Polystyrene nanoplastics promote the blood-brain barrier dysfunction through autophagy pathway and excessive erythrophagocytosis

Polystyrene nanoplastics promote the blood-brain barrier dysfunction through autophagy pathway and excessive erythrophagocytosis

There is increasing concern regarding the risks posed by plastics to human health. Nano-sized plastics enter the body through various exposure routes. Although nano-sized particles circulate through the bloodstream and access the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the harmful impacts of nano-sized plastics...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eun-Hye Kim, Seung Mi Baek, Han Jin Park, Yiying Bian, Han Young Chung, Ok-Nam Bae
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Subjects:
Polystyrene nanoplastics
Blood-brain barrier
Endothelial cells
Erythrophagocytosis
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324015471
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Summary:There is increasing concern regarding the risks posed by plastics to human health. Nano-sized plastics enter the body through various exposure routes. Although nano-sized particles circulate through the bloodstream and access the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the harmful impacts of nano-sized plastics on BBB function including endothelial cells are not well known. In this study, polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NP) resulted in hyperpermeability and damaged tight junction proteins in brain endothelial cells. We identified that PS-NP increased intracellular iron levels by inhibiting the autophagy pathway in brain endothelial cells. Our study showed that dysregulated autophagy pathways led to increased BBB permeability induced by PS-NP treatment. In addition, PS-NP caused excessive erythrophagocytosis in brain endothelial cells via damaged red blood cells. PS-NP-treated RBCs (NP-RBC) induced the BBB dysfunction and increased intracellular iron levels and ferroptosis in brain endothelial cells. We provide novel insights into the potential risks of nano-sized plastics in BBB function by interaction between cells as well as direct exposure. Our study will help to understand the cardiovascular toxicity of nano-sized plastics.
ISSN:0147-6513

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