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The nephrotoxic potential of polystyrene microplastics at realistic environmental concentrations
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Researchers tested polystyrene microplastics on human kidney cells at concentrations reflecting real-world environmental levels. They found that the particles attached to and were engulfed by the cells, triggering oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that reduced cell survival. The findings suggest that even realistic low-level microplastic exposure may pose risks to kidney health.
As microplastics (MPs) dispersed into the environment, people might be exposed to MPs. Most pollutants either pass through or concentrate in the kidney. Therefore, nephrotoxicity tests are needed to verify the toxic potential of MPs. Here we used human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells to determine the association between nephrotoxicity and round-shape polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) (3.54 ± 0.39 μm) under realistic environmental exposure concentrations. Results revealed that PSMPs can adhere to the cell membrane and get entirely engulfed by HEK293 cells. PSMPs can induce cytotoxicity by oxidative stress via inhibition of the antioxidant haem oxygenase-1. Depolarisation of the mitochondrial membrane potential and formation of autophagosomes confirmed that apoptosis and autophagy can be simultaneously induced by PSMPs. The inflammatory factor was only activated (33 cytokines) by noncytotoxic concentration of PSMPs (3 ng/mL); however, the cytotoxic concentration (300 ng/mL) of PSMPs induced autophagy, which might further reduce NLRP3 expression, thus contributing to dampening inflammation (35 cytokines) in HEK293 cells. PSMPs (300 ng/mL) can impair kidney barrier integrity and increase the probability of developing acute kidney injury through the depletion of the zonula occludens-2 proteins and α1-antitrypsin. Altogether, our results demonstrated that environmental exposure to PSMPs may lead to an increased risk of renal disease.
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Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines
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Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.
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This study found that polystyrene microplastics caused damage to human kidney cells in the lab and accumulated in the kidneys of mice. The microplastics triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and a cellular stress response called autophagy in kidney tissue. These results suggest that long-term microplastic exposure could be a risk factor for kidney disease.
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