Polystyrene nanoplastics trigger ferroptosis to aggravate ulcerative colitis: Integrated multi-database...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Gastroenterology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are emerging environmental pollutants with potential human health impacts.
• Rising incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) suggests environmental factors may play a role.
• The specific link between PS-NPs exposure and UC pathogenesis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between PS-NPs exposure and ulcerative colitis (UC).
• To elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms of PS-NPs in UC.
• To identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

• Integrated multi-database and transcriptome data to identify common targets of polystyrene and UC.
• Employed machine learning to screen hub genes and develop a UC risk score model.
• Validated findings using in vitro and in vivo experimental models of PS-NPs exposure and UC.

Main Results:

• Identified five key cross-genes (VCAM1, IL10, GPX3, GSTP1, CAT) associated with oxidative stress, glutathione metabolism, and ferroptosis.
• The developed risk score model demonstrated strong predictive performance for UC.
• In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that PS-NPs exposure exacerbates UC, potentially via the ferroptosis signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

• Five major genes linked to microplastic exposure and UC were identified.
• These genetic markers are strongly associated with ferroptosis and possess high predictive value.
• These findings suggest potential utility as diagnostic indicators and novel therapeutic targets for ulcerative colitis.