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Long-term nanoplastics exposure results in multi and trans-generational reproduction decline associated with germline toxicity and epigenetic regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers discovered that a single exposure to nanoplastics in mother roundworms caused reproductive decline that persisted across four subsequent unexposed generations. The study found that nanoplastics triggered DNA damage and cell death in reproductive cells, with these effects passed down through epigenetic changes rather than direct nanoplastic transfer to offspring. This finding suggests that nanoplastic exposure may have lasting consequences for fertility that extend well beyond the initially exposed generation.
The environmental risk from long-term plastic pollution is growing. We investigated the multi and trans-generational reproductive toxicity of nanoplastics (NPs) in Caenorhabditis elegans and the underlying mechanisms over five generations. Following a single maternal exposure (F0) to NPs (100 nm; 1, 10, 50, or 100 mg/L) for 72 h, the subsequent generations (F1-F4) were cultured under NPs-free conditions. We showed that the total brood size was significantly reduced across all offspring generations (F1-F4). NPs accumulated in the intestine of C. elegans in the F0 generation, but not in the germline system, and not observed in subsequent generations. Chromosomal aberrations in oocytes and germline cell apoptosis were significantly elevated in the NPs-exposed F0 generation and in subsequent unexposed generations. Likewise, the expression of ced-3 was increased across generations, regulated by hypomethylation in the promoter region of ced-3 after maternal NPs exposure. Finally, NPs exposure reduced the expression of epigenesis-related genes met-2, set-2, and spr-5 and the trans-generational effects of maternal NPs exposure were not observed in met-2, set-2, and spr-5 RNAi worms. We demonstrate that a single long-term maternal NPs exposure can cause multi and trans-generational reproduction decline in C. elegans, which may be associated with germline toxicity and epigenetic regulation.
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Polystyrene nanoplastics induced transgenerational reproductive toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans through enhanced DNA damage accompanied by DNA repair inhibition
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Researchers exposed roundworms (C. elegans) to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found that reproductive harm persisted across multiple generations, even after exposure stopped. The nanoplastics caused DNA damage while simultaneously suppressing the organisms' DNA repair mechanisms, creating a compounding effect. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may have lasting consequences that are passed down through generations, amplifying harm beyond the originally exposed organisms.
Effect of disruption in the intestinal barrier function during the transgenerational process on nanoplastic toxicity induction in Caenorhabditis elegans
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This study found that nanoplastics can cause toxic effects that pass from parents to offspring across generations in tiny roundworms. The damage was linked to disruption of the intestinal barrier, which normally protects against harmful substances. These findings raise concerns that nanoplastic exposure could have long-lasting health effects beyond a single generation.
Size-dependent transgenerational toxicity induced by nanoplastics in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers discovered that nanoplastic exposure in nematode worms caused toxic effects that persisted across multiple generations, even when offspring were raised in clean conditions. Smaller nanoplastics (20 nm) produced more severe and longer-lasting transgenerational effects than larger ones (100 nm), with toxicity detectable through the sixth generation. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining long-term biological impacts that can be passed down to future generations.
Activation of FGF signal in germline mediates transgenerational toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles at predicted environmental concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Using the roundworm C. elegans as a model, researchers investigated how nanoplastic exposure causes toxic effects that persist across generations. They found that polystyrene nanoparticles activate a specific growth factor signaling pathway in reproductive cells, which then transmits harmful effects to offspring. The study provides molecular evidence for how even low, environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics can cause damage that carries over to future generations.
Sulfonate-Modified Polystyrene Nanoparticle at Precited Environmental Concentrations Induces Transgenerational Toxicity Associated with Increase in Germline Notch Signal of Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers exposed tiny roundworms to sulfonate-modified nanoplastics at low, environmentally realistic concentrations and observed harmful effects that persisted across multiple generations. The nanoplastics activated the Notch signaling pathway in reproductive cells, leading to reduced movement and shortened lifespan in unexposed offspring. This suggests nanoplastic exposure could cause lasting biological changes passed down through generations.
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