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Detrimental effects of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) on platelet and neutrophil immunity: Recent findings and emerging insights
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Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) harm the immune system, finding that tiny plastic particles can trigger dangerous inflammation in platelets and neutrophils — immune cells that control clotting and infection defense. These effects could disrupt normal blood vessel function and immune balance, though the exact mechanisms by which cells take up MNPs remain poorly understood.
The growing use of plastics has introduced widespread micro-and nanoplastics (MNPs) into the environment.These particles can enter the body through food, air, or water and may accumulate in organs such as the lungs and liver.Notably, smaller plastic particles show a greater tendency to persist in tissues and pose biological risks.Emerging evidence indicates that MNPs can trigger inflammatory responses in immune cells.This review highlights current findings and emerging insights into the immune impacts of MNP exposure.Polystyrene nanoparticles have been shown to trigger inflammation, damage blood vessels, and enhance platelet aggregation and coagulation.However, their impact on platelet activation markers is not well understood and requires additional research.It is known that neutrophils engulf polymer particles, produce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) involving peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) and neutrophil elastase (NE), and can be harmed by carboxylatemodified MPs.While it has been reported that TLR2 and TLR4 involve in recognizing these particles, the mechanism by which neutrophils uptake MNPs remains unclear, necessitating further investigation.Therefore, investigating the cellular-level effects of MNPs on immune cell activation may provide valuable insights into their potential detrimental impact on vascular immune regulation and homeostasis.
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