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Comparison of Transgenerational Neurotoxicity between Pristine and Amino-Modified Nanoplastics in C. elegans
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Using tiny roundworms as a model, researchers found that chemically modified nanoplastics caused more severe nerve damage than unmodified ones -- and this damage was passed down to future generations even at very low doses. The study identified specific genetic pathways responsible for this inherited toxicity, raising concerns about how surface-modified nanoplastics in the environment could have long-lasting effects on nervous system health across generations.
Increasing evidence has suggested that nanoplastic pollution has become a global concern. More importantly, transgenerational toxicity can be induced by nanoplastics at predicted environmentally relevant doses (ERDs). Considering that amino modification could increase nanoplastic toxicity, we compared transgenerational neurotoxicity between pristine polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-NP) and amino-modified PS-NP (NH2-PS-NP) in Caenorhabditis elegans. At 0.1-10 μg/L, NH2-PS-NP caused more severe transgenerational toxicity on locomotion and neuronal development. Accompanied with a difference in transgenerational neuronal damage, compared to PS-NP (10 μg/L), NH2-PS-NP (10 μg/L) induced more severe transgenerational activation of mec-4, crt-1, itr-1, and tra-3, which are required for the induction of neurodegeneration. Moreover, NH2-PS-NP (10 μg/L) caused more severe transgenerational inhibition in expressions of mpk-1, jnk-1, dbl-1, and daf-7 than PS-NP (10 μg/L), and RNA interference (RNAi) of these genes conferred susceptibility to the toxicity of PS-NP and NH2-PS-NP on locomotion and neuronal development. NH2-PS-NP (10 μg/L) further caused more severe transgenerational activation of germline ligand genes (ins-3, ins-39, daf-28, lin-44, egl-17, efn-3, and lag-2) than PS-NP (10 μg/L), and RNAi of these ligand genes caused resistance to the toxicity of PS-NP and NH2-PS-NP on locomotion and neuronal development. Our results highlighted more severe exposure risk of amino-modified nanoplastics at ERDs in causing transgenerational neurotoxicity in organisms.
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Amino-modified nanoplastics at predicted environmental concentrations cause transgenerational toxicity through activating germline EGF signal in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers found that amino-modified nanoplastics, even at concentrations expected in the real environment, can cause toxic effects that pass from one generation to the next in the roundworm C. elegans. The transgenerational harm was linked to activation of a specific growth factor signal in reproductive cells. The study suggests that surface chemistry on nanoplastics may amplify their biological risks beyond what the base plastic alone would cause.
Effect of disruption in the intestinal barrier function during the transgenerational process on nanoplastic toxicity induction in Caenorhabditis elegans
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This study found that nanoplastics can cause toxic effects that pass from parents to offspring across generations in tiny roundworms. The damage was linked to disruption of the intestinal barrier, which normally protects against harmful substances. These findings raise concerns that nanoplastic exposure could have long-lasting health effects beyond a single generation.
Size-dependent transgenerational toxicity induced by nanoplastics in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers discovered that nanoplastic exposure in nematode worms caused toxic effects that persisted across multiple generations, even when offspring were raised in clean conditions. Smaller nanoplastics (20 nm) produced more severe and longer-lasting transgenerational effects than larger ones (100 nm), with toxicity detectable through the sixth generation. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining long-term biological impacts that can be passed down to future generations.
Sulfonate-Modified Polystyrene Nanoparticle at Precited Environmental Concentrations Induces Transgenerational Toxicity Associated with Increase in Germline Notch Signal of Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers exposed tiny roundworms to sulfonate-modified nanoplastics at low, environmentally realistic concentrations and observed harmful effects that persisted across multiple generations. The nanoplastics activated the Notch signaling pathway in reproductive cells, leading to reduced movement and shortened lifespan in unexposed offspring. This suggests nanoplastic exposure could cause lasting biological changes passed down through generations.
Transgenerational neurotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics induced by oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers exposed the roundworm C. elegans to polystyrene microplastics and tracked the effects across five generations. They found that microplastic exposure caused nerve damage and oxidative stress that persisted in offspring even when those generations were not directly exposed, suggesting microplastics can have lasting effects passed down through generations.
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