Marcus M. Garcia, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Aaron S. Romero, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Seth D. Merkley, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Jewel L. Meyer-Hagen, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Charles Forbes, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Eliane El Hayek, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
David P. Sciezka, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Rachel Templeton, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Yan Jin, Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA.
Haiwei Gu, Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA.
Angelica Benavidez, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Russell P. Hunter, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Selita Lucas, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Guy Herbert, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Kyle Joohyung Kim, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA.
Julia Yue Cui, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA.
Rama Gullapalli, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Julie G. In, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Matthew J. Campen, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Eliseo F. Castillo, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-3-2023

Abstract

Global plastic use has consistently increased over the past century with several different types of plastics now being produced. Much of these plastics end up in oceans or landfills leading to a substantial accumulation of plastics in the environment. Plastic debris slowly degrades into microplastics (MPs) that can ultimately be inhaled or ingested by both animals and humans. A growing body of evidence indicates that MPs can cross the gut barrier and enter into the lymphatic and systemic circulation leading to accumulation in tissues such as the lungs, liver, kidney, and brain. The impacts of mixed MPs exposure on tissue function through metabolism remains largely unexplored. To investigate the impact of ingested MPs on target metabolomic pathways, mice were subjected to either polystyrene microspheres or a mixed plastics (5 µm) exposure consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene and the biodegradability and biocompatible plastic, poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid). Exposures were performed twice a week for four weeks at a dose of either 0, 2, or 4 mg/week via oral gastric gavage. Our findings demonstrate that, in mice, ingested MPs can pass through the gut barrier, be translocated through the systemic circulation, and accumulate in distant tissues including the brain, liver, and kidney. Additionally, we report on the metabolomic changes that occur in the colon, liver and brain which show differential responses that are dependent on dose and type of MPs exposure. Lastly, our study provides proof of concept for identifying metabolomic alterations associated with MPs exposure and adds insight into the potential health risks that mixed MPs contamination may pose to humans.

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