1
Return

Enterohepatic Circulation of Polystyrene Nanoplastics Promotes Intestinal Inflammation by Impairing Enteric Neurons

delete2026-07-08
delete0
PRE
AI
X
Xiaochang Wang
Q
Quanlin Wang
W
Wenqi Jiang
B
Beichen Wang
X
Xuxiang Zhang *
T
Ting Wang *
DOI:10.1021/acsnano.6c00685delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants of increasing concern, yet their in vivo fate and mechanisms of intestinal toxicity remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) undergo a previously overlooked enterohepatic recirculation pathway that markedly enhances their intestinal retention. Using oral exposure and a Zombie mouse model with intravenous PS-NPs delivery, we show that systemically absorbed PS-NPs are efficiently captured by the liver, concentrated in the gallbladder, and subsequently reintroduced into the intestine via bile. Chronic PS-NPs exposure caused pronounced epithelial injury, including goblet cell loss, tight-junction disruption, and robust cytokine-mediated inflammation. Multiomics analyses revealed gut microbial dysbiosis, extensive shifts in metabolite profiles, and enrichment of neuroactive signaling pathways, suggesting microbiome-metabolite contributions to toxicity. We further identified significant enteric neurotoxicity characterized by reduced expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide, increased expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, and downregulation of the mechanosensitive PIEZO1 channel. Together, these findings establish hepatobiliary recycling as a key driver of intestinal PS-NPs accumulation and demonstrate that epithelial damage, microbiome-metabolite imbalance, and enteric nervous system dysfunction collectively mediate PS-NPs-induced gut pathology. This work provides mechanistic insights essential for evaluating the health risks of environmental PS-NPs exposure.
Keywords:
nanoplastics
enterohepatic recirculation
long-term exposure
enteric nervous system
neurotoxicity

Journal

ACS Nano cover
ACS Nano
IF:
16
Papers:
2.6W
Citations:
25.6W

Organization

N
nanjing university
Scholars:
7.6W
Papers: 5.5W
Citations: 87
N
nanjing medical university
Scholars:
6.9K
Papers: 1.8K
Citations: 2
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers