0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Nanoplastics Reproductive & Development Sign in to save

Nanoplastics induced oxidative stress and VEGF production in aortic endothelial cells

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2023 22 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Giuseppina Basini, Stefano Grolli, Simone Bertini, Simona Bussolati, M Berni, Priscilla Berni, Roberto Ramoni, Erika Scaltriti, Fausto Quintavalla, Francesca Grasselli, Francesca Grasselli

Summary

Researchers exposed aortic endothelial cells to nanoplastics and found that the particles were taken up by the cells and triggered increased production of reactive oxygen species and a growth factor called VEGF, which is involved in blood vessel formation. The nanoplastics also increased metabolic activity while disrupting the cells' antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to vascular stress and cardiovascular risk.

Plastic is an important environmental issue and a more critical aspect concerns plastic fragments, mainly in term of nanoplastics (NPs). We demonstrated that NPs interfere with reproductive and adipose stromal cells. Since several research underlined an increased cardiovascular risk due to NPs, present study was undertaken to investigate their effect on aortic endothelial cells (AOC). We explored the specificity of their interaction with endothelial cells, quantifying their load in treated cells. Then, NPs effect was assessed on cell growth, generation of free radicals and antioxidant defence. Our data demonstrate that NPs colocalize with AOC. We found a significant (p<0.01) increase both in metabolic activity and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) production (p<0.01). Redox status appeared to be disrupted (p<0.05) by NPS. Taken together, the normal function of cultured AOC appeared negatively affected by AOC. Since NPs have been detected in blood, our present data appear of particular interest.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of nanoplastics on a model of dog aortic cells

Researchers exposed dog aortic endothelial cells to nanoplastic fragments and observed that the particles entered cells and localized in the cytoplasm. The nanoplastics disrupted cell proliferation and metabolic activity while inducing oxidative stress through increased reactive oxygen species production. The study suggests that nanoplastics can directly damage vascular cells, raising questions about potential cardiovascular effects of nanoplastic exposure.

Article Tier 2

Evaluation of toxicity of polystyrene microplastics under realistic exposure levels in human vascular endothelial EA.hy926 cells

Researchers exposed human vascular endothelial cells to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations comparable to levels detected in human blood. They found that the microplastics caused oxidative stress, reduced antioxidant defenses, and triggered apoptosis in the vascular cells. The study suggests that microplastics circulating in the bloodstream at realistic concentrations may contribute to vascular damage by impairing cellular protective mechanisms.

Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastic particles induce endothelial activation

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic particles triggered inflammatory activation in endothelial cells lining blood vessels, increasing adhesion molecule expression and promoting leukocyte attachment. In mice, microplastic exposure led to elevated inflammatory cytokine and adhesion molecule expression in the aorta. The study identifies microplastics as a potential new environmental risk factor for vascular inflammation.

Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on endothelium senescence and its underlying mechanism

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics can promote premature aging of endothelial cells that line blood vessel walls, using porcine coronary artery cells as a model. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may affect cardiovascular health by accelerating cellular senescence in the endothelium, a process linked to vascular dysfunction.

Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics as emerging cardiovascular hazards: a narrative review of current evidence

This review examines the emerging evidence that nanoplastics may pose risks to cardiovascular health. Researchers summarized studies showing that nanoplastics can enter the bloodstream through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, potentially causing inflammation and oxidative damage to blood vessels and heart tissue. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure represents an understudied but potentially significant environmental risk factor for heart and vascular problems.

Share this paper