Polyethylene microplastics induce liver inflammation in calves via rumen microbiota-gut-liver axis (microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com)

• PE-MP reduced weight gain and liver weight in calves.
• Rumen microbiota shifted to Gram-negative bacteria with increased LPS synthesis.
• Liver inflammation via TLR4/NF-κB pathway; no MP accumulation in liver.

"A study in calves demonstrates that dietary polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) impair liver function by disrupting rumen microbiota, activating LPS biosynthesis, and compromising intestinal barriers. This leads to LPS translocation into circulation and liver inflammation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. Metabolomics and transcriptomics confirm the mechanism."