Commentary on “Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics exposure enhances the risk of ulcerative colitis: insights from multiomics integration, machine learning, and molecular docking reveal intestinal toxicity mechanisms”
Abstract
We read with great interest the article by Yang et al[1], published in the International Journal of Surgery entitled “Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics exposure enhances the risk of ulcerative colitis: insights from multiomics integration, machine learning, and molecular docking reveal intestinal toxicity mechanisms.” This study represents a valuable exploration into uncovering the association between polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) and ulcerative colitis (UC), as well as their underlying molecular mechanisms. For the first time, the authors integrated interdisciplinary techniques including multiomics, machine learning, and molecular docking to identify four hub genes – CTSK, NAAA, PDE4B, and PFKFB3 – and ultimately validated the exacerbating effect of PET-MPs on intestinal inflammation through animal experiments, shedding light on the correlation between pollutants such as plastics and the pathological mechanisms of ulcerative colitis. We sincerely commend the authors for their innovative contributions in study design and technical application. Beyond their findings, we aim to put forward several supplementary considerations focusing on the completeness and rigor of the animal experimental design, with the goal of further enhancing the reliability and clinical translational value of the research conclusions. This commentary also adheres to the provisions of the 2025 TITAN Guidelines regarding the declaration and use of artificial intelligence in…
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