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El Gazzar WB, Sliem RE, Bayoumi H, Nasr HE, Shabanah M, Elalfy A, Radwaan SE, Gebba MA, Mansour HM, Badr AM, Amer MF, Ashour SS, Morsi H, Aboelkomsan ESAF, Baioumy B, Sayed AEDH, Farag AA. Melatonin Alleviates Intestinal Barrier Damaging Effects Induced by Polyethylene Microplastics in Albino Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13619. [PMID: 37686424 PMCID: PMC10488227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been concerns about the potential health risks posed by microplastics (MP). The detection of MP in a variety of food products revealed that humans are ingesting MP. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data about their impacts, as well as their uptake, on intestinal barrier integrity. This study examined the toxic effects of oral administration of two doses of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) (3.75 or 15 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks; mean particle size: 4.0-6.0 µm) on the intestinal barrier integrity in rats. Moreover, the effect of melatonin treatment with MP exposure was also assessed. The PE-MP particle uptake, histopathological changes, Alcian blue staining, Muc2 mRNA, proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), and cleaved caspase-3, as well as tight junction proteins (claudin-1, myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)) were assessed. Oral administration of PE-MP resulted in apparent jejunal histopathological alterations; significantly decreased mucin secretion, occludin, ZO-1, and claudin-1 expression; and significantly upregulated MLCK mRNA, IL-1β concentration, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Melatonin reversed these altered parameters and improved the PE-MP-induced histopathological and ultrastructure changes. This study highlighted the PE-MP's toxic effect on intestinal barrier integrity and revealed the protective effect of melatonin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walaa Bayoumie El Gazzar
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt;
| | - Rania E. Sliem
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt; (R.E.S.); (S.E.R.)
| | - Heba Bayoumi
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt; (H.B.); (A.E.)
| | - Hend Elsayed Nasr
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt;
| | - Manar Shabanah
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35511, Egypt;
| | - Amira Elalfy
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt; (H.B.); (A.E.)
| | - Shaimaa E. Radwaan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt; (R.E.S.); (S.E.R.)
| | - Mohammed A. Gebba
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt; (M.A.G.)
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Merit University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
| | - Heba M. Mansour
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Manufacturing, Misr University for Science and Technology, 6th of October City 12573, Egypt;
| | - Amul M. Badr
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt; (A.M.B.); (M.F.A.); (S.S.A.); (H.M.)
| | - Marwa Fathy Amer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt; (A.M.B.); (M.F.A.); (S.S.A.); (H.M.)
| | - Sara S. Ashour
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt; (A.M.B.); (M.F.A.); (S.S.A.); (H.M.)
| | - Heba Morsi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11451, Egypt; (A.M.B.); (M.F.A.); (S.S.A.); (H.M.)
| | | | - Bodour Baioumy
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt; (M.A.G.)
| | | | - Amina A. Farag
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt;
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