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Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Generated from Disposable Water Bottles Induce Interferon Signaling Pathways in Mouse Lung Epithelial Cells
Summary
Researchers generated microplastics from disposable water bottles in the lab and tested their effects on mouse lung cells. They found that small polyethylene terephthalate particles triggered a strong immune response by activating interferon signaling pathways, the same defense system cells use against pathogens. The study suggests that inhaling microplastics from common plastic products could cause inflammation, cell damage, and DNA injury in lung tissue.
Microplastics (MPs) are present in ambient air in a respirable size fraction; however, their potential impact on human health via inhalation routes is not well documented. In the present study, methods for a lab-scale generation of MPs from regularly used and littered plastic articles were optimized. The toxicity of 11 different types of MPs, both commercially purchased and in-lab prepared MPs, was investigated in lung epithelial cells using cell viability, immune and inflammatory response, and genotoxicity endpoints. The underlying mechanisms were identified by microarray analysis. Although laborious, the laboratory-scale methods generated a sufficient quantity of well characterized MPs for toxicity testing. Of the 11 MPs tested, the small sized polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) MPs prepared from disposable water bottles induced the maximum toxicity. Specifically, the smaller size PETE MPs induced a robust activation of the interferon signaling pathway, implying that PETE MPs are perceived by cells by similar mechanisms as those employed to recognize pathogens. The PETE MPs of heterogenous size and shapes induced cell injury, triggering cell death, inflammatory cascade, and DNA damage, hallmark in vitro events indicative of potential in vivo tissue injury. The study establishes toxicity of specific types of plastic materials in micron and nano size.