Visalli Giuseppa, Facciolà Alessio, Pruiti Ciarello Marianna, De Marco Giuseppe, Maisano Maria, Di Pietro Angela
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 28;18(11):5833. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115833.
Due to ingestion of contaminated foods, the human gastrointestinal tract is the most likely site of exposure to microplastics (MPs) with gut barrier dysfunction and intestinal inflammation. Aimed to assess the effects induced by MPs with different granulometry (polystyrene (PS) 3 and 10 µm), we performed an in vitro study by using the human intestinal cell line HT29. As a novelty, we assessed the sub-chronic exposure extending the treatment up to 48 days simulating the in vivo situation. In the range of 100-1600 particles mL, both the PS suspensions had moderate cytotoxicity after 24 h with percentages of mortality between 6.7 and 21.6 for the 10 µm and 6.1 and 29.6 for the 3 µm PS. Microscopic observation highlighted a more pronounced lysosomal membrane permeabilization in HT29 exposed to PS 3µm. Reactive oxygen species production was higher in cells exposed to PS 10 µm, but sub-chronic exposure highlighted the ability of the cells to partially neutralize this effect. Comet-assay confirmed the temporary oxidative damage that was PS-induced. Overall, considering the very fast turnover of intestinal cells, the increase in cell mortality, equal to 25% and 11% for 3 and 10 µm PS-MPs for each time point, could trigger intestinal disorders due to prolonged exposure.
由于摄入受污染的食物，人类胃肠道是最有可能接触微塑料（MPs）的部位，会出现肠道屏障功能障碍和肠道炎症。为了评估不同粒度的微塑料（聚苯乙烯（PS）3微米和10微米）所诱导的影响，我们使用人类肠道细胞系HT29进行了一项体外研究。新颖之处在于，我们评估了长达48天的亚慢性暴露，以模拟体内情况。在100 - 1600个颗粒/毫升的范围内，两种PS悬浮液在24小时后均具有中等细胞毒性，10微米PS的死亡率百分比在6.7%至21.6%之间，3微米PS的死亡率百分比在6.1%至29.6%之间。显微镜观察突出显示，暴露于3微米PS的HT29细胞中溶酶体膜通透性更高。暴露于10微米PS的细胞中活性氧的产生更高，但亚慢性暴露突出显示细胞有能力部分抵消这种影响。彗星试验证实了PS诱导的暂时性氧化损伤。总体而言，考虑到肠道细胞的更新速度非常快，每个时间点3微米和10微米PS - MPs导致的细胞死亡率分别增加25%和11%，长期暴露可能引发肠道疾病。
