在肝硬化组织中检测到微塑料。
Microplastics detected in cirrhotic liver tissue.
机构信息
I. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
出版信息
EBioMedicine. 2022 Aug;82:104147. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104147. Epub 2022 Jul 11.
BACKGROUND
The contamination of ecosystem compartments by microplastics (MPs) is an ubiquitous problem. MPs have been observed in mice tissues, and recently in human blood, stool and placenta. However, two aspects remain unclear: whether MPs accumulate in peripheral organs, specifically in the liver, and if liver cirrhosis favours this process. We aimed to examine human liver tissue samples to determine whether MPs accumulate in the liver.
METHODS
This proof-of-concept case series, conducted in Germany, Europe, analyzed tissue samples of 6 patients with liver cirrhosis and 5 individuals without underlying liver disease. A total of 17 samples (11 liver, 3 kidney and 3 spleen samples) were analyzed according to the final protocol. A reliable method for detection of MP particles from 4 to 30 µm in human tissue was developed. Chemical digestion of tissue samples, staining with Nile red, subsequent fluorescent microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were performed. Morphology, size and composition of MP polymers were assessed.
FINDINGS
Considering the limit of detection, all liver, kidney and spleen samples from patients without underlying liver disease tested negative for MPs. In contrast, MP concentrations in cirrhotic liver tissues tested positive and showed significantly higher concentrations compared to liver samples of individuals without underlying liver disease. Six different microplastic polymers ranging from 4 to 30 µm in size were detected.
INTERPRETATION
This proof-of-concept case series assessed the presence of MPs in human liver tissue and found six different MP polymers in the liver of individuals with liver cirrhosis, but not in those without underlying liver disease. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether hepatic MP accumulation represents a potential cause in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, or a consequence of cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
FUNDING
No funding was received for conducting this investigator driven study.
背景
生态系统各部分受到微塑料（MPs）的污染是一个普遍存在的问题。已经在老鼠组织中观察到 MPs，最近在人类血液、粪便和胎盘组织中也观察到 MPs。然而，有两个方面仍不清楚：MPs 是否在周围器官（特别是肝脏）中积累，以及肝硬化是否有利于这一过程。我们旨在检查人类肝组织样本，以确定 MPs 是否在肝脏中积累。
方法
这是一项在德国进行的概念验证病例系列研究，分析了 6 例肝硬化患者和 5 例无潜在肝脏疾病患者的肝组织样本。总共分析了 17 个样本（11 个肝样本、3 个肾样本和 3 个脾样本），并根据最终方案进行了分析。开发了一种可靠的方法来检测人类组织中 4 至 30 µm 的 MP 颗粒。对组织样本进行化学消化、用尼罗红染色、随后进行荧光显微镜和拉曼光谱分析，评估 MP 聚合物的形态、大小和组成。
结果
考虑到检测限，所有无潜在肝脏疾病患者的肝、肾和脾样本均未检测到 MPs。相比之下，肝硬化患者肝组织中的 MP 浓度呈阳性，且与无潜在肝脏疾病患者的肝样本相比，MP 浓度显著升高。检测到六种不同大小的微塑料聚合物，范围从 4 到 30 µm。
结论
这项概念验证病例系列研究评估了 MPs 在人类肝组织中的存在情况，并在肝硬化患者的肝脏中发现了六种不同的 MP 聚合物，但在无潜在肝脏疾病患者的肝脏中没有发现。需要进一步研究来评估肝内 MPs 积累是否代表纤维化发病机制的潜在原因，或者是肝硬化和门静脉高压的后果。
资助
本研究为研究者驱动研究，未获得任何资助。
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