Prior exposure to microplastics heightened the susceptibility of small intestine to radiation-induced injury in C57BL/6 mice.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in multiple human organs, raising concerns about their potential health risks. The intestinal tract is particularly vulnerable to MPs exposure and accumulation. Radiotherapy often causes side effects such as radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII). Although previous studies have shown that MPs exacerbate RIII by altering gut microbiota, their effect on the small intestine's intrinsic sensitivity to radiation remains unclear. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were preexposed to MPs for a short period and then irradiated with 4 or 10 Gy to evaluate intestinal injury. Proteomic analysis of small intestine was performed to identify changes in protein expression. Short-term MPs exposure alone caused minimal intestinal damage. While 4 Gy irradiation did not ca

SUBMITTER: Xu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12460044 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature