Polystyrene microplastics up-regulates liver glutamine and glutamate synthesis and promotes autophagy-dependent ferroptosis and apoptosis in the cerebellum through the liver-brain axis

Microplastics (MPs), which are emerging environmental pollutants, remain uncertainties in their toxic mechanism. MPs have been linked to severe liver metabolic disorders and neurotoxicity, but it is still unknown whether the abnormal metabolites induced by MPs can affect brain tissue through the liver-brain axis. Exposed to MPs of chickens results in liver metabolic disorders and increased glutamine and glutamate synthesis. The relative expression of glutamine in the C group was -0.862, the L-PS group was 0.271, and the H-PS group was 0.592. The expression of tight junction proteins in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was reduced by PS-MPs. Occludin protein expression decreased by 35.8%-41.2%. Claudin 3 decreased by 19.6%-42.3%, and ZO-1 decreased by 28.3%-44.6%. Excessive glutamine and glutamate cooperated with PS-MPs to inhibit the Nrf2-Keap1-HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway and triggered autophagy-dependent ferroptosis and apoptosis. GPX protein expression decreased by 30.9%-38%. LC3II/LC3I increased by 54%, and Caspase 3 increased by 45%. Eventually, the number of Purkinje cells was reduced, causing neurological dysfunction. In conclusion, this study provides new insights for revealing the mechanism of nervous system damaged caused by PS-MPs exposed in chickens.