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Polystyrene micro and nano-particles induce metabolic rewiring in normal human colon cells: A risk factor for human health
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Researchers exposed normal human colon cells to polystyrene micro and nanoplastic particles and observed significant metabolic changes in the cells. The study found that these plastic particles altered energy metabolism and cellular pathways in ways that could increase vulnerability to disease. These findings raise concerns that routine ingestion of microplastics through contaminated food may affect normal intestinal cell function in humans.
Polystyrene is a thermoplastic polymer widely used in commercial products. Like all plastics, polystyrene can be degraded into microplastic and nanoplastic particles and ingested via food chain contamination. Although the ecological impact due to plastic contamination is well known, there are no studies indicating a carcinogenic potential of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). Here, we evaluated the effects of the MPs and NPs on normal human intestinal CCD-18Co cells. Our results show that internalization of NPs and MPs induces metabolic changes under both acute and chronic exposure by inducing oxidative stress, increasing glycolysis via lactate to sustain energy metabolism and glutamine metabolism to sustain anabolic processes. We also show that this decoupling of nutrients mirrors the effect of the potent carcinogenic agent azoxymethane and HCT15 colon cancer cells, carrying out the typical strategy of cancer cells to optimize nutrients utilization and allowing metabolic adaptation to environmental stress conditions. Taken together our data provide new evidence that chronic NPs and MPs exposure could act as cancer risk factor for human health.
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This study examined how polystyrene microplastics affect normal and cancer intestinal cells, addressing a gap left by previous research that used only cancer cell lines and pristine plastics. The work evaluated microplastic toxicity under more realistic conditions including digestive system biotransformation, assessing effects on nutrient uptake and cellular function.
Polystyrene microplastic exposure disrupts mitochondrial pathways and nuclear processes in primary intestinal epithelial cells
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Scientists exposed gut cells to tiny plastic particles (microplastics) and found they threw off normal cell function, ramping up energy production while slowing down processes needed for cell repair and division. This happened more with fresh plastic than plastic that had been through digestion, suggesting how plastics break down in our gut may change how harmful they are. More research is needed to know what this means for long term gut health.
Cellular and bioenergetic effects of polystyrene microplastic in function of cell type, differentiation status and post-exposure time
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Researchers tested polystyrene microplastics on human lung, colon, and liver cells and found that even a single exposure had lasting effects on cell energy production and caused oxidative stress that continued for 12 days after exposure ended. Colon cells were particularly affected, showing signs of mitochondrial dysfunction long after the initial contact with microplastics. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure through food could cause sustained damage to intestinal cells even after the particles have passed through the body.
Polystyrene nanoplastics promote colitis-associated cancer by disrupting lipid metabolism and inducing DNA damage
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In a mouse study, polystyrene nanoplastics accelerated the development of colon cancer linked to inflammatory bowel disease by disrupting fat metabolism and causing DNA damage in intestinal cells. The nanoplastics also altered gut bacteria and increased intestinal inflammation, suggesting that plastic particle exposure could worsen outcomes for people already at risk for colon cancer.
The potential effects of microplastic pollution on human digestive tract cells
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Researchers tested polystyrene particles of four different sizes on human colon and small intestine cells to assess the potential effects of microplastic ingestion. They found that the smallest nanoscale particles were more readily taken up by cells and caused greater reductions in cell viability and increased oxidative stress. The study suggests that smaller plastic particles may pose a greater risk to the human digestive tract than larger ones.
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