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Investigating the Epigenetic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastic Exposure in Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Epithelial Cells Using Methylation-Sensitive AFLPs
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Researchers exposed bluegill fish cells to polystyrene nanoplastics and examined whether the exposure caused changes in DNA methylation, a type of genetic modification that can alter how genes function. They found that nanoplastic exposure did cause methylation changes across the genome, but the effect was not dependent on dose or exposure time -- simply being exposed to nanoplastics was enough to trigger the changes. The findings suggest that even low-level nanoplastic exposure could have epigenetic effects on aquatic organisms.
Microplastics, remnants of macroplastics that have broken down to fragments smaller than 5 mm, and nanoplastics, broken down even further to sizes < 1 μm, are pervasive in aquatic ecosystems. These plastic particles are consumed by microscopic organisms, leading to bioaccumulation up trophic levels. The accumulation of plastic in the organismal gut can result in various repercussions, including cellular contamination and genomic modifications such as DNA methylation. While methylation has been studied in teleost fishes, the impact of nanoplastic exposure on this process in any species remains largely unexplored. This study delves into this largely uncharted territory, investigating the accumulation of methylation due to nanoplastic exposure within the genome of cultured bluegill BF-2 cells (Lepomis macrochirus) using methylation-sensitive AFLPs. The methylation state was analyzed through capillary gel analysis and electropherograms. Differential methylation occurred between several control and experimental groups due to nanoplastic exposure; however, these differences were not dose- or time-dependent. These results could suggest that higher dosages and exposure times to nanoplastics do not result in increased methylation levels in congruence with the dosage and exposure time; rather, only the presence of nanoplastics is enough to cause DNA methylation changes.
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics during early development and then assessed neurobehavioral effects later in life. The study found that early-life microplastic exposure caused lasting changes in behavior and DNA methylation patterns, suggesting that developmental exposure to microplastics may have long-term epigenetic consequences on neurodevelopment.
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Researchers exposed water fleas (Daphnia magna) to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics and examined changes at the genetic and molecular level. They found that the microplastics altered DNA methylation patterns and disrupted the expression of genes involved in reproduction and stress response. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure can cause changes beyond physical harm, affecting organisms at the epigenetic level.
Microplastic exposure is associated with epigenomic effects in the model organism Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow)
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Researchers exposed fathead minnows to microplastics and found changes in DNA methylation -- a chemical modification that controls which genes are turned on or off -- across multiple organs including the brain, liver, and gonads. These epigenetic changes are heritable, meaning microplastic exposure could affect not just the exposed fish but also future generations, raising concerns about long-term ecological and evolutionary impacts.
Developmental exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces persistent neurobehavioral changes and alters later-life susceptibility to hexabromocyclododecane in zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics during early development and tracked behavioral effects into adulthood. The study found that early-life nanoplastic exposure caused persistent reductions in locomotor activity and altered how adult fish responded to a common flame retardant chemical. Evidence indicates that epigenetic changes, including altered DNA methylation and gene expression patterns, may underlie these long-lasting behavioral effects.
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Researchers found that exposing mussels to polystyrene microplastics caused changes in their DNA methylation patterns, an epigenetic modification that controls how genes are turned on and off. Higher microplastic concentrations led to greater loss of methylation, and similar patterns were seen in wild mussels from polluted areas. This suggests microplastics could affect organisms at the genetic regulation level, potentially influencing metabolism and cell division.
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