Environmental exposure enhances the internalization of microplastic particles into cells

Abstract

Microplastic particles ubiquitously found in the environment are ingested by a huge variety of organisms. Subsequently, microplastic particles can translocate from the gastrointestinal tract into the tissues likely by cellular internalization. The reason for cellular internalization is unknown, since this has only been shown for specifically surface-functionalized particles. We show that environmentally exposed microplastic particles were internalized significantly more often than pristine microplastic particles into macrophages. We identified biomolecules forming an eco-corona on the surface of microplastic particles, suggesting that environmental exposure promotes the cellular internalization of microplastics. Our findings further indicate that cellular internalization is a key route by which microplastic particles translocate into tissues, where they may cause toxicological effects that have implications for the environment and human health.

Polystyrene microplastics induce an immunometabolic active state in macrophages

“…1A), we investigated the uptake of MP by murine macrophages. Consistent with recent reports (Ramsperger et al, 2020;Stock et al, 2019), confocal microscopy revealed clear uptake of green uorescent MP by macrophages (Fig. 1B).…”

“…Although the mechanism is unclear, MP exposure leads to gut dysbiosis, decreased mucin production, and localized liver in ammation (Deng et al, 2017;Jin et al, 2019;Lu et al, 2018). More recently, it was shown environmentally exposed MP enhances the uptake by macrophages (Ramsperger et al, 2020). Macrophages are the major phagocytic cell in both the liver and the intestinal tract and upon activation can contribute to in ammation-induced pathologies (Bain and Schridde, 2018;Bain et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2020).…”

Polystyrene and Polyethylene Microplastics Decrease Cell Viability and Dysregulate Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers of MDCK and L929 Cells In Vitro

“…Microplastics can impact cells and organisms directly and indirectly, physically and chemically, and via an array of harmful effects, including irritation, oxidative damage, impairment of digestion, genotoxicity, metabolic changes, chemical leaching, and fluctuations of the microbiome (Deng et al 2017 ; Ibrahim et al 2021 ; Jin et al 2019 ; Kumar et al 2020 ). As microplastics age and weather in the environment, their properties such as size, shape, surface charges, and surface-bound groups can change, significantly altering the mechanisms with which they interact with cells and tissues, including the ability to be endocytosed (Brachner et al 2020 ; Mahadevan and Valiyaveettil 2021 ; Ramsperger et al 2020 ; Zarus et al 2021 ). For this study we used virgin, pristine microspheres of PS and PE to decrease the size range and to avoid the variables of different shapes, surface charges and groups, as well as foreign chemicals absorbed from the environment.…”

Ex Vivo Cultivation Of Primary Intestinal Cells From Eisenia Fetida As Basis For Ecotoxicological Studies

“…Surface properties and in particular a biomolecular corona on the particle's surface have recently been suggested as decisive for cell particle interaction and uptake (Ramsperger et al 2020). Therefore, once the MP particles are added to the cells in the protein-rich culture medium the formation of a protein corona is likely.…”