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Uptake of different-sized microplastic particles in skin and corneal epithelial cells from Atlantic salmon
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Scientists found that skin and eye cells from salmon can absorb surprisingly large microplastic particles—up to 15 micrometers wide (about the size of some human cells)—and when cells team up in groups, they can even engulf pieces twice that size. The good news: most cells survived the exposure with intact outer membranes, though larger particles did cause some distortion to the cell's nucleus. Since fish are a major food source and share basic biology with humans, this research helps scientists understand how microplastics might interact with living tissue more broadly, including our own.
Abstract Background Given the growing concern over ocean-bound microplastics and their impact on wild and aquacultured aquatic species, understanding the cellular response to such pollutants is crucial. Previous research has shown that salmon keratocyte cells, which form the key physical barrier, can internalize plastic polymers in the 400–1000 nm size range. However, whether there is any size limitation of particles is not yet known. As such, the current study aims to evaluate an approximate cut-off size of particles that could be internalized by fish skin and corneal keratocytes, together with viability upon exposure. Results In the current study, we exposed Atlantic salmon keratocytes to relatively large polystyrene (PS) particles for 24 h and analyzed ingestion or cell-association of particles using deconvolution fluorescence microscopy accompanied by cell viability tests. The present study showed that individual keratocytes internalized particles, where the size limit was approximately 15 µm, while sheaths of cells collectively contained 15–30 µm particles. A single cell could accommodate 1–3 particles in the 7–10 µm range. Cells in cell-sheaths, acting collectively, can accommodate larger particles (up to 30 µm) that individual cells cannot. A cell viability assay confirmed that the cells’ membranes mostly remained intact after exposure to particles up to 30 µm. Larger particles caused nuclear deformation, though nuclear internalization remains unconfirmed and requires further study. Despite particle uptake, keratocytes maintain membrane integrity, and most cells remained viable even after prolonged exposure. Conclusion This study shows that keratocytes can internalize polystyrene particles approx. up to 15 µm in size, with smaller particles being ingested in greater numbers. Although the cells were exposed for a prolonged period, only a minor fraction of cells showed nuclear membrane ruptures. These findings shed light on keratocyte particle internalization, offering insights into cellular responses to foreign particles like nanomaterials and microplastics.
More Papers Like This
Uptake of different-sized microplastic particles in skin and corneal epithelial cells from Atlantic salmon
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that skin and eye cells from salmon can absorb surprisingly large microplastic particles—up to 15 micrometers wide for single cells, and even bigger (30 micrometers) when cells team up in groups. Most cells survived this exposure and kept their protective membranes intact, though some larger particles caused changes to the cell's nucleus that need further study. Since fish are a major food source and share basic cell biology with humans, this research helps scientists understand how microplastics might interact with living tissue—an early step toward understanding what this pollution could mean for the animals we eat and, potentially, our own health.
Uptake of different-sized microplastic particles in skin and corneal epithelial cells from Atlantic salmon
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that skin and eye cells from salmon can absorb surprisingly large microplastic particles—up to 15 micrometers wide (about the size of some human cells)—and when cells team up in sheets, they can handle even bigger pieces. Surprisingly, most cells survived this exposure with their outer membranes intact, though larger particles did cause some distortion to the cells' internal structures. Since salmon are a major food source and share similar cell types with humans, this research helps scientists understand how microplastics might interact with living tissue, which is an important step in figuring out potential risks for both marine animals and the people who eat them.
Additional file 3 of Uptake of different-sized microplastic particles in skin and corneal epithelial cells from Atlantic salmon
AI summary Read the abstract
This supplementary video shows tiny plastic particles (about the width of a human hair) being carried along inside salmon skin cells as they move, suggesting the cells actively transport the particles rather than just trapping them passively. While this study focuses on fish, it helps scientists understand how microplastics might get absorbed through skin and other tissues in animals—research that could eventually inform how these particles interact with human cells too.
Additional file 1 of Uptake of different-sized microplastic particles in skin and corneal epithelial cells from Atlantic salmon
AI summary Read the abstract
I don't have access to the actual content of this paper—only its title and a note that the abstract is a supplementary file with no substantive text provided. Based on the title alone, this appears to be a lab study looking at whether skin and eye (corneal) cells from Atlantic salmon absorb tiny plastic particles of different sizes, likely to understand how microplastics might affect fish health. **A note on relevance to humans:** Without the full findings, I can't say whether or how this connects to human health—fish cell studies don't automatically translate to people. If you can share the actual abstract or key results, I can give you an accurate, specific summary of what the
Additional file 1 of Uptake of different-sized microplastic particles in skin and corneal epithelial cells from Atlantic salmon
AI summary Read the abstract
I don't have access to the actual content of this paper — only the title and a placeholder abstract ("Additional file 1"), which appears to be a supplementary data file rather than the full study. Could you provide the main paper's abstract or key findings? That way I can give you an accurate, plain-language summary rather than guessing at what the researchers actually discovered. That said, based on the title alone, here's what I can infer with appropriate caution: this research looked at how tiny plastic particles of different sizes get absorbed into skin and eye cells from Atlantic salmon. If microplastics can enter fish tissues through the skin and eyes, it
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