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A Comparative Systematic Analysis of The Influence of Microplastics on Colon Cells, Mouse and Colon Organoids

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Background:

Microplastics (MPs) are small fragments from any type of plastic formed from various sources, including plastic waste and microfibers from clothing. MPs degrades slowly, resulting in a high probability of human inhalation, ingestion and accumulation in bodies and tissues. As its impact on humans is a prolonged event, the evaluation of its toxicity and influence on human health are critical. In particular, MPs can enter the human digestive system through food and beverage consumption, and its effect on the human colon needs to be carefully examined.

Methods:

We monitored the influence of small MPs (50 and 100 nm) on human colon cells, human colon organoids and also examined their toxicity and changes in gene expression in vivo in a mouse model.

Results:

The data suggested that 5 mg/mL concentrations of 50 and 100 nm MPs induced a > 20% decrease in colon organoid viability and an increase in the expression of inflammatory-, apoptosis- and immunity-related genes. In addition, in vivo data suggested that 50 nm MPs accumulate in various mouse organs, including the colon, liver, pancreas and testicles after 7 d of exposure.

Conclusion:

Taken together, our data suggest that smaller MPs can induce more toxic effects in the human colon and that human colon organoids have the potential to be used as a predictive tool for colon toxicity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors greatly acknowledge financial support from the Technology Innovation Program at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (20009774) and the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (SI2231-40) of the Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea

    Sung Bum Park, Won Hoon Jung, Kyoung Jin Choi, Byumseok Koh & Ki Young Kim

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  1. Sung Bum Park
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  2. Won Hoon Jung
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Correspondence to Byumseok Koh or Ki Young Kim.

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Ethical statements

All animal experiments were carried out using CD-1(ICR) mice according to the established guidelines of the Institutional Animal Care and Use committee of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology. All animals were maintained under a room illuminated daily from 07:00 to 19:00 (12:12 h light/dark cycle), with a temperature of 23 ± 1 °C, a ventilation of 10—12 times per hour, and a humidity of 55 ± 5%. All in vivo experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Research Committee of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (approval number: 2022-7A-09-01).

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Park, S.B., Jung, W.H., Choi, K.J. et al. A Comparative Systematic Analysis of The Influence of Microplastics on Colon Cells, Mouse and Colon Organoids. Tissue Eng Regen Med 20, 49–58 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-022-00496-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-022-00496-8

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