In adolescents, higher levels of white blood cells may explain a small portion of the link between exposure to a common chemical called mono-benzyl phthalate and the early buildup of fat in the liver.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Plastic chemicals can trigger a body-wide inflammatory response that causes the liver to store more fat and burn less of it, leading to fatty liver. Another chemical in plastics can do something similar by messing with the liver’s hormone signals, but this happens without inflammation and is less...
Most probable mechanism
When a person is exposed to certain plastics, chemicals from those plastics enter the bloodstream and trigger white blood cells to become more active. These overactive white blood cells release signals that cause the liver to store more fat and break down less fat, leading to a buildup of fat in the liver over time.
Phthalate metabolites enter systemic circulation and bind to immune cell receptors, activating pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.
Activated immune cells increase circulating white blood cell counts and release cytokines that promote systemic inflammation.
Inflammatory mediators reach the liver and activate signaling pathways that enhance lipid synthesis while suppressing lipid oxidation and export.
Chronic lipid accumulation in hepatocytes leads to hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Less supported by current evidence, but not ruled out
Another chemical found in plastics can bind to hormone receptors in the liver, causing the liver to make more fat and burn less fat, which leads to fat buildup even without strong inflammation.
Bisphenol A binds to estrogen and fat-regulating receptors in liver cells.
Receptor binding changes gene activity to increase fat production and reduce mitochondrial energy use.
Reduced mitochondrial function increases oxidative stress and impairs fat clearance from liver cells.
Lipid accumulation progresses to hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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