Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The increasing prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rising pollution from micro-and nanoplastic (MNP) particles has prompted investigations on their potential interconnection. To elucidate the complex relationship between IBD and exposure to MNPs, we induced colitis in mice using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and orally administered a mixture of polystyrene (PS) MNPs (diameter 10, 1, and 0.29 µm). These particles enabled a detailed examination of MNP biodistribution, innate immune cell response and gut microbiome alterations under inflammatory conditions. Specifically, the nanosized PS particles predominantly accumulated in the bloodstream and excretory organs, with enhanced accumulation in the inflamed gut/colon. Proteomic analysis of the colon revealed alterations in molecular pathways related to protein transport, metabolism, and immune responses. Specifically, we found macrophage proteome signatures with pro-inflammatory polarization, highlighting the intricate effects of MNPs on inflammation and immune cell behavior. Moreover, MNPs significantly disrupted the gut microbiome, reducing microbial diversity and shifting bacterial populations towards pro-inflammatory and potentially pathogenic species. These changes suggest that MNP exposure could exacerbate colitis through complex interactions involving MNPs, immune responses, and microbial dynamics. The fast-growing exposure to MNPs underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address MNP pollution, its implications for disease, and potential impacts on public health.
Source: Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Authors: Verena Kopatz, Ulrike Resch, Kristina Draganic, Angela Horvath, Janette Pfneissl, Julijan Kabiljo, Bernadette Mödl, Gerald Timelthaler, Julia Wallner, Zeynab Mirzaei, Saule Beratlyte, Michaela Schlederer, Stefan Sarbu, Simina Laslau, Oldamur Hollóczki, Martin Raigel, Elisabeth S. Gruber, Joachim Widder, Iris Kufferath, Marion Pollheimer, Wolfgang Wadsak, George Sarau, Silke Christiansen, Nikola Zlatkov Kolev, Marcus Krueger, Robert Eferl, Gerda Egger, Vanessa Stadlbauer, Verena Pichler, Lukas Kenner
Institutions: Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Center For Biomarker Research In Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases, Medical University of Graz, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Applied Diagnostics, University of Debrecen, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems, Freie Universität Berlin, Umeå University, University of Vienna
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,490
Funders: Österreichische Nationalstiftung für Forschung, Technologie und Entwicklung, European Commission, Universität Wien, Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft, Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft, Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft, Siemens Healthineers, Bundesministerium für Digitalisierung und Wirtschaftsstandort
Award: G434337789
OpenAlex ID: W7116830779