Image data related to publication "Size-dependent plastic exposure disrupts macrophage function and tissue-specific metabolism"

Citation Metadata

Title title

Image data related to publication "Size-dependent plastic exposure disrupts macrophage function and tissue-specific metabolism"

Author author

1. Author Name

   Makdissi, Nikola

   Author Affiliation

   University of Bonn

2. Author Name

   Viola, Maria Francesca

   Author Affiliation

   University of Bonn

3. Author Name

   Mass, Elvira

   Author Affiliation

   University of Bonn

Dataset Contact datasetContact

1. Dataset Contact Name

   Mass, Elvira

   Dataset Contact Affiliation

   University of Bonn

   Dataset Contact Email

   elvira.mass@uni-bonn.de

Ds Description dsDescription

1. Ds Description Value

   Plastic pollution is an emerging yet understudied environmental risk to the immune system. Once ingested, nano- and microplastic particles (MNPs) can translocate from the gut to internal organs, with macrophages serving as primary targets. Kupffer cells (KCs), the liver-resident macrophages, play a central role in immune surveillance and metabolism, yet their response to MNPs remains unclear. Here, using a chronic plastic exposure model in mice, we identify KCs as the primary hepatic reservoir for MNPs. Long-term exposure alters their transcriptional profile and impairs phagocytic function, leading to metabolic dysregulation of hepatocytes. Microplastics, but not nanoplastics, reduce KC-mediated clearance of circulating cells and bacteria. Under diet-induced obesity, microplastics exacerbates hepatic lipid accumulation, while nanoplastics impair systemic glucose metabolism. Although the blood-brain barrier limits microplastic infiltration, a small fraction of ingested nanoplastics reaches the brain, where it is taken up by microglia, the brain-resident macrophages. However, we observe no signs of neuroinflammation or behavioral deficits. These findings demonstrate that chronic MNP exposure disrupts macrophage function in a size-dependent manner, with distinct consequences for liver and systemic metabolism, while the brain remains largely protected. Understanding tissue-specific vulnerabilities to MNPs is crucial for assessing their long-term health impact.

Subject subject

1. Medicine, Health and Life Sciences

Free Keyword freeKeyword

1. Free Keyword Value

   nano & microplastic ingestion

2. Free Keyword Value

   Kupffer cells

3. Free Keyword Value

   macrophages

4. Free Keyword Value

   liver

5. Free Keyword Value

   high fat diet

Publication publication

1. Publication Relation Type

   IsSupplementTo

   Publication Citation

   Nikola Makdissi, Maria Francesca Viola, Lisa Steinheuer et al. Size-dependent plastic exposure disrupts macrophage function and tissue-specific metabolism, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square

   Publication IDType

   doi

   Publication IDNumber

   10.21203/rs.3.rs-6204281/v1

   Publication URL

   https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6204281/v1

Contributor contributor

1. Contributor Type

   Supervisor

   Contributor Name

   Dagmar Wachten

2. Contributor Type

   Researcher

   Contributor Name

   Virginia Aliprandi

3. Contributor Type

   Researcher

   Contributor Name

   Marina Mayer

4. Contributor Type

   Researcher

   Contributor Name

   Katharina Sieckmann

5. Contributor Type

   Researcher

   Contributor Name

   Nele Kronau

Grant Number grantNumber

1. Grant Number Agency

   European Research Council (ERC)

   Grant Number Value

   851257

2. Grant Number Agency

   EMBO fellowship

   Grant Number Value

   ATLF 873-2023

3. Grant Number Agency

   DFG

   Grant Number Value

   GRK1873/2

Depositor depositor

Makdissi, Nikola

Date Of Deposit dateOfDeposit

2025-12-20