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Inhaled polystyrene microplastics impaired lung function through pulmonary flora/TLR4-mediated iron homeostasis imbalance
Breathing in tiny plastic particles may harm lung function by disrupting lung bacteria and iron balance through immune pathways
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Abstract
Exposure to 5 μm polystyrene microplastics for 60 days resulted in significant lung injury in mice.
- Inhalation of polystyrene microplastics increased collagen fibers in lung tissue.
- Lung barrier permeability and function were decreased following exposure to microplastics.
- The abundance of gram-negative bacteria in the lung increased after exposure, leading to lipopolysaccharide release.
- The expression of Toll-like receptor 4, which responds to lipopolysaccharides, was elevated.
- Ferroptosis, a type of cell death, occurred in the lung tissue cells following exposure.
- An imbalance in lung iron homeostasis may play a role in the lung injury caused by microplastics.
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