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Coexposure to microplastic and Bisphenol A exhacerbates damage to human kidney proximal tubular cells
Summary
This study exposed human kidney cells to polyethylene microplastics and bisphenol A (BPA, a common plastic chemical) together and found the combination was significantly more damaging than either substance alone. The co-exposure reduced cell survival and increased both oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidney cells. Since both microplastics and BPA are commonly found in the human body, their combined effect on kidney health is a real concern.
Microplastics (MPs) accumulate in tissues, including kidney tissue, while Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plasticizer of particular concern. At present, the combined effects of MPs and BPA are unexplored in human renal cells. Therefore, we exposed a proximal tubular cell line (PTECs) to polyethylene (PE)-MPs and BPA, both separately and in combination. When co-exposed, cells showed a significantly reduced cell viability (MTT test) and a pronounced pro-oxidant (MDA levels, NRF2 and NOX4 expression by Western blot) and pro-inflammatory response (IL1β, CCL/CCR2 and CCL/CCR5 mRNAs by RT-PCR), compared to those treated with a single compound. In addition, heat shock protein (HSP90), a chaperone involved in multiple cellular functions, was reduced (by Western Blot and immunocytochemistry), while aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression, a transcription factor which binds environmental ligands, was increased (RT-PCR and immunofluorescence). Our research can contribute to the study of the nephrotoxic effects of pollutants and MPs and shed new light on the combined effects of BPA and PE-MPs.