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Investigation of cell-to-cell transfer of polystyrene microplastics through extracellular vesicle-mediated communication
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Scientists discovered that cells can transfer polystyrene microplastic particles to other cells through tiny membrane-enclosed packages called extracellular vesicles. This finding reveals a previously unknown mechanism for how microplastics could spread between cells in the body, potentially explaining how plastic particles move through tissues after initial exposure.
Plastics are an essential part of human life and their production is increasing every year. Plastics degrade into small particles (<5 mm, microplastics, MPs) in the environment due to various factors. MPs are widely distributed in the environment, and all living organisms are exposed to the effects of MPs. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane particles surrounded by a lipid bilayer that are released into the environment by various cell types and are highly involved in inter- and intra-cellular communication through the exchange of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids between cells. There have been numerous reports of adverse effects associated with the accumulation of MPs in human and animal cells, with recent studies showing that plastic treatment increases the number of EVs released from cells, but the mechanisms by which MPs accumulate and move between cells remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether polystyrene (PS)-MPs are transferred cell-to-cell via EVs. This study showed that cell-derived EVs can transport plastic particles. Furthermore, we confirmed the accumulation of PS-MPs transported by EVs within cells using a real-time imaging device. This study provides an understanding of potential EVs-mediated effects of PS-MPs on organisms and suggests directions for further research.
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Investigation of Cell-to-cell Transfer of Polystyrene Microplastics Through Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Communication
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Researchers investigated cell-to-cell transfer of polystyrene microplastics through extracellular vesicles, finding that cells can package and transfer plastic particles via vesicle-mediated pathways, a previously unrecognized route for intracellular plastic dissemination.
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This review explores the newly discovered relationship between microplastics and extracellular vesicles, tiny particles that cells use to communicate with each other. Evidence indicates that microplastics can alter how these vesicles are distributed and what molecular signals they carry, potentially disrupting normal cell communication. Understanding this interaction could provide important insights into how microplastic exposure may contribute to inflammation, metabolic changes, and other health effects.
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