A novel 3D intestine barrier model to study the immune response upon exposure to microplastics
Abstract
The plausibility of human exposure to microplastics has increased within the last years. Microplastics have been found in different food types including seafood, salt, sugar and beverages. So far, human health effects of microplastics after ingestion are unknown. Herein, we designed a novel, three-dimensional in vitro intestinal model consisting of the human intestinal epithelial cell lines Caco-2 and HT29-MTX-E12 as well as human blood monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells that is suitable to assess the possible effects of ingested microplastics. Relevant microplastic particles (in the order of 50-500 µm), including polymers representing tire wear and polyolefins, which represent major sources of microplastic in the EU, were compared to other polymer classes and an inorganic microparticle, healing earth, which is intended for human consumption. Microplastic particles were exposed at concentrations of 823.5-1380.0 µg/cm 2 to the model using a dry powder insufflator system to aerosolize the particles directly on the intestinal model's surface. Cytotoxicity was investigated after 6, 24 and 48 h of exposure via measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase. Inflammatory end points including the cytokines IL-8, TNFα and IL-1β as well as changes of the barrier integrity after exposure were additionally monitored. We demonstrated that all of the microplastics and the healing earth particles did not cause any significant cytotoxicity or release of (pro-)inflammatory cytokines and did not change the barrier integrity of the co-culture at any of the time points investigated.
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It is unclear if toxicological effects from physical or chemical mechanisms of microplastics are occurring in humans, and at what thresholds effects occur.
“However, it is unclear if toxicological effects from either of these mechanisms are occurring in humans, and at what thresholds effects occur.”
From Microplastics and Anthropogenic Particles in Recreationally Caught Freshwater Fish from an Urbanized Region of the North American Great Lakes (2024) · cites this paper as [69]
There are conflicting reports of no acute toxicity from microplastics.
“there are also conflicting reports of no acute toxicity from microplastics.69,70”
From Microplastics and Anthropogenic Particles in Recreationally Caught Freshwater Fish from an Urbanized Region of the North American Great Lakes (2024) · cites this paper as [69]
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“69,70 Discrepancies are likely due to exposure experiments using di ff erent concentrations, but also these variations in results could be relevant to the polymer type, morphology, or size used in the study.”
- Authors
- Lehner, R., Wohlleben, W., Septiadi, D., Landsiedel, R., Petri-Fink, A., & Rothen-Rutishauser, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Fribourg (CH)
- BASF (Germany) (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Lehner, Roman
- Venue
- Archives of Toxicology
- Published
- 2020-04-19
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2463-2479
- ISSN
- 0340-5761 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-0738
- OpenAlex
- W3016771629
- Cited by
- 123
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 3.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Toxicology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- reroDoc Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Adolphe Merkle Foundation
- BASF
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- microplastics, intestinal barrier, Caco-2 cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, cytotoxicity, inflammatory cytokines, barrier integrity, polyolefins, tire wear particles, aerosols
- MeSH terms
- Microplastics, Aerosols, Cell Survival, Dendritic Cells, Humans, Intestinal Mucosa, Macrophages, Particle Size, Permeability, Time Factors, Cytokines, Electric Impedance, Risk Assessment, Inflammation Mediators, Coculture Techniques, Caco-2 Cells, HT29 Cells
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