Polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) as an issue of global environmental concern, have been shown to induce hepatic toxicity via triggering oxidative injury and inflammation. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is initiated when excessive lipid is accumulated in the liver and will proceed to liver fibrosis with repeatedly chronic liver injury. In this study, we examined whether intravenous injection of PS-NPs could enhance the hepatic toxicity and potentiate the development of liver fibrosis in experimental high fat diet (HFD)-induced mice. The results demonstrated that PS-NPs could aggravate chronic hepatitis by interfere with liver lipid metabolism in HFD induced mice. Further, hepatic tissue in PS-NPs treated HFD mice displayed substantially lowered superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, which confirming the oxidative stress induced by PS-NPs. PS-NPs exposure also resulted in the up-regulation of inflammation response in liver, as evidenced by the enhanced infiltration of Kupffer cells (KCs) and elevated expression of pro-inflammatory related indicators. Meanwhile, Masson trichrome staining revealed that PS-NPs could aggravate steatohepatitis with higher collagen fiber in HFD fed mice. Our data suggests that PS-NPs can induce oxidative stress and inflammation in HDF-induced experimental mice and further aggravate liver fibrosis, which highlight the potential health risks of PS-NPs.

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聚苯乙烯纳米塑料促进高脂肪饮食喂养小鼠肝纤维化的发展

聚苯乙烯纳米粒子 (PS-NPs) 作为全球环境问题，已被证明通过引发氧化损伤和炎症来诱导肝脏毒性。非酒精性脂肪性肝病 (NAFLD) 当过多的脂质在肝脏中积累时就开始了，并会继续发展为肝纤维化，并伴有反复的慢性肝损伤。在这项研究中，我们检查了静脉注射 PS-NPs 是否可以增强实验性高脂肪饮食 (HFD) 诱导的小鼠的肝毒性并促进肝纤维化的发展。结果表明，PS-NPs可通过干扰HFD诱导小鼠的肝脏脂质代谢而加重慢性肝炎。此外，PS-NPs 处理的 HFD 小鼠的肝组织显示出显着降低的超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 活性，这证实了 PS-NPs 诱导的氧化应激。PS-NPs 暴露还导致肝脏炎症反应的上调，正如库普弗细胞 (KCs) 浸润增强和促炎相关指标表达升高所证明的那样。同时，Masson 三色染色显示 PS-NPs 可以加重 HFD 喂养小鼠中胶原纤维较高的脂肪性肝炎。我们的数据表明，PS-NPs 可以在 HDF 诱导的实验小鼠中诱导氧化应激和炎症，并进一步加重肝纤维化，这突出了 PS-NPs 的潜在健康风险。Masson 三色染色显示 PS-NPs 可以加重 HFD 喂养小鼠中胶原纤维较高的脂肪性肝炎。我们的数据表明，PS-NPs 可以在 HDF 诱导的实验小鼠中诱导氧化应激和炎症，并进一步加重肝纤维化，这突出了 PS-NPs 的潜在健康风险。Masson 三色染色显示 PS-NPs 可以加重 HFD 喂养小鼠中胶原纤维较高的脂肪性肝炎。我们的数据表明，PS-NPs 可以在 HDF 诱导的实验小鼠中诱导氧化应激和炎症，并进一步加重肝纤维化，这突出了 PS-NPs 的潜在健康风险。