School of Environmental Science and Safety Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China.
Tianjin Institute of Environment and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China.
Environ Int. 2024 Jun;188:108744. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108744. Epub 2024 May 11.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a global environmental issue, and increasing concern has been raised about its impact on human health. Current studies on the toxic effects and mechanisms of MPs have mostly been conducted in animal models or in vitro cell cultures, which have limitations regarding inter-species differences or stimulation of cellular functions. Organoid technology derived from human pluripotent or adult stem cells has broader prospects for predicting the potential health risks of MPs to humans. Herein, we reviewed the current application advancements and opportunities for different organoids, including brain, retinal, intestinal, liver, and lung organoids, to assess the human health risks of MPs. Organoid techniques accurately simulate the complex processes of MPs and reflect phenotypes related to diseases caused by MPs such as liver fibrosis, neurodegeneration, impaired intestinal barrier and cardiac hypertrophy. Future perspectives were also proposed for technological innovation in human risk assessment of MPs using organoids, including extending the lifespan of organoids to assess the chronic toxicity of MPs, and reconstructing multi-organ interactions to explore their potential in studying the microbiome-gut-brainaxis effect of MPs.
微塑料 (MP) 污染已成为全球性的环境问题，其对人类健康的影响引起了越来越多的关注。目前关于 MPs 的毒性作用和机制的研究大多在动物模型或体外细胞培养中进行，这些研究在种间差异或细胞功能刺激方面存在局限性。源自人类多能或成体干细胞的类器官技术在预测 MPs 对人类潜在健康风险方面具有更广阔的前景。本文综述了不同类器官（包括脑、视网膜、肠、肝和肺类器官）在评估 MPs 对人类健康风险方面的最新应用进展和机遇。类器官技术能够准确模拟 MPs 的复杂过程，并反映与 MPs 引起的疾病相关的表型，如肝纤维化、神经退行性变、肠道屏障受损和心脏肥大。还提出了利用类器官进行人类 MP 风险评估的技术创新的未来展望，包括延长类器官的寿命以评估 MPs 的慢性毒性，以及重建多器官相互作用以探索其在研究 MPs 的微生物组-肠道-大脑轴效应方面的潜力。
