Microplastics exacerbate tissue damage and promote carcinogenesis following liver infection in mice
Haipeng Huang, Jiaqi Hou, Chengze Yu, Fangchao Wei, Beidou Xi
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, posing a substantial threat to human well-being. Microplastics (MPs) exposure can harm human health and the carcinogenicity of MP remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated carcinogenesis by MPs exposure. We observed MP significantly exacerbated hepatic injury in infectious conditions. In addition, cancer-related p53 and p21 signals are activated by MPs. Analysis of the liver transcriptomic landscape uncovered a noteworthy intensification of the carcinogenesis pathway by MPs compared with pre-infection. The transcription factor SALL2 could act as an oncogenic promoter in the promotion of cancer regulated by MPs. Further, big data analysis presents the correlation between MPs pollution and human hepatocellular carcinoma. This work revealed a toxic amplification effect of the non-bioactive MPs on the bioactive pathogens. This finding provides new insight into understanding the potential toxicity of the MPs. • The toxicity of microplastics has been investigated for the first time in an infected state in mice. • A toxic amplification effect of non-bioactive microplastics on the infection of bioactive pathogens has been observed. • This toxic amplification has induced a carcinogenic pathway. • The transcription factor SALL2 may play a potential role in microplastic-promoted cancer induction.