Fluorescent visualization of endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by microplastic pollution via surge of intracellular reactive oxygen species

BACKGROUND: Excessive accumulation of microplastics (MPs) inside the body can induce serious diseases, and the potential pathological mechanism was related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by the surge of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, until now, the invasion of MPs triggering this unique process remains elusive. RESULTS: Herein, peroxynitrite (ONOO), was selected as the model target, and an ER-targeted fluorogenic probe (ER-NA-PB) was constructed for real-time visualizing the fluctuation of ONOO during cellular ER stimulated by MPs. ER-NA-PB exhibited excellent sensitivity (15.2 nM) and selectivity toward ONOO in aqueous solution, and the exogenous and endogenous ONOO fluctuation in ER also can be visualized by this potently fluorescent tracing tool. In addition, ER-NA-PB revealed that the content of ONOO in ER during stimulation of MPs was elevated with increase of MPs concentration and prolongation of stimulation time. SIGNIFICANCE: For the first time, the fluctuation of active molecule in embryonic tissue was revealed by fluorescence probe, and this research provides a promising tool for deeper studying the pathological mechanisms underlying relevant diseases caused by MPs pollution inducing ER stress.