Prolonged oral ingestion of microplastics induced inflammation in the liver tissues of C57BL/6J mice through polarization of macrophages and increased infiltration of natural killer cells

Nanoplastics and Microplastics May Be Damaging Our Livers

“…Studies have shown that NPs can increase the infiltration of macrophages in the liver, upregulate M1 macrophages, and downregulate M2 macrophages. C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with 500 nm PS-NPs consecutively for 4 weeks (0.5 mg/day), and the percentage of macrophages and M1 macrophages were significantly increased after NPs exposure, while the percentage of M2 macrophages was significantly decreased [ 98 ]. Macrophages can be activated and differentiated into two different types of cells, M1 and M2, among which M1 mainly secretes proinflammatory factors and plays an important role in the early stage of inflammation, while M2 expresses the inhibiting inflammatory factors, which play a role in inhibiting the inflammatory response and repairing tissue in the body [ 99 ].…”

“…Macrophages can be activated and differentiated into two different types of cells, M1 and M2, among which M1 mainly secretes proinflammatory factors and plays an important role in the early stage of inflammation, while M2 expresses the inhibiting inflammatory factors, which play a role in inhibiting the inflammatory response and repairing tissue in the body [ 99 ]. After injecting 500 nm PS-NPs in mice for 4 weeks, the expression of the inflammatory factors such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the liver was increased, and the levels of P65 and phosphorylated P65 proteins with the NF-κB pathway increased, indicating that NPs may activate the NF-κB signaling pathway in the liver [ 98 ] ( Figure 3 ). The parameters and effects of liver inflammation caused by MPs and NPs are shown in Table 5 .…”

The impact of plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic: The point of view of the environmental science literature

“…It is known that microplastics are ubiquitous, and humans are exposed to them. Literature has depicted several risks to human health due to exposure to microplastics, mainly inflammation [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] . Recently, some authors revealed a correlation between fecal microplastics and inflammatory bowel disease [31] .…”

Microplastic Exposure and the of Parkinson’s Disease

“…Multiple studies suggest that exposure to microplastics has led to the activation of the inflammatory response in both vertebrates and invertebrates (Usman et al, 2021); (Chia-Yu Huangg, 2022;Zhao et al, 2021); (Qiao, 2019;Rodriguez-Seijo, 2017). In one study, mice ingesting microplastics demonstrated liver damage, which is a key organ in detecting pathogens and activating the immune response (Zhao et al, 2021).…”

“…Multiple studies suggest that exposure to microplastics has led to the activation of the inflammatory response in both vertebrates and invertebrates (Usman et al, 2021); (Chia-Yu Huangg, 2022;Zhao et al, 2021); (Qiao, 2019;Rodriguez-Seijo, 2017). In one study, mice ingesting microplastics demonstrated liver damage, which is a key organ in detecting pathogens and activating the immune response (Zhao et al, 2021). Additionally, the study found that MPs suppressed T cells and B cells in the liver, enhanced natural killer cell activation, increased infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes, and induced inflammatory cytokine production through the NF-κB pathway (Zhao et al, 2021).…”