Common microplastics may increase the risk of fatty liver disease, according to a new study. Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) found that polyethylene—the material used in many food packaging and storage containers—can contribute to the buildup of fat in liver cells. The study suggests that exposure to this plastic, combined with a diet high in fat and sugar, may accelerate liver damage more than exposure to the plastic alone.
Why the plastic matters
Scientists have detected microplastics in oceans, drinking water, and the human body, but they are still working to understand the specific health impacts. Polyethylene is the most widely produced plastic in the world, accounting for roughly one-third of all production. It is also one of the least studied regarding its effects on liver health. Adi Joshi, an associate professor at the VMBS, notes that previous research has focused on other types of microplastics, leaving a gap in understanding how this common material affects the body.
For people who regularly consume processed foods or fast food, the combination of environmental exposure and diet could be particularly damaging. The study showed that a Western-style diet—characterized by high fat, fructose, and cholesterol intake—made the effects of polyethylene exposure significantly worse. The researchers identified specific genes and proteins, including PPAR-alpha and ANXA2, that appear to play a role in how the liver responds to the plastic.
What the research shows
The findings, published in Science Advances, used spatial transcriptomics to map where the damage occurs inside the liver tissue. This technology allows researchers to look at gene expression while keeping the physical structure of the tissue intact. The results indicated that polyethylene activates PPAR-alpha, a protein already known to regulate fat production in the liver. The study also identified ANXA2, a gene involved in tissue repair, as a factor in the disease process.
Related: Message may prompt environmental cleanup
While the research offers new insights into the mechanism of liver damage, it also highlights the difficulty of avoiding microplastics in daily life. The study’s authors plan to investigate whether polyethylene contributes to later stages of liver disease, such as fibrosis. They also want to explore whether targeting the PPAR-alpha pathway could reduce the harmful effects of exposure.
Expanding the Mechanism
The researchers emphasized that polyethylene has long been considered one of the more biologically inert microplastics, which made the discovery of its impact on liver health surprising. Rather than appearing harmless, the material demonstrated the potential to influence liver health both on its own and in combination with dietary factors. To understand the biological pathways involved, the team collaborated with researchers at the University of Oklahoma to utilize spatial transcriptomics, an emerging technology that allows scientists to examine gene expression within an intact tissue while retaining the precise physical location of each cell.
Using this high-resolution approach, the investigators pinpointed specific areas of liver damage. They discovered that polyethylene activates PPAR-alpha, a protein already known to regulate fat production in the liver, as a key factor in the organ’s response to microplastic exposure. Furthermore, the team identified ANXA2, a gene involved in tissue repair, as another potential player in the disease process. According to Joshi, identifying this pathway not only helps explain how polyethylene influences liver health but could also point researchers toward new therapeutic strategies.
Future Directions and Impact
The team plans to investigate whether polyethylene contributes to later stages of liver disease, including fibrosis, while continuing to explore additional molecular pathways involved in the body’s response to microplastic exposure. They also hope to determine whether manipulating the PPAR-alpha pathway can reduce polyethylene’s harmful effects on the liver. As scientists continue to uncover the long-term health effects of microplastics, Joshi hopes the findings encourage both researchers and the public to think more carefully about how everyday environmental exposures may influence chronic disease.