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Activation of FGF signal in germline mediates transgenerational toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles at predicted environmental concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Using the roundworm C. elegans as a model, researchers investigated how nanoplastic exposure causes toxic effects that persist across generations. They found that polystyrene nanoparticles activate a specific growth factor signaling pathway in reproductive cells, which then transmits harmful effects to offspring. The study provides molecular evidence for how even low, environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics can cause damage that carries over to future generations.
Nanoplastics in the environment could cause the ecological and health risks. Recently, the transgenerational toxicity of nanoplastic has been observed in different animal models. In this study, using Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model, we aimed to examine the role of alteration in germline fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal in mediating the transgenerational toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-NP). Exposure to 1-100 μg/L PS-NP (20 nm) induced transgenerational increase in expressions of germline FGF ligand/EGL-17 and LRP-1 governing FGF secretion. Germline RNAi of egl-17 and lrp-1 resulted in resistance to transgenerational PS-NP toxicity, indicating the requirement of FGF ligand activation and secretion in formation of transgenerational PS-NP toxicity. Germline overexpression of EGL-17 increased expression of FGF receptor/EGL-15 in the offspring, and RNAi of egl-15 at F1 generation (F1-G) inhibited transgenerational toxicity of PS-NP exposed animals overexpressing germline EGL-17. EGL-15 functions in both the intestine and the neurons to control transgenerational PS-NP toxicity. Intestinal EGL-15 acted upstream of DAF-16 and BAR-1, and neuronal EGL-15 functioned upstream of MPK-1 to control PS-NP toxicity. Our results suggested the important role of activation in germline FGF signal in mediating the induction of transgenerational toxicity in organisms exposed to nanoplastics in the range of μg/L.
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Polystyrene nanoplastics induced transgenerational reproductive toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans through enhanced DNA damage accompanied by DNA repair inhibition
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Researchers exposed roundworms (C. elegans) to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found that reproductive harm persisted across multiple generations, even after exposure stopped. The nanoplastics caused DNA damage while simultaneously suppressing the organisms' DNA repair mechanisms, creating a compounding effect. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may have lasting consequences that are passed down through generations, amplifying harm beyond the originally exposed organisms.
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Researchers found that exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles at environmentally relevant concentrations activated insulin signaling pathways in the nematode C. elegans, and these effects were transmitted to offspring. The study suggests that activation of specific insulin ligands in the germline mediates the transgenerational toxicity of nanoplastics, meaning parental exposure can affect subsequent generations.
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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.
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