Project description:Microplastics represent a growing environmental concern for the oceans due to their potential capability to adsorb different classes of pollutants, thus representing a still unexplored source of exposure for aquatic organisms. In this study polystyrene (PS) microplastics were characterized for their capability to adsorb pyrene (PYR) as model compound for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and transfer this chemical to filter feeding mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. Gene expression analyses of Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to polystyrene (PS) microplastics and to polystyrene contaminated with pyrene (PS-PYR) have been performed trough a DNA microarray platform.
Project description:Ingested microplastics (MPs) can accumulate throughout whole body, which may induce the dysfunction of immune system. However, it remains unclear how MP exposure affects innate immune responses at the cellular level. We found that mouse neutrophils strongly bind and then engulf polystyrene MPs. This interaction leads to proinflammatory state of neutrophils and eventually results in apoptotic cell death through toll-like receptor signaling pathway in a bacteria-recognition mimetic manner. Moreover, our data verified that orally administered polystyrene MPs reach various organs in mice, where they are interacted with and endocytosed by neutrophils. We confirmed that human neutrophils also strongly bind and internalize polystyrene MPs. Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis of polystyrene MPs-exposed human neutrophils showed the upregulation of cell death-related function. Therefore, the accumulated MPs may exacerbate inflammatory immune response by disrupting neutrophil function. These results provide novel insight into the adverse responses of neutrophils induced by MP exposure.
Project description:Microplastics (MPs) as widespread contamination pose high risk for aquatic organisms.Intestinal microbiotahas have high interaction with immune system of host body. In this study, intestinal microbiota of zebrafish after Polystyrene (PS-MPs) exposure were characterized by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. We found that 100nm and 200μm PS-MPs exposure significantly increased diversity of intestinal microbiota and all the three sizes of PS-MPs increased abundance of pathogenic bacteria.
Project description:Microplastics (MPs) are considered as one of the main reasons for male and female infertility. However, the reproductive toxicity and its related mechanisms are understood by animal models with acute exposure to MPs at present. In the study, we show the low-dose polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) exposure results in severely abnormal reproduction in female, but not male in mouse model, exhibiting failed oocyte meiotic maturation. Mechanistically, the PSMPs exposure induces the over-activation of cell metabolism pathways, insufficient HDACs and H4K16 hyperacetylation in oocytes in vivo and in vitro. By addition of HDAC3 inhibitor, the failed oocyte maturation, over-activation of cell metabolism pathways and H4K16 hyperacetylation are recapitulated, and the overexpression of HDAC3 can rescue the defects of meiotic maturation induced by PSMPs. Our observations suggest a direct link of the maturation defects induced by PSMPs to HDAC3 insufficiency. Thus, we propose the potential treatments for therapy of the failed meiotic maturation of oocyte from women highly exposed to MPs by activating or supplying HDAC3.
Project description:Microplastics are defined as plastics ranging in size from 0.1μm to 5mm. Currently, research is being conducted across various fields to examine the effects of microplastics. Some studies demonstrated negative impacts on cells and mice. However, there is a lack of research on the effects by long-term exposure to microplastics. Most of the papers evaluated cytotoxicity with period of less than 2 months. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the potential issues that may arise from prolonged exposure through food mixed with Polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP) for over a year. We divided our study into short, mid, and long-term periods to assess cytotoxicity through Glucose tolerance test, Insulin tolerance test, analysis of insulin and c-peptide levels, hanging, grip, treadmill, Y-maze and open field tests, Respiratory Exchange Ratio, Energy Expenditure, Activity, and body composition. Through this, we comprehensively examined potential issues related to mouse behavior, muscle, metabolism and other factors. After dissection, RNA sequencing was carried out to investigate the effects on genes. For further verification, RT-qPCR was conducted. To summarize, our study provides evidence suggesting that treatment of microplastics for a short term has adverse effects, but with prolonged exposure, their effects tend to diminish.
Project description:Microplastics (MPs) as widespread contamination pose high risk for aquatic organisms. However, current understanding of MP toxicities are based on cell population-averaged measurements. Here we used single-cell RNA sequencing to provide the transcriptome heterogeneity of 12000 intestinal cells obtained from zebrafishes exposed to 100nm, 5μm and 200μm polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) for 21 days. Eight intestinal cell populations were identified. We found that all the three sizes of PS-MPs induced dysfunction of intestinal immune cells (including phagosome and regulation of immune system process).