Polystyrene Nanoplastics (50 nm) Exposure Induce P-Glycoprotein Affect at the Blood-Brain Barrier and Blood–CSF Barrier Cells

Recently published academic paper, small pieces of plastic (microplastics and nanoplastics) are generated from the fragmentation of larger plastic pieces, synthetic fibers from clothing, and microbeads used in consumer products. Additionally, microplastics and nanoplastics are emerging as significant issues as they act as sources of exposure in drinking water and food. Recent studies suggest that microplastics and nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), potentially affecting protein folding at the molecular level and inducing the formation of abnormal amyloid proteins, which may lead to the development of systemic and localized amyloidosis. However, the association with transport proteins is still under investigation. This study investigates the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics 50 nm (PSNP) exposure after 24 hours 100, 200 ㎍/ml on the expression of LRP1, RAGE, and P-gp in the BBB and BCB cells. Our findings indicate that PSNP (50 nm) treatment 200 ug/mL significantly increases P-gp protein expression to Z310 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. To RBE4 cells, P-gp expression also increased with PSNP treatment, although the increase was not statistically significant. These results suggest that PSNP exposure may influence Aβ transport mechanisms, potentially impacting AD progression.