We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Enhanced ASGR2 by microplastic exposure leads to resistance to therapy in gastric cancer
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed polystyrene microplastics to mice and found that the particles accumulated in stomach tissue, where they triggered changes associated with more aggressive cancer behavior. In gastric cancer cells, microplastic exposure increased migration, induced drug resistance to multiple cancer therapies, and activated a gene called ASGR2 that appears to drive these effects. The study suggests that microplastic accumulation in the stomach may interfere with the effectiveness of cancer treatments.
Background: Microplastics (MPs) are a new global environmental threat. Previously, we showed the biodistribution of MPs using [64Cu] polystyrene (PS) and PET in mice. Here, we aimed to identify whether PS exposure has malignant effects on the stomach and induces resistance to therapy. Methods: BALB/c nude mice were fed 1.72 × 104 particles/mL of MP. We investigated PS accumulation in the stomach using radioisotope-labeled and fluorescent-conjugated PS. Further, we evaluated whether PS exposure induced cancer stemness and multidrug resistance, and whether it affected tumor development, tumor growth, and survival rate in vivo using a 4-week PS-exposed NCI-N87 mouse model. Using RNA-Seq analysis, we analyzed whether PS exposure induced gene expression changes in gastric tissues of mice. Results: PET imaging results showed that a single dose of [64Cu]-PS remained for 24 h in the mice stomach. The 4-week daily repetitive dose of fluorescent conjugated PS was deposited in the gastric tissues of mice. When PS was exposed, a 2.9-fold increase in migration rate was observed for NCI-N87 cells. Immunocytochemistry results showed decreased E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin expression, and flow cytometry, qPCR, and western blot analysis indicated a 1.9-fold increase in N-cadherin expression after PS exposure. Further, PS-induced multidrug resistance to bortezomib, paclitaxel, gefitinib, lapatinib, and trastuzumab was observed in the NCI-N87 mouse model due to upregulated CD44 expression. RNA-seq results identified increased asialoglycoprotein receptor 2 (ASGR2) expression after PS exposure, and ASGR2 knockdown decreased cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance. Conclusion: We demonstrated that ASGR2 enhanced cancer hallmarks on PS exposure and induced resistance to chemo- and monoclonal antibody-therapy. Our preclinical findings may provide an incentive for further epidemiological studies on the role of MP exposure and its association with gastric cancer.
More Papers Like This
Interaction of polystyrene nanoplastics and Helicobacter pylori modulates gastric cancer cellular functions and metastasis.
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles from everyday products can build up in our digestive system and interact with bacteria linked to stomach cancer, changing how cancer cells grow, die, and spread. In lab tests these plastics alone actually made cancer spread more to the liver and lungs in mice, showing that microplastic pollution may add real risk beyond what bacteria alone cause. More research combining bacteria and plastic exposure is needed to fully understand the danger.
Interaction of polystyrene nanoplastics and Helicobacter pylori modulates gastric cancer cellular functions and metastasis
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can stick to H. pylori, the stomach bacteria linked to gastric cancer, and this combo can damage stomach cancer cells in lab tests. Oddly, in mice, nanoplastics alone were worse, promoting cancer spread to the liver and lungs, showing these plastics may influence cancer behavior in complex, unpredictable ways.
Characterization of Microplastics in Human Gastric Cancer and Control Tissues and Analysis of Associated Genetic Features
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in human gastric cancer tissue and adjacent healthy tissue, finding significantly higher microplastic concentrations in cancer tissue, and used transcriptome sequencing to explore potential molecular mechanisms linking microplastic exposure to gastric cancer development.
Microplastics role in cell migration and distribution during cancer cell division
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed human colorectal cancer cells to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found the particles persisted inside cells without being eliminated, were passed from parent to daughter cells during division, and significantly increased cell migration -- a key step in cancer spreading. These findings suggest microplastics could act as hidden promoters of tumor progression in the gut, where plastic exposure through food is highest.
Interaction of polystyrene nanoplastics and Helicobacter pylori modulates gastric cancer cellular functions and metastasis
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can stick to H. pylori, the bacteria linked to stomach cancer, and together they damage stomach cancer cells in lab tests. But in mice, plastic alone actually spread cancer to the liver and lungs more than the plastic-bacteria combo, showing these interactions are complex and need more study before we understand the real risk to people.
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.