Co-exposure

The effects of co-exposure to Polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and allergens on allergic airway inflammation and airway epithelial barrier were examined in a mouse model of asthma. The mice were divided into the following four groups: (i) Control group, treated only with PBS; (ii) MP group, exposed to PE-MPs and PBS; (iii) Asthma group, sensitized and challenged with HDM; (iv) Asthma+MP group, asthma group intranasally exposed to PE-MPs. Histology and ELISA assays were used to evaluate the severity of airway inflammation. FITC-dextran permeability assay, immunofluorescence assay, and RT-PCR were used to evaluate the airway epithelial barrier function and the expression of relevant molecules. Transcriptomics analysis with lung tissue sequencing was conducted to identify possible pathways responsible for the effects of PE-MPs.