Airborne polystyrene nanoplastics exposure leads to heart failure via ECM-receptor interaction and PI3K/AKT/BCL-2 pathways

Environmental contamination has been recognized as a significant threat to human well-being, and recent findings of microplastic presence in human cardiac tissues have raised concerns. However, research on the effects of airborne nanoplastics (NPs) on cardiac physiology remains limited. We utilized a comprehensive body exposure apparatus to simulate the impact of airborne polystyrene NPs pollution, focusing on understanding how airborne NPs affect cardiac morphology and function. Following two weeks of NPs exposure, mice exhibited a 23.89 ± 8.30 % reduction in heart mass, a 20.05 ± 2.97 % decrease in heart rate as detected, and a myocardial electrical conduction block. Echocardiography showed significant changes in cardiac contractility, with increases in cardiac ejection fraction and stroke volume of 13.00 ± 3.00 % and 43.00 ± 17.00 %, respectively. In addition, histologic assessments revealed signs of ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular myocardial hypertrophy, and myocardial necrotic fibrosis. Of particular interest, our mechanistic investigations highlighted the harmful effects of NPs on cardiac structure and function, mediated through extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interactions and the PI3K/AKT/BCL-2 signaling pathway. The insights gained provide a foundation for understanding the risks posed by airborne NPs to human cardiac health, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and implementation of mitigation strategies in environmental management.