Papers

The micro(nano)plastics perspective: exploring cancer development and therapy

This review explores the emerging link between microplastics and cancer development. Microplastics can trigger chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormone disruption, all of which are known pathways that may promote cancer growth. Interestingly, researchers are also studying whether engineered microplastics could be used as drug carriers for cancer therapy, though long-term effects remain unclear.

The effects of micro- and nanoplastics on the central nervous system: A new threat to humanity?

This review summarizes growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and damage the central nervous system through inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of brain chemicals. The authors note that microplastic exposure has been linked to memory and behavior changes in animals and may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, though direct human evidence is still limited.

BRCC36 Deubiquitinates HMGCR to Regulate the Interplay Between Ferroptosis and Pyroptosis

This study uncovered a molecular switch (an enzyme called BRCC36) that controls whether liver cancer cells die by ferroptosis or pyroptosis, two different forms of programmed cell death. While not directly about microplastics, ferroptosis has been identified as one of the ways nanoplastics damage cells in recent studies. Understanding how cells regulate ferroptosis could help explain why some tissues are more vulnerable to nanoplastic-induced damage than others.

Gut microbiota, a key to understanding the knowledge gaps on micro-nanoplastics-related biological effects and biodegradation

This review explores how micro- and nanoplastics affect the community of microorganisms living in the gut, and how those same gut microbes might be able to break down plastic particles. Swallowed microplastics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, potentially leading to various diseases. On the other hand, some gut bacteria can actually degrade plastics into smaller, less harmful molecules, opening a possible avenue for biological cleanup.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis of liver immune microenvironment changes induced by microplastics in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver

Using advanced single-cell analysis, researchers showed that microplastics worsened non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice fed a high-fat diet by changing how immune cells behaved in the liver. Microplastic exposure amplified inflammatory responses and altered the communication between different liver cell types. This study is important because it reveals specific immune mechanisms by which microplastics could worsen liver disease, a condition already affecting roughly one in four adults worldwide.

Acute kidney injury: exploring endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated cell death

This review examines how endoplasmic reticulum stress, a cellular response to accumulated misfolded proteins, can trigger various forms of cell death in acute kidney injury. While not directly about microplastics, these same stress pathways are activated when cells are exposed to nanoplastics, which have been shown to accumulate in kidney tissue. Understanding these mechanisms helps explain how microplastic exposure could contribute to kidney damage at the cellular level.

Polystyrene microplastics induces the injury of human corneal epithelial cells through ROS-mediated p53 pathway

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused significant damage to human corneal eye cells, including cell cycle arrest, necrosis, and programmed cell death. The damage was driven by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species that activated a key stress-response pathway in the cells. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to eye health, particularly for the cells that form the outermost layer of the cornea.

Intestinal flora variation reflects the short-term damage of microplastic to the intestinal tract in mice

Researchers used gut microbiome analysis to track short-term intestinal damage from compositional microplastics (PE, PET, PP, PS, and PVC) in mice over 7 days of exposure. While standard physiological indicators showed no significant changes, histopathological examination and gut flora analysis revealed intestinal tissue damage and microbial community shifts, suggesting that gut microbiota may serve as a sensitive early indicator of microplastic toxicity.

Targeting EGFR-binding protein SLC7A11 enhancing antitumor immunity of T cells via inducing MHC-I antigen presentation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Researchers found that a protein called SLC7A11, stabilized by the cancer-driving protein EGFR, blocks cancer cells from being recognized and destroyed by the immune system in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and showed that the drug sorafenib can reverse this immune evasion by targeting SLC7A11.

Microplastics release from infusion sets during intravenous infusion induces cardiovascular toxicity

Researchers found that standard medical IV infusion sets release microplastics into patients' bloodstreams during treatment, with acidic or hypertonic drugs and higher temperatures increasing plastic particle release. Experiments showed these released microplastics triggered inflammation, disrupted blood vessel formation, and caused heart defects in zebrafish, raising serious concerns about an overlooked route of microplastic exposure in hospital care.

Tumour-infiltrating microplastics disrupt the JAK-STAT-microbiota axis to promote immunotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer

Researchers isolated microplastics from colorectal cancer tumor tissues and blood samples and examined their properties and effects on cancer progression. They found that tumor-infiltrating microplastics disrupted the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and altered gut microbiota composition, potentially reducing the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The study suggests that microplastic presence in tumors may be a factor worth investigating in cancer treatment outcomes.

From the Gut to the Brain: Microplastic‐Associated Neurovascular Dysfunction and Implications for Stroke Risk

This review examines evidence that microplastics may affect neurovascular health through the gut-brain axis, potentially contributing to stroke risk factors. Researchers found that animal and in vitro studies suggest microplastics can disrupt gut barrier integrity, trigger systemic inflammation, and impair blood-brain barrier function, though the authors note that direct causal links in humans remain unestablished.

Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics exposure enhances the risk of ulcerative colitis: insights from multiomics integration, machine learning, and molecular docking reveal intestinal toxicity mechanisms

Using multiomics integration, machine learning, and molecular docking, this study identified mechanisms by which PET microplastic exposure may increase the risk of ulcerative colitis. Key pathways included intestinal barrier disruption, immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress triggered by PET-MP-protein interactions.

Combined exposure to titanium nanoparticles and nanoplastics damages the male reproductive system and sperm activity

This study assessed the effects of combined TiO2 nanoparticles and polystyrene nanoplastics on male reproductive function in animal models, finding that co-exposure caused greater damage to sperm motility, testicular structure, and hormone levels than either material alone. The results raise concerns about combined environmental exposure to two common industrial nanomaterials.

N-acetylcysteine suppresses proteasome pathway activation and muscular damage induced by microplastics and chromium nanoparticles

Researchers found chromium nanoparticles and microplastics co-accumulating in human peri-implant muscle tissue from orthopedic patients, and showed in vitro that their combined exposure elevated reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory markers, while the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine suppressed the proteasome pathway activation and muscle damage.

Ferroptosis inhibition via the ROS-GPX4 axis drives microplastic-induced malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics promote malignant progression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, finding that the plastics inhibit ferroptosis—an iron-dependent cell death pathway—via the ROS-GPX4 axis, thus allowing cancer cells to survive and proliferate. Blocking this anti-ferroptosis effect restored cancer cell death, suggesting that targeting the ferroptosis pathway could counteract microplastic-driven tumor progression.

Association of gut microbiota composition and function with a senescence-accelerated mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease using 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing analysis

This study compared gut microbiota composition between a senescence-accelerated mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and normal aging mice, finding distinct differences in microbial communities and functional profiles. While not directly about microplastics, understanding gut microbiome disruption is relevant to research on how microplastic-associated chemical exposures may affect neurodegenerative disease risk.

<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i><scp>MucT</scp> attenuates sodium valproate‐induced hepatotoxicity and upregulation of <i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> in rats

This study investigated the role of Akkermansia muciniphila in sodium valproate-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, finding that the bacterium exacerbated liver damage and suggesting that gut microbiota composition can modulate drug-induced liver injury.

Cobalt nanoparticles attenuate microplastic-induced vascular endothelial injury via Nrf2 pathway activation

Cell and zebrafish experiments showed that microplastics and cobalt nanoparticles — both environmental contaminants that can reach the bloodstream — each independently damage vascular endothelial cells and generate reactive oxygen species, but when combined, the damage was significantly less than from microplastics alone. The cobalt nanoparticles appeared to adsorb onto microplastics and partially counteract their toxicity through interactions with the Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway. These findings reveal that the health effects of microplastics in real-world environments depend heavily on what other particles they are combined with, complicating risk assessments based on single-contaminant studies.

As(III)-oxidizing bacteria alleviate arsenite toxicity via reducing As accumulation, elevating antioxidative activities and modulating ionome in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Researchers found that inoculating rice plants with arsenic-oxidizing bacteria significantly reduced arsenic accumulation in shoots, improved antioxidant defenses, and rebalanced nutrient uptake, suggesting a promising biological strategy to reduce arsenic stress in paddy agriculture.

Galangin attenuates oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in high glucose-induced renal tubular epithelial cells through modulating renin–angiotensin system and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Researchers found that a plant compound called galangin protected kidney cells from damage caused by high blood sugar by reducing oxidative stress and activating protective signaling pathways. While focused on diabetes treatment, this research is not directly related to microplastic contamination.

POS0089 A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMANCE STUDY ON RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY INTEGRATED WITH POLARIZED LIGHT MICROSCOPY FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MONOSODIUM URATE IN GOUT