We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Lipid-Rich diet protects aquatic vertebrates by reducing polystyrene nanoparticles deposition and alleviating harmful effects from exposure
Summary
Researchers showed in zebrafish that polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate selectively in a narrow intestinal segment and alter immune and lipid metabolism gene expression, and that a lipid-rich diet significantly reduced intestinal nanoplastic deposition and partially restored normal transcriptomic profiles.
Nanoplastics (NPs), formed by the disintegration of larger plastic particles, are one of the most widespread pollutants and impose significant environmental threats. While the physiological effects of NP exposure have been extensively analyzed, how the metabolism of an affected individual modulates the manifestation of deleterious effects of NP exposure has not been comprehensively analyzed. In this report, we showed that NPs are selectively deposited within a small segment of the alimentary canal and lead to alteration of the transcriptomic landscape using the zebrafish model. In particular, genes associated with immune responses and lipid metabolism were significantly changed upon NP exposure. Importantly, lipid-rich diets significantly reduced the intestinal NP accumulation and partially restored global transcriptomic profiles altered by NP exposure. Lipid-rich diets also ameliorated NP-induced immune activation. Therefore, our data imply a previously underappreciated correlation between dietary composition and NP deposition, highlighting manipulating dietary composition as a potential strategy to mitigate the biological impacts on NP pollution in aquatic organisms. Our data suggest that optimizing dietary lipid content may help reduce the risk associated with long-term exposure to NPs.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Toxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in the Liver and Intestine of Normal and High-Fat-Diet Juvenile Zebrafish
Researchers exposed juvenile zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with a high-fat diet and found that the combination caused gastrointestinal injury and disrupted lipid metabolism. The nanoplastics alone perturbed gut microbiota stability, and the effects were amplified when paired with a high-fat diet. The study suggests that dietary factors may influence the severity of nanoplastic toxicity, highlighting the importance of considering real-world exposure scenarios.
Nanoplastic contamination: Impact on zebrafish liver metabolism and implications for aquatic environmental health
Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles for 28 days showed significant disruptions in liver metabolism, including altered fat processing, signs of inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Notably, at lower doses the liver's detox enzymes appeared to break down the nanoplastics themselves, while higher doses overwhelmed these defenses and caused more severe injury.
Transcriptome sequencing and metabolite analysis reveal the toxic effects of nanoplastics on tilapia after exposure to polystyrene
Researchers exposed larval tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics and then analyzed changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles after a recovery period. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune-related pathways, energy metabolism, and lipid processing in the fish, with some effects persisting even after exposure ended. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause lasting metabolic and immune disruptions in freshwater fish.
Combined effects of high-fat diet and polystyrene microplastic exposure on microplastic bioaccumulation and lipid metabolism in zebrafish
Researchers studied how a high-fat diet combined with polystyrene microplastic exposure affects zebrafish, finding that obese fish accumulated significantly more microplastics in their tissues. The high-fat diet disrupted lipid metabolism and created conditions that increased microplastic retention in the body. This suggests that diet and body fat levels may influence how much microplastic accumulates in living organisms, with potential implications for human health.
Vitamin D modulates disordered lipid metabolism in zebrafish (Danio rerio) liver caused by exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics
Researchers found that supplementing zebrafish with vitamin D helped counteract the lipid metabolism disruption caused by nanoplastic exposure. Nanoplastics accumulated in the liver and triggered fat buildup, but a high-vitamin-D diet significantly reduced the number of lipid droplets and restored metabolic balance. The study suggests that adequate vitamin D intake may offer some protective effect against the metabolic harm caused by nanoplastic pollution.