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Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Profiling Cellular Heterogeneity and Specific Responses of Fish Gills to Microplastics and Nanoplastics
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Using advanced single-cell sequencing, researchers mapped how individual cell types in fish gills respond differently to micro- and nanoplastic exposure. Microplastics mainly affected immune cells called macrophages, while nanoplastics primarily targeted T cells, and a structural cell type called fibroblasts was especially sensitive to microplastics. This detailed cell-level view reveals that plastic particles of different sizes can trigger distinct immune and tissue responses.
Fish gills are highly sensitive organs for microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) invasions, but the cellular heterogeneity of fish gills to MPs and NPs remains largely unknown. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the responses of individual cell populations in tilapia Oreochromis niloticus gills to MP and NP exposure at an environmentally relevant concentration. Based on the detected differentially expressed gene (DEG) numbers, the most affected immune cells by MP exposure were macrophages, while the stimulus of NPs primarily targeted T cells. In response to MPs and NPs, H+-ATPase-rich cells exhibited distinct changes as compared with Na+/K+-ATPase-rich cells and pavement cells. Fibroblasts were identified as a potential sensitive cell-type biomarker for MP interaction with O. niloticus gills, as evidenced by the largely reduced cell counts and the mostly detected DEGs among the 12 identified cell populations. The most MP-sensitive fibroblast subpopulation in O. niloticus gills was lipofibroblasts. Cell-cell communications between fibroblasts and H+-ATPase-rich cells, neurons, macrophages, neuroepithelial cells, and Na+/K+-ATPase-rich cells in O. niloticus gills were significantly inhibited by MP exposure. Collectively, our study demonstrated the cellular heterogeneity of O. niloticus gills to MPs and NPs and provided sensitive markers for their toxicological mechanisms at single-cell resolution.
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Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to examine how different sizes of polystyrene microplastics affect intestinal cell populations in zebrafish. The study revealed size-dependent effects on immune and secretory cell populations, providing a detailed transcriptomic view of how microplastics disrupt intestinal function at the individual cell level and alter the interplay between intestinal cells and gut microbiota.
Heterogeneity effects of nanoplastics and lead on zebrafish intestinal cells identified by single-cell sequencing
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Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to examine how polystyrene nanoplastics and lead individually and together affect different cell types in zebrafish intestines. They found that nanoplastics primarily affected macrophages while lead mostly impacted enterocytes, and the combined exposure showed synergistic effects specifically in goblet cells. The study reveals that population-average toxicity measurements can mask important cell-type-specific responses to environmental contaminants.
Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals heterogeneity of the patterns of responsive genes and cell communications in liver cell populations of zebrafish exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics
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Researchers used single-cell gene analysis to examine how polystyrene nanoplastics affect different cell types in zebrafish livers. They discovered that various liver cell populations responded to nanoplastic exposure in distinctly different ways, with some cell types showing more disruption to fat metabolism and stress response genes than others. The study reveals that nanoplastic toxicity in the liver is not uniform and that certain cell populations may be more vulnerable than previously understood.
Dose-specific reprogramming of the mucociliary-humoral immune interface in oysters upon biodegradable microplastics exposure.
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Scientists exposed Hong Kong oysters to biodegradable (PLA) microplastics for 7 days and studied gill cells using single-cell gene sequencing. Low doses changed mucus and immune cell activity differently than high doses, with immune recognition cells showing the most sensitive early response, suggesting gills react differently depending on microplastic amount.
Transcriptome alterations in zebrafish gill after exposure to different sizes of microplastics
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Researchers found that microplastic exposure in zebrafish gills caused size-dependent transcriptomic changes, with smaller particles triggering more differentially expressed genes related to immune response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis pathways compared to larger particles.
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