We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Nanoplastics cause transgenerational toxicity through inhibiting germline microRNA mir-38 in C. elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used the model organism C. elegans to investigate how nanoplastic exposure causes transgenerational toxicity through effects on germline microRNA. The study found that polystyrene nanoparticles decreased expression of germline miRNA mir-38, and that overexpressing this miRNA conferred resistance to transgenerational toxicity. The findings suggest that nanoplastics can cause heritable toxic effects across generations by disrupting germline gene regulation.
Nanoplastic exposure potentially caused the induction of transgenerational toxicity. Nevertheless, the molecular basis for nanoplastic exposure-induced transgenerational toxicity remains largely unclear. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model, we examined the role of germline microRNA (miRNA) mir-38 in regulating the transgenerational toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs). After the exposure, 1-100 μg/L PS-NP decreased expression of germline mir-38. Meanwhile, germline mir-38 overexpression conferred a resistance to transgenerational PS-NP toxicity, which suggested that the decrease in germline mir-38 mediated the induction of transgenerational PS-NP toxicity. In the germline, mir-38 regulated transgenerational PS-NP toxicity by inhibiting activity of downstream targets (NDK-1, NHL-2, and WRT-3). Among these three downstream targets, germline NDK-1 further controlled transgenerational PS-NP toxicity by suppressing the function of KSR-1/2, two kinase suppressors of Ras. Therefore, in the germline, the decrease in mir-38 mediated induction of transgenerational PS-NP toxicity by at least inhibiting signaling cascade of NDK-1-KSR-1/2 in nematodes. The findings in this study are helpful for providing relevantly molecular endpoints to assess potential transgenerational toxicity of nanoplastics.
More Papers Like This
Epigenetic response to nanopolystyrene in germline of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Germline microRNA mir-38 was found to be upregulated in the nematode C. elegans following exposure to 100-nm polystyrene nanoplastics, triggering an epigenetic response that reduced expression of downstream regulatory genes. This miRNA-mediated pathway represents a novel epigenetic mechanism by which nanoplastic exposure propagates molecular changes in reproductive tissues.
Activation of FGF signal in germline mediates transgenerational toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles at predicted environmental concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Induction of transgenerational toxicity is associated with the activated germline insulin signals in nematodes exposed to nanoplastic at predicted environmental concentrations
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induced transgenerational reproductive toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans through enhanced DNA damage accompanied by DNA repair inhibition
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Nanoplastic at environmentally relevant concentrations activates a germline mir-240-rab-5 signaling cascade to affect the secreted ligands associated with transgenerational toxicity induction in C. elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that nanoplastics at levels commonly found in the environment activated a specific genetic signaling pathway in roundworms that caused toxic effects passed down across multiple generations. The nanoplastics triggered changes in gene regulation that affected offspring who were never directly exposed to the plastic particles. This is particularly alarming because it suggests that nanoplastic exposure could have health consequences not just for the individual exposed but for their children and grandchildren through inherited genetic changes.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.