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Insights into mouse metabolic health and gut microbiota responses to conventional and biodegradable microplastics
Haiyan Cui1, Ruihan Zhang1, Jiawei Huang1
1College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
Abstract:
Both conventional and biodegradable microplastics (MPs) are widely used in food packaging and other fields. Although existing studies have indicated that host metabolism and gut microbiota are key hubs for MPs to regulate their physiological homeostasis, the in vivo health risks of MPs released from these plastic food containers remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the effects of irregularly shaped polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) with a particle size range of 1-30 μm on plasma metabolism and gut microbiota in mice. Following a four-week exposure duration, PLA-MPs elicited a significantly more aggravated metabolic derangement when contrasted with PE-MPs. Both PE-MPs and PLA-MPs significantly interfered with glycerophospholipid metabolism. Significant changes including altered 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines, phosphatidylethanolamine in plasma were observed in the PE-MPs and PLA-MPs groups. In comparison to PE-MPs, PLA-MPs exerted a more potent impact on lipid metabolism. Moreover, exposure to PE-MPs and PLA-MPs was found to induce an increase in the abundance of pathogenic bacteria associated with inflammation. PE-MPs induced a greater number of differentially abundant bacterial species, while PLA-MPs led to more significant changes in the abundance of the gut microbiota. Taken together, it can be inferred that PE-MPs and PLA-MPs may exert adverse effects on the liver and intestine of mice. Histopathological examination confirmed that exposure to both PE-MPs and PLA-MPs caused liver and intestinal structural damage in mice, mainly manifested as inflammatory cell infiltration and mitochondrial damage, and PLA-MPs caused more serious damage. These findings indicated the toxicities of PLA-MPs in mice were not significantly reduced compared to PE-MPs, which would also provide new insights for re-examining bioplastic safety.
Insights
Biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) and conventional polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) harm mouse gut health and metabolism. PLA-MPs caused more severe liver and intestinal damage than PE-MPs, challenging bioplastic safety assumptions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) from food packaging are ubiquitous.
- Existing research highlights MPs' impact on host metabolism and gut microbiota.
- In vivo health risks of MPs from food containers remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) on mouse plasma metabolism and gut microbiota.
- To compare the in vivo toxicity of biodegradable PLA-MPs versus conventional PE-MPs.
Main Methods:
- Mice were exposed to irregularly shaped PE-MPs and PLA-MPs (1-30 μm particle size) for four weeks.
- Plasma metabolism, gut microbiota composition, and histopathology of liver and intestine were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Both PE-MPs and PLA-MPs disrupted glycerophospholipid and lipid metabolism, with PLA-MPs showing a more potent impact.
- Exposure to both types of MPs increased pathogenic bacteria, altered gut microbiota abundance, and induced liver and intestinal damage, including inflammation and mitochondrial injury.
- PLA-MPs caused more severe metabolic derangement and histopathological damage compared to PE-MPs.
Conclusions:
- Both conventional PE-MPs and biodegradable PLA-MPs pose significant health risks, affecting metabolism and gut microbiota.
- PLA-MPs demonstrate comparable or greater toxicity than PE-MPs, necessitating a re-evaluation of bioplastic safety.
- Findings suggest potential adverse effects on the liver and intestine from microplastic exposure.
