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Polypropylene nanoplastic exposure leads to lung inflammation through p38-mediated NF-κB pathway due to mitochondrial damage

Particle and Fibre Toxicology 2023 162 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 70 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Jong-Hwan Woo, Hyeon Jin Seo, Juneyoung Lee, Iljung Lee, Iljung Lee, Kisoo Jeon, Bumseok Kim, Bumseok Kim, Kyuhong Lee

Summary

This study found that polypropylene nanoplastics, one of the most common types of plastic particles, can cause lung inflammation by damaging mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) and triggering inflammatory signaling pathways. These findings suggest that breathing in tiny plastic particles could contribute to lung disease through a specific chain of cellular damage.

Polymers

These results suggest that PP stimulation may contribute to inflammation pathogenesis via the p38 phosphorylation-mediated NF-κB pathway as a result of mitochondrial damage.

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