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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Chronic Exposure to Nanoplastics Alters Stem Cell Type-Specific Mechanisms, Promoting Cancer Development
ClearLong-term exposure to nanoplastics alters molecular and functional traits related to the carcinogenic process
Researchers exposed cells to polystyrene nanoplastics for six months and found that long-term exposure activated multiple molecular markers associated with cancer development, including enhanced cell migration, invasion potential, and ability to grow independently. The study suggests that chronic nanoplastic exposure may pose a carcinogenic risk, though further research is needed to confirm these findings in living organisms.
Long-term low-dose exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces morphological and transcriptional reprogramming to enhance metastatic potential of colorectal cancer cells
Researchers exposed colorectal cancer cells to low doses of 20-nanometer polystyrene nanoplastics over an extended period and found that the cells underwent significant morphological and genetic changes that enhanced their ability to migrate and metastasize. The nanoplastic-treated cells showed increased markers for cancer stem cell properties and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Zebrafish models confirmed that nanoplastic exposure accelerated the spread of colorectal cancer cells, suggesting nanoplastics may contribute to cancer progression.
Nanoplastics as a Potential Environmental Health Factor: From Molecular Interaction to Altered Cellular Function and Human Diseases
This review examined how nanoplastics — particularly polystyrene — interact with cells at the molecular level, potentially causing lasting changes that could contribute to developmental problems and degenerative disease. The study highlights growing concerns about nanoplastics as an emerging environmental health risk given their widespread presence in food, water, and air.
Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics and their degraded forms on stem cell fate
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and their degraded forms affect human bone marrow-derived stem cells. They found that both intact and degraded nanoplastics showed reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, enhanced mitochondrial fusion, and promoted cell proliferation and fat cell differentiation. However, the degraded nanoplastics showed higher long-term cytotoxicity, suggesting that as nanoplastics break down in the environment, their biological effects on human cells may change.
Long-TermExposure to Real-Life Polyethylene TerephthalateNanoplastics Induces Carcinogenesis In Vitro
Long-term in vitro exposure of lung epithelial cells to real-life PET nanoplastics — particles collected from the environment rather than synthesized models — induced carcinogenic transformation including anchorage-independent growth and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, suggesting that chronic inhalation exposure to PET nanoplastics may contribute to lung cancer risk.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells showed an alteration of differentiation potential under Environmental Micro and Nanoplastics Exposure
Researchers evaluated the effects of micro and nanoplastics from water bottles on human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells, finding that exposure altered their differentiation potential in ways that could impair tissue renewal and homeostasis. The study used multiple plastic particle sizes to assess how environmental MPs affect these stem-like progenitor cells.
Potential threats of nanoplastic accumulation in human induced pluripotent stem cells
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics accumulated in human induced pluripotent stem cells over long-term exposure, causing subtle changes in cell differentiation and raising concerns about nanoplastic threats to human developmental biology.
Effects of polystyrene nano- and microplastics on human breast epithelial cells and human breast cancer cells
Researchers tested how polystyrene nano- and microplastics affect both normal human breast cells and breast cancer cells in the lab. The plastic particles were absorbed by both cell types and caused slight but significant increases in cell growth and migration, behaviors associated with cancer progression. While this is a lab study, it raises questions about whether microplastic accumulation in breast tissue could influence cancer development.
Polystyrene nanoplastics affect transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures of human fibroblasts and derived induced pluripotent stem cells: Implications for human health
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics altered transcriptomic and epigenomic signatures in human fibroblasts and derived induced pluripotent stem cells, demonstrating that plastic particle exposure can cause lasting molecular changes with potential implications for human health.
Engineered and Weathered Polyethylene Terephthalate ( PET ) Microplastics and Nanoplastics Induce Form and Size‐Dependent Oxidative Stress, Oxidative DNA Damage, and Cytotoxicity in MCF ‐7 Cells
Researchers tested how PET microplastics and nanoplastics, both pristine and environmentally weathered, affect human breast cancer cells in the lab. They found that all particle types caused dose-dependent cell damage, increased oxidative stress, and DNA damage, with weathered particles showing distinct toxicity patterns compared to pristine ones. The study suggests that the size, shape, and environmental aging of plastic particles all influence their potential to harm cells, and that weathered microplastics found in the real environment deserve more research attention.
Evaluating the relationship between microplastics and nanoplastics contamination and diverse cancer types development
This review examines growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics found in human tissues may contribute to cancer development through several pathways. These tiny particles can generate harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, cause chronic inflammation, and disrupt cell growth signals, all of which are known to promote cancer. While long-term, high-level exposure likely poses the greatest risk, more research is needed to understand the full cancer-related dangers of microplastic exposure.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Cancer Progression: Biology and Public Health
This review examines emerging evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics may contribute to cancer-related processes by crossing biological barriers and accumulating in tissues. The study highlights that these particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and barrier dysfunction at the cellular level, and may promote tumor-supporting processes including angiogenesis and immune evasion.
In vitro cell-transforming potential of secondary polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics
Researchers tested whether tiny nanoplastic particles from common PET plastic bottles could promote cancer development in lab cells. They found that PET nanoplastics acted as a tumor promoter, meaning they helped already-damaged cells grow into cancerous ones, even though a "biodegradable" alternative (polylactic acid) did not show the same effect. This raises concerns about long-term cancer risks from the nanoplastic particles that break off from everyday plastic bottles.
Molecular effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neural stem cells
Researchers exposed human brain stem cells to tiny polystyrene nanoplastics and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and cell death. These findings suggest that nanoplastics could potentially harm brain development if they reach neural tissue, though more research is needed to understand real-world exposure levels.
Long-Term Exposure to Real-Life Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics Induces Carcinogenesis In Vitro
In a lab study, human lung cells exposed to PET nanoplastics (the same plastic used in water bottles) for 30 weeks developed signs of cancer, including DNA damage, the ability to grow without normal anchoring, and increased activity of cancer-related genes. These findings suggest that long-term, chronic exposure to nanoplastics through breathing could carry serious cancer risks that short-term safety tests would miss.
A comparison of the effects of polystyrene and polycaprolactone nanoplastics on macrophages
A comparison of polystyrene and polycaprolactone nanoplastics on macrophage immune cells found both types induced adverse cellular effects, with the study highlighting that plastic persistence in the environment may drive progressive accumulation leading to chronic immune system impacts.
Polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics differentially impact mouse ovarian follicle function
Researchers exposed mouse ovarian follicles to polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found both impaired follicle development and hormone production, with PET causing more severe effects — raising concerns given its widespread use in food packaging.
Micro and nanoplastics in human carcinogenesis: Insights from in vitro studies
This narrative review compiles in vitro evidence on the carcinogenic effects of micro- and nanoplastics across multiple cancer types, examining mechanisms including oxidative stress, DNA damage, immune dysregulation, and epigenetic changes identified in cell culture experiments.
Insights into the potential carcinogenicity of micro- and nano-plastics.
This review examined existing evidence on the carcinogenic potential of micro- and nano-plastics, finding studies demonstrating genotoxicity, oxidative DNA damage, disruption of cell signaling, and tumor-promoting effects, while noting that direct human carcinogenicity data remain limited and mechanistic pathways require further investigation.
Micro- and nanoplastic induced cellular toxicity in mammals: A review
This review examines research on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular damage in mammalian systems, covering both laboratory and animal studies. Evidence indicates that these particles can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage in cells, with smaller nanoplastics generally showing greater toxicity due to their ability to penetrate cell membranes more readily.
The Relationship Between Microplastics and Nanoplastics with Cancer: An Emerging Health Concern
This review explores the emerging relationship between micro- and nanoplastic exposure and cancer risk in humans. Researchers summarized evidence suggesting that microplastics can carry carcinogenic substances and may trigger inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways linked to tumor development. The study highlights that while early evidence raises concern, more research is needed to establish clear causal connections between plastic particle exposure and specific cancer types.
Microplastics as emerging carcinogens: from environmental pollutants to oncogenic drivers
This review examines growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics may play a role in cancer development, with these particles found in human tumor tissues from the lungs, colon, stomach, breast, and other organs. The particles appear to promote cancer through chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and disruption of key cancer-related signaling pathways. While direct proof of causation in humans is still lacking, the accumulating evidence from lab studies, animal experiments, and human tissue analysis suggests microplastics deserve serious attention as potential contributors to cancer risk.
Polypropylene microplastics promote metastatic features in human breast cancer
Researchers found that polypropylene microplastics, one of the most common types found in human tissue, promoted the spread and invasion of human breast cancer cells in laboratory experiments. The microplastics activated specific signaling pathways that help cancer cells migrate to other parts of the body. While this is a lab study and not proof that microplastics cause cancer in people, it raises important questions about how chronic microplastic exposure might influence cancer progression.
Polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics differentially impact mouse ovarian follicle function
Researchers tested how polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics affect mouse ovarian follicles at environmentally relevant doses. They found that both types inhibited follicle growth and altered gene expression related to hormone production and oxidative stress, with PET nanoplastics specifically disrupting steroid hormone pathways. The study suggests that different plastic types may affect female reproductive health through distinct mechanisms.