| publication name | Hematological consequences of polyethylene microplastics toxicity in male rats: Oxidative stress, genetic, and epigenetic links |
|---|---|
| Authors | Amina A. Farag a, Heba S. Youssef b, Rania E. Sliem c, Walaa Bayoumie El Gazzar d,e, Nashwa Nabil f, Maha M. Mokhtar a, Yasmin M. Marei e, Nesma S. Ismail a, Shaimaa E. Radwaan c, Amira M. Badr g,h, Alaa El-Din Hamid Sayed i,j,* |
| year | 2023 |
| keywords | Polyethylene microplastics Hematological Red blood cells Genotoxicity DNA methylation Epigenecity |
| journal | Toxicology |
| volume | Not Available |
| issue | Not Available |
| pages | Not Available |
| publisher | Not Available |
| Local/International | International |
| Paper Link | Not Available |
| Full paper | download |
| Supplementary materials | Not Available |
Abstract
There have been concerns about the potential health risks posed by microplastics (MP). The detection of MP in a variety of food products revealed that humans are ingesting MP. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data about their impacts, as well as their uptake, on intestinal barrier integrity. This study examined the toxic effects of oral administration of two doses of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) (3.75 or 15 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks; mean particle size: 4.0–6.0 m) on the intestinal barrier integrity in rats. Moreover, the effect of melatonin treatment with MP exposure was also assessed. The PE-MP particle uptake, histopathological changes, Alcian blue staining, Muc2 mRNA, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and TNF-), and cleaved caspase-3, as well as tight junction proteins (claudin-1, myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)) were assessed. Oral administration of PE-MP resulted in apparent jejunal histopathological alterations; significantly decreased mucin secretion, occludin, ZO-1, and claudin-1 expression; and significantly upregulated MLCK mRNA, IL-1 concentration, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Melatonin reversed these altered parameters and improved the PE-MP-induced histopathological and ultrastructure changes. This study highlighted the PE-MP’s toxic effect on intestinal barrier integrity and revealed the protective effect of melatonin.