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Microplastics dysregulate innate immunity in the SARS-CoV-2 infected lung
Summary
This study found that microplastics can interfere with the immune response in lungs infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, by blocking a protein called Tim4 that helps clear dead cells. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure in the lungs could worsen respiratory infections by disrupting the body's ability to manage inflammation and clean up damaged tissue.
The findings are consistent with the recent finding that MPs can inhibit phagocytosis of apoptotic cells via binding of Tim4. They also add to a growing body of literature suggesting that MPs can dysregulate inflammatory processes in specific disease settings.
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