We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
From exposure to injury: signaling mechanisms of microplastic-induced renal toxicity: an extensive review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed experimental and mechanistic evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics damage kidneys, synthesizing a framework in which oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and profibrotic remodeling collectively drive nephron injury — while noting that standardized biomonitoring protocols and nanoscale detection methods remain critical unresolved challenges.
Environmental micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as pervasive contaminants with growing implications for systemic toxicity and organ-specific pathophysiological outcomes. Among vulnerable organs, the kidney represents a critical target due to its high perfusion rate, filtration function and continuous exposure to circulating xenobiotics. This review provides a renal-focused integrative synthesis of current experimental and mechanistic evidence examining the potential association between environmental MNPs exposure to nephrotoxicity. A structured literature search was conducted across major scientific databases to identify studies describing toxicokinetic behavior, molecular signaling responses and renal functional outcomes associated with MNP exposure. Mechanistically, MNPs exposure has been associated with oxidative stress amplification, inflammatory signaling activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy dysregulation and profibrotic remodeling, collectively contributing to nephron structural alterations and renal functional impairment. Comparative evidence from experimental models further suggest that renal toxicity may be influenced by exposure route, dose and physicochemical particle transformation, highlighting the complexity of real-world environmental risk assessment. Advances in analytical toxicology have enabled improved detection of MNPs in biological matrices; however, methodological limitations related to contamination control, nanoscale sensitivity and standardized biomonitoring protocols remain significant challenges. By integrating environmental exposure dynamics with renal pathophysiological endpoints, this review proposes a conceptual framework that may help explain how molecular signaling hierarchies to clinically relevant kidney injury progression. Understanding these interconnected mechanisms may facilitate identification of early diagnostic biomarkers, refinement of exposure assessment strategies, and development of targeted therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating environmentally mediated renal disease risk.
More Papers Like This
Micro- and nanoplastics and the kidney: exposure pathways, toxicokinetics, and pathophysiological insights
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles from our air, water, and food—called micro- and nanoplastics—can enter our bodies and travel to the kidneys, where studies show they may cause cell damage, inflammation, and scarring over time. This review pulls together existing research on how these plastics get into our system and harm kidney tissue, suggesting that everyday plastic exposure could be an overlooked risk factor for kidney disease. More research is needed, but this is an early signal that reducing plastic exposure might matter for long-term kidney health.
Polyethylene microplastics disrupt renal function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox homeostasis, and histoarchitecture in Wistar rats
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers gave rats polyethylene microplastics orally for 28 days and found dose-dependent kidney damage, including impaired filtration, electrolyte imbalances, and tissue inflammation. The microplastics depleted antioxidant defenses, increased oxidative stress markers, and disrupted mitochondrial energy production in kidney cells, identifying the kidneys as a critical target of microplastic toxicity.
The threat of microplastics to human kidney health: Mechanisms of nephrotoxicity and future research directions
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the growing evidence that microplastics can reach and damage human kidneys, where they were first detected in 2023. Short-term exposure triggers oxidative stress and inflammation, while long-term exposure may lead to kidney scarring through a process called ferroptosis, a type of cell death linked to iron buildup. The authors propose that microplastics may also activate the immune system in kidneys through a gut-kidney connection, highlighting that kidney health is an important but overlooked concern in microplastic research.
Microplastics and Health: A Review on Environmental Exposure, Toxicokinetics and Biological Effects
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers synthesize mechanistic evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and biomonitoring studies published through 2026, finding that microplastics induce oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokine responses, and organ-specific toxicity across hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems, while highlighting critical gaps in standardized characterization and long-term low-dose exposure data.
Micro/nano plastics in the urinary system: Pathways, mechanisms, and health risks.
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes emerging evidence on how micro- and nano-plastics reach the urinary system, accumulate in kidney and bladder tissue, and cause damage through oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of cellular function. The authors conclude that the urinary system is a primary site of microplastic accumulation and call for more research on long-term health impacts.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.