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.
Keywords: Colon organoids; Differentiation; Microplastics; Normal colon cells; Toxicity.
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