Exposure to polystyrene microplastics triggers lung injury via targeting toll-like receptor 2 and activation of the NF-κB signal in mice

Chronic exposure to small polystyrene microplastics (1-5 μm) causes severe inflammatory responses and lung damage in mice.

• Histopathological analysis revealed significant inflammation, cell death, and collagen buildup in mouse lungs after exposure to polystyrene microplastics.
• Smaller microplastic sizes (1-5 μm) caused more pronounced lung damage compared to larger sizes (10-20 μm).
• Increased levels of TLR2 mRNA were observed, indicating a potential role in the inflammatory response triggered by microplastics.
• Polystyrene microplastics heightened inflammation in human kidney cells identified by TLR2 expression.
• Exposure to small microplastics led to increased oxidative stress and cell death, promoting lung fibrosis.
• Blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, limiting cell death and fibrosis progression.

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