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Polystyrene nanoplastics drive neuronal senescence via PP2A-B56γ-targeted p-Ebp1Ser335 dephosphorylation-mediated ribosome biogenesis dysfunction
Summary
Researchers identified a novel molecular cascade in which polystyrene nanoplastics activate the PP2A-B56γ phosphatase, which dephosphorylates the ribosome biogenesis regulator Ebp1, inducing nucleolar stress and p53/p21-driven neuronal senescence; pharmacological PP2A inhibition restored ribosome function and rescued cognitive deficits in exposed mice.
Nanoplastics (NPs) exhibit neurotoxicity, yet the precise molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we established a human-relevant polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 50 mg kg) oral exposure model in C57BL/6 mice in vivo and a neuro-immune microglial-neuron co-culture system (HMC-3/SH-SY5Y cells) in vitro to dissect these mechanisms. We demonstrate that PS-NPs exposure triggers microglial M1 activation and drives neuronal senescence. Mechanistically, PS-NPs activate the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-B56γ subunit, which selectively dephosphorylates the ribosome biogenesis regulator ErbB3-binding protein 1 (Ebp1) at Ser335. This post-translational modification reduces Ebp1 nucleolar localization, suppresses 47S pre-ribosomal RNA transcription, and induces nucleolar stress. Consequently, the p53/p21 pathway is engaged, promoting neuronal senescence. Pharmacological inhibition of PP2A with LB-100 restored ribosome biogenesis, prevented neuronal senescence, and rescued cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative phenotypes in PS-NP-exposed mice. This is the first study to identify the PP2A-B56γ-p-Ebp1-ribosome biogenesis axis as a novel cascade mechanism driving PS-NP-induced neuronal senescence. Our findings offer a targetable strategy to mitigate nanoplastics-associated neurodegeneration.