Microplastics are already present almost everywhere: in the oceans, in drinking water, in food packaging and even in the human body. But the question of what consequences their continuous exposure to them can have on health remains an issue that is still being studied.
A new study from the Texas College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences A.
Polyethylene, a plastic present in everyday life
Polyethylene is widely used in food packaging, plastic wrap, storage containers and other materials of daily use. According to researchers, it makes up about a third of global plastic production, but its impact on the liver has been less studied than some other types of plastic.
The research team focused on the question of whether exposure to polyethylene could contribute to the development of changes associated with fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat accumulates in liver cells.
The results showed an increase in several markers associated with this disease. The effect was even more pronounced when polyethylene exposure was combined with a Western-style diet high in fat, fructose, and cholesterol.
According to the researchers, this raises the possibility that exposure to microplastics and a metabolism-straining diet may act together to increase stress on the liver.
How the damage was identified
To better understand the mechanisms involved, the scientists used spatial transcriptomics, a technology that enables the analysis of gene activity within tissues while preserving the location of cells.
Through this method, the researchers identified specific areas of liver damage and observed the activation of PPAR-alpha, a protein that plays an important role in regulating fat metabolism in the liver.
They also identified ANXA2, a gene associated with tissue repair processes, as a potential factor in the observed mechanism.
According to the team, identifying these biological pathways could help to better understand how microplastics can affect the organism and, in the future, to develop possible therapeutic strategies.
Can polyethylene lead to more serious injuries?
The study does not provide a definitive answer on the long-term impact of microplastics on humans. The researchers plan to analyze whether polyethylene may also play a role in more advanced stages of liver disease, including fibrosis, and whether interfering with the PPAR-alpha pathway may help limit the harmful effects.
However, the results do not mean that a single plastic product or exposure causes liver disease. The study provides mostly experimental data that warrants further investigation, particularly to understand whether these effects replicate in humans.
At a time when microplastics have become part of everyday exposure, researchers emphasize the need to better understand the interaction between them, nutrition and other factors that affect liver health.
