Oral subacute polypropylene microplastics administration effect on potential immunotoxicity in ICR mice

Sarina Kusma, Anju Maharjan, Manju Acharya, Da Eun Lee, So Yeon Kim, Chae Won Hwang, Kil Soo Kim, Hyoung Ah Kim, Yong Heo, Chang Yul Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exposure to microplastics may be associated with damage of immune system. Polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) with a wide range of beneficial applications have not been extensively studied with respect to the immune system. The aim of this investigation is to examine the influence of two different sizes of PP-MPs (5.2 and 23.9 μm diameter) on immune system components in ICR mice. PP-MPs were administered orally to female and male mice at 0 (corn oil vehicle), 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg/d for single and daily for 4-week repeated toxicity test, respectively. No significant differences were observed in number of thymic CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD8+ T lymphocytes, splenic helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and B cells. The ratio of interferon-γ to interleukin-4 in culture supernatants from activated splenocytes ex vivo (48 hr) was lower in females which were repeatedly administered with PP-MPs compared to vehicle irrespective of PP-MPs size and dose. In contrast, the opposite trend was observed in males. Production of tumor necrosis factor-α was upregulated in females that were repeatedly exposed to PP-MPs. The serum IgG2a/IgG1 ratio was lowered in female receiving large-size PP-MPs. Data suggest that immune disturbances resulting in predominant type-2 helper T cell reactivity may occur in mice, especially in females, when repeatedly exposed to PP-MPs. Further investigations with longer exposure periods are necessary to determine the immunotoxicities attributed to PP-MPs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)371-380
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part A: Current Issues
Volume87
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

Keywords

  • cytokines
  • gastric intubation
  • immunoglobulins
  • immunotoxicity
  • Polypropylene microplastics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Oral subacute polypropylene microplastics administration effect on potential immunotoxicity in ICR mice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this