose potential foodborne risks, impacting maternal health and possibly infant exposure through milk.
