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Microplastics aggravates rheumatoid arthritis by affecting the proliferation/migration/inflammation of fibroblast-like synovial cells by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis
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Researchers investigated how microplastics affect the joint tissue cells involved in rheumatoid arthritis using lab and animal models. They found that microplastic exposure promoted the growth, spread, and inflammatory activity of these cells, while also worsening cartilage damage through disruption of mitochondrial function. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may aggravate inflammatory joint conditions by interfering with cellular energy processes.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease involving multiple joints. RA is a systemic disease characterized by chronic synovial inflammation and destruction of articular cartilage and bone. As a new pollutant, microplastics can enter the body through the respiratory and digestive tract and cause health damage. However, to date, the impact of microplastics on RA has not been revealed. Therefore, in the current research, we explored the impact of microplastics on RA. First, FLS (fibroblast-like synoviocytes) from RA was isolated and identified. FLS has been used as a cell model in vivo to study the potential impact of microplastics on FLS. Therefore, a series of biochemical experiments have been carried out, such as indirect immunofluorescence, western blotting and flow cytometry. First, we found that microplastics promote the proliferation of RA-FLSs through the MTT assay and the detection of cell proliferation markers and the cell cycle analysis through flow cytometry. On this basis, further research showed that microplastics also promoted the invasion and migration ability of RA-FLSs through Transwell experiments. In addition, microplastics also promote the secretion of inflammatory factors in RA-FLSs. In in vivo studies, the effect of microplastics on RA cartilage damage was evaluated. The results showed that RA cartilage damage was aggravated by microplastics, as determined by Alcian blue, toluidine blue and safranin O-fast green staining. Current research shows that microplastics, as a new pollutant, can promote sustained damage in RA.
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics—already known to accumulate in human joints—can trigger a chain reaction that damages cartilage cells, worsening a protein called NFKB1 that drives inflammation and cell death. This research, done in cells rather than in people, suggests microplastic pollution could be a hidden contributor to osteoarthritis, the joint disease that causes pain and stiffness in millions of people, and it points to a possible drug target to block this damage in the future.
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