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ProteinMicroplasticCoronation Complexes TriggerProteome Changes in Brain-Derived Neuronal and Glial Cells
Summary
Researchers used mass spectrometry-based proteomics to compare how intact polystyrene microplastics versus protein-coated (coronated) microplastics affect brain-derived neuronal and glial cells. Protein corona formation on microplastics notably altered cellular protein expression compared to uncoated particles, with impacts on DNA repair, oxidative stress response, and membrane trafficking pathways.
The extensive distribution of microplastics (MPs) in the environment and their food chain contamination urgently necessitates a deeper understanding of their molecular-level impact on physiological responses. This study employed a mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach to investigate the potential risks, mechanisms of associated cellular processes, and biological reactions to preformed protein-MPs coronation and intact MPs using brain-derived neuronal and glial cells. Our findings indicate that MPs can adsorb proteins and form a heterogeneous corona layer when interacting with biological fluids such as serum. Proteomics analysis revealed that protein–MP coronation notably alters protein expression levels compared to intact MPs, impacting core cellular biological processes, including protein synthesis machinery and RNA processing pathways, lipid metabolism, and nuclear–cytoplasmic compartmentalization and transport. Notably, the heterogeneous protein adsorption onto MP surfaces perturbs a wide range of cellular signaling pathways through cellular recognition mechanisms, potentially contributing to the challenge of MP accumulation in the brain.