Antioxidant Defense in Primary Murine Lung Cells following Short- and Long-Term Exposure to Plastic Particles

Abstract

Polystyrene nano- and micro-sized plastic particles (NMP) are one of the common plastic materials produced that dramatically pollute the environment, water, and oceanic habitats worldwide. NMP are continuously absorbed by the body through a number of routes, especially via intestinal ingestion, dermal uptake, and inhalation into the lung. Several studies provided evidence of NMP provoking oxidative stress and affecting cellular responses. Yet, the NMP effects on primary lung cells have not been studied. To this end, we isolated and cultured murine lung cells and exposed them short-term or long-term to polystyrene 0.2–6.0 µm-sized NMP. We studied cellular consequences regarding oxidative stress, morphology, and secretion profiling. Visualization, distribution, and expression analyses confirmed lung cells accumulating NMP and showed several significant correlations with particle size. Moreover, we found substantial evidence of biological consequences of small-scale NMP uptake in lung cells. Besides alterations of cytokine secretion profiles resulting in inflammatory responses, indicators of oxidative stress were identified that were accompanied by Nrf2 and β-catenin signaling changes. Our results serve as an important basis to point out the potential hazards of plastic contaminations and uptake in lung cells.

Using a Novel Multiplexed Algal Cytological Imaging (MACI) Assay and Machine Learning as a Way to Characterize Complex Phenotypes in Plant-Type Organisms

“…This kind of measurement has been used for analyzing end points related to changes in protein content and for determining cell cycle stages based on the relative abundance of the DNA content. , Another useful metric is quantifying the number of fluorescent objects within a single cell. For example, measuring the number of intracellular vesicles has been used to study end points related to the cellular uptake of micro/nanoplastic particles and for analyzing the intracellular trafficking of certain proteins . In regard to R.…”

“…42,43 Another useful metric is quantifying the number of fluorescent objects within a single cell. For example, measuring the number of intracellular vesicles has been used to study end points related to the cellular uptake of micro/ nanoplastic particles 44 and for analyzing the intracellular trafficking of certain proteins. 45 In regard to R. subcapitata, three features that have relevance to algal physiology are the number of nuclei/cell, and the chloroplast and lipid dropletintegrated intensities, which are related to chlorophyll and TAG content, respectively (Supporting Information, Table S2).…”

Polystyrene Nano- and Microplastic Particles Induce an Inflammatory Gene Expression Profile in Rat Neural Stem Cell-Derived Astrocytes In Vitro

“…In particular, smaller sized particles (0.1–10 µm) may cross the blood–brain barrier and the placenta [ 25 , 32 ]. Through these exposures, MNPLs not only cause physical and mechanical damage, but also induce oxidative damage, gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction, neurotoxicity, liver metabolic disorder, kidney injury, an immune response, energy-related changes and altered gene expression [ 12 , 24 , 28 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”