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Stem cells as sensitive targets of bisphenol-A: a comprehensive review of the effects across multiple populations
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This review pulls together recent research on BPA, a chemical found in plastics, food packaging, and medical devices, showing it can damage stem cells, the body's building blocks for repairing and renewing tissues. Scientists found BPA disrupts how these cells grow, use energy, and communicate, and may even cause changes that affect future generations, especially concerning since BPA often occurs alongside microplastics in our environment. While the findings raise real health concerns, researchers note that studies vary widely in design, so more standardized research is needed before we can fully understand the risk to humans.
Bisphenol A (BPA) remains one of the most extensively studied endocrine-disrupting chemicals, given its ubiquitous presence in everyday materials, ranging from food packaging to medical devices, and the harmful effects on multiple biological systems. Its detection in diverse human biological matrices underscores the clinical relevance of chronic, low-dose exposure. Emerging evidence further indicates that micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) coexist with BPA in environmental and biological contexts, potentially acting as vectors that amplify exposure-related risks. In this framework, stem cells (SCs) serve as highly sensitive targets and informative models for investigating the biological impact of environmental contaminants, due to their essential role in tissue homeostasis and development. This review systematically evaluates studies published between 2020 and 2026 to characterize the effects of BPA exposure across multiple SC populations, including adipose-derived stem cells, non-adipose mesenchymal stromal cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs), and spermatogonial stem cells. Current literature evidence suggests that BPA exposure significantly impairs SC functions, encompassing alterations in lineage commitment, mitochondrial function, oxidative balance, and intercellular communication. Notably, BPA-induced epigenetic dysregulation in germline and pluripotent SCs suggests potential transgenerational effects. Despite the growing body of evidence, significant heterogeneity in experimental models, exposure conditions, and BPA concentrations limits the translation of findings to human health risk assessment. Future research should prioritize standardized exposure protocols, human-relevant models, and exposome-based approaches that account for the complexity of real-world chemical mixtures, including BPA analogs and MNP-associated contaminants.
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Applications of Stem Cells and Modern Toxicological Analytical Methods in the Toxicity of Microplastics
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This review pulls together existing research on how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) found in our environment can interfere with stem cells—the special cells our bodies use to grow and develop tissues and organs. The findings suggest microplastics may disrupt how these cells multiply and turn into specialized cell types, raising concerns about potential harm during critical periods of development, like pregnancy and childhood. This is a summary of current science rather than new experiments, and it highlights the need for more research to fully understand the risks microplastics pose to human development.
Current Evidence on Bisphenol A Exposure and the Molecular Mechanism Involved in Related Pathological Conditions
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This review examines the molecular mechanisms by which bisphenol A (BPA), a common endocrine-disrupting chemical found in plastics, may contribute to various health conditions. Researchers analyzed BPA's effects on mesenchymal stem cells and fat cell development, as well as its uses in dental, orthopedic, and industrial applications. The study suggests that BPA exposure can alter multiple molecular pathways involved in immune, metabolic, and cellular processes.
Silent saboteurs: How microplastics disrupt stem cells and tissue regeneration
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This review synthesizes evidence that microplastics disrupt stem cell self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation across multiple tissue types, raising concerns about the implications for tissue regeneration, wound healing, and long-term organ homeostasis.
Bisphenol-A disrupts mitochondrial functionality leading to senescence and apoptosis in human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells
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Researchers studied how bisphenol-A, a chemical released during microplastic degradation, affects stem cells from the human placental membrane that normally protects the developing fetus. They found that BPA exposure damaged mitochondrial function, increased harmful reactive oxygen species, and triggered premature cell aging and death in these protective cells. The findings raise concerns about how microplastic-derived chemicals encountered during pregnancy could potentially compromise the placental barrier.
Novel insights into the role of bisphenol A (BPA) in genomic instability
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This review examines how bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in polycarbonate and PVC plastics, contributes to genomic instability beyond its well-known effects as an endocrine disruptor. Researchers found evidence that BPA can damage DNA, disrupt cell division, and interfere with DNA repair mechanisms. The findings suggest that BPA exposure may play a role in promoting the kind of genetic damage that can lead to serious cellular dysfunction.
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