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PET-microplastics trigger endothelial glycocalyx loss via ER stress and ROS unleashing IL-1β-driven SMC switching and early aortic structural impairment
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles from bottles and food packaging can damage blood vessels when consumed regularly. In lab rats, these microplastics caused harmful changes to the cells lining arteries, which could lead to heart disease over time. This research suggests that plastic pollution may pose a direct threat to our cardiovascular health, though more studies are needed to confirm the effects in humans.
Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs), a major microplastics component identified in human vasculature, pose emerging environmental health risks. This study systemically profiled MPs in human aortic tissues and investigated the mechanisms underlying PET-MPs-induced aortic injury in vivo and in vitro. Chronic oral exposure of Sprague-Dawley rats to PET-MPs resulted in endothelial glycocalyx loss and structural impairment of aortic elastic fibers. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses elucidated that PET-MPs triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress and reactive oxygen species generation, initiating glycocalyx loss and inflammatory activation. This response further pinpointed interleukin-1β (IL-1β) as a pivotal mediator inducing smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching. Crucially, restoration of the glycocalyx using sulodexide mitigated endothelial dysfunction and downstream smooth muscle cells phenotypic switching. These findings establish endothelial glycocalyx degradation via endoplasmic reticulum stress-reactive oxygen species as a novel mechanism for PET-MPs-induced vascular injury and highlight glycocalyx protection as a potential strategy against environmental microplastic hazards.
More Papers Like This
PET-Microplastics Trigger Endothelial Glycocalyx Loss via ER Stress and ROS Unleashing IL-1β-Driven SMC Switching and Early Aortic Structural Impairment
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Researchers found that chronic oral exposure of rats to PET microplastics caused endothelial glycocalyx damage and aortic structural injury, with endoplasmic reticulum stress and reactive oxygen species triggering IL-1β-driven smooth muscle cell switching as the underlying mechanism.
PET-Microplastics Trigger Endothelial Glycocalyx Loss via ER Stress and ROS Unleashing IL-1β-Driven SMC Switching and Early Aortic Structural Impairment
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Chronic oral exposure of rats to PET microplastics at 1–100 mg/L caused endothelial glycocalyx loss and structural damage to aortic elastic fibers, with MPs accumulating in vascular tissue. Mechanistically, PET-MPs triggered ER stress and reactive oxygen species production, driving an IL-1β-mediated switch in smooth muscle cell phenotype and early arterial injury.
Polystyrene microplastic uptake drives Inflammatory, Epitranscriptomic, and Metabolic Reprogramming in Human Aortic Endothelial cells.
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles can get inside cells lining our blood vessels, where they trigger inflammation, mess with cell metabolism, and alter how genes are processed. These changes overlap with patterns seen in real human plaques from clogged arteries, suggesting microplastics could contribute to heart disease risk, though more research is needed to confirm this in living people.
Potential Effects of Orally Ingesting Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on the Mouse Heart
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This study found that mice fed PET microplastics (the type of plastic used in water bottles and food containers) developed heart damage, including broken muscle fibers, significant scarring, and cell death in heart tissue. The damage was driven by a buildup of harmful oxygen molecules (oxidative stress) that overwhelmed the heart's natural defenses. These findings raise concern about the potential cardiovascular effects of PET microplastics that humans commonly encounter in food and drink packaging.
Emerging cardiovascular risks of micro- and nanoplastics: toxic effects and mechanistic pathways
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Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are getting into our bodies through food, air, and skin contact, and researchers have found them building up in people's hearts and blood vessels. This review of existing studies shows these plastic bits may contribute to heart disease by causing inflammation and damaging cells in the cardiovascular system. While more research is needed, this suggests that plastic pollution isn't just an environmental problem—it could be directly harming our heart health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.