Impact of PE and PP nanoplastic particles on placenta trophoblast differentiation

One of the most topical issues regarding human health in the last century concerns the study of the potential impact of micro- and nano-plastic particles (MNPs) released into the environment, mainly as a result of the wear and tear of improperly disposed plastic waste. The excessive human exposure to MNPs is becoming a topic of significant media interest and is receiving the attention of the medical-scientific community. People can be exposed to MNPs not only in the environment, but also through food consumption or the use of textiles or cosmetics, and specific populations may result more susceptible to their adverse effects than others. Hence, the interest in studies investigating whether exposure to MNPs of susceptible population, such as pregnant women, may lead to harmful effects, which in turn may reflect on embryo development. Literature data show that MNPs may reach the placenta. In this respect, our research aims at investigating the potential impact of two types of widely used plastic polymers (PP and PE) on the differentiation of trophoblast cells, which are required to form the placental barrier that regulate maternal-fetal exchange. Specifically, we studied the ability of human trophoblast stem (hTS) cells to differentiate into syncytiumtrophoblast (hST) cells, and of polyethylene and polypropylene nanoparticles to interfere with this process. In particular, we observed that both PP and PE induce a significant change of cells morphology in basal and differentiating conditions. Moreover, the two plastic nanoparticles interfered with the expression of stem and differentiation markers, such as TP63, SYND1 and CGB. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559570/document