We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Abstract Or114: Microplastic exposure elicits sex-specific atherosclerosis development in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed male and female low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice to microplastics and assessed atherosclerosis development, finding sex-specific responses. Female mice developed more severe atherosclerotic plaques than males under the same microplastic exposure, suggesting that sex is an important variable in cardiovascular risk from plastic pollutant exposure.
Introduction: Microplastics are small plastic particles emerging as significant environmental pollutants and humans are ubiquitously exposed to microplastics. Microplastics can also be detected in human atherosclerotic plaques and are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in humans. However, the impact of microplastic on the cardiovascular system remains elusive. This study aims to investigate the effects of microplastics exposure on atherosclerosis in a suitable animal model. Hypothesis: Exposure to microplastics affects atherosclerosis development in low-density lipoprotein LDL receptor-deficient (LDLR -/- ) mice. Methods: To investigate the effects of microplastic exposures on atherosclerosis development in vivo, male and female LDLR -/- mice were fed a low-fat AIN76 diet and exposed to 10 mg/kg body weight of microplastics via daily oral gavage for 9 weeks. Circulating lipid profiles and atherosclerotic plaques were analyzed and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) experiments were performed using the whole aorta. Results and Conclusions: Exposure to microplastics did not affect body weight and serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both male and female LDLR -/- mice. Intriguingly, microplastic exposure led to significantly increased atherosclerotic lesion sizes at the aortic roots of male but not female LDLR -/- mice. The scRNA-seq analysis of the whole aorta revealed that exposure to microplastic affected the proportions and cellular processes of key cell types involved in atherosclerosis development including endothelia cells and smooth muscle cells. QPCR analyses demonstrated that microplastic expose led to elevated pro-atherogenic gene expression in the intima of male LDLR -/- mice. Further, microplastic treatment induced endothelial cell dysfunction in human endothelial cells, leading to increased macrophage recruitment in vitro. These findings reveal the atherogenic effects of microplastics in vivo and the microplastic-induced endothelial cell dysfunction in vitro which may contribute to the increased atherosclerosis in exposed mice.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic exposure elicits sex-specific atherosclerosis development in lean low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastic exposure significantly increased atherosclerosis in male mice by 63% in key arteries, while female mice were largely unaffected, revealing an unexpected sex-specific cardiovascular response. Single-cell analysis showed that microplastics altered blood vessel cell behavior in ways that promote plaque buildup, with similar pro-inflammatory effects confirmed in human endothelial cells grown in the lab.
Sex-specific gene expression alterations in response to ingested PVC microplastics in Wistar rats
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined sex-specific differences in gene expression changes in mice exposed to PVC microplastics via ingestion, finding that male and female animals responded differently at the molecular level. The sex-specific patterns suggest that biological sex may be an important variable in microplastic health risk assessments.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces sex-specific cardiotoxicity in offspring mice
AI summary Read the abstract
When pregnant mice were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, their offspring developed heart damage that differed between males and females. Female offspring lost more body and heart weight, while males showed signs of atherosclerosis and females showed viral heart inflammation markers. This study suggests that prenatal nanoplastic exposure could program sex-specific cardiovascular problems in children, raising concerns about plastic exposure during pregnancy.
Sex-specific effects of aged polystyrene microplastics on hepatic AMPK pathway activation and lipid droplet accumulation in MAFLD mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how aged polystyrene microplastics affect liver fat metabolism differently in male and female mice with fatty liver disease. They found that while both sexes showed increased inflammation and oxidative stress, only female mice experienced a reduction in liver fat accumulation, potentially linked to estrogen-related metabolic pathways. The study reveals important sex-specific differences in how microplastics interact with metabolic conditions, suggesting that health effects may vary between males and females.
Gender difference in hepatic AMPK pathway activated lipid metabolism induced by aged polystyrene microplastics exposure
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found gender-specific effects of aged polystyrene microplastics on lipid metabolism in mice, with females showing significant fat reduction and altered estrogen-AMPK signaling pathways in the liver, while males showed different metabolic responses.
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.