Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of nano- and microplastics on kidney: Physicochemical properties, bioaccumulation, oxidative stress and immunoreaction

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nano- and microplastics of varying sizes and tracked their accumulation and effects in the kidneys. They found that the particles changed their physical properties during digestion, accumulated in kidney tissue, and caused oxidative stress and immune responses. The study suggests that plastic particle size plays an important role in determining the extent of kidney-related harm.

2021 Chemosphere 213 citations
Article Tier 2

The microplastics exposure induce the kidney injury in mice revealed by RNA-seq

In a mouse study, microplastics of different sizes caused kidney injury including inflammation, oxidative stress, and scarring (fibrosis) after long-term exposure. The smallest particles (80 nanometers) altered immune-related genes, while larger particles disrupted genes tied to the body's internal clock. This research provides evidence that microplastics accumulating in the body over time could contribute to kidney disease in mammals, including humans.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 70 citations
Article Tier 2

The nephrotoxic potential of polystyrene microplastics at realistic environmental concentrations

Researchers tested polystyrene microplastics on human kidney cells at concentrations reflecting real-world environmental levels. They found that the particles attached to and were engulfed by the cells, triggering oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that reduced cell survival. The findings suggest that even realistic low-level microplastic exposure may pose risks to kidney health.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 119 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects of microplastics in renal ischemia–reperfusion injury

Researchers studied how microplastic exposure affects kidney injury and recovery in a mouse model of reduced blood flow to the kidneys. They found that microplastics worsened kidney damage by triggering inflammatory responses and disrupting cellular repair processes. The study suggests that microplastic accumulation in the body may increase vulnerability to kidney complications.

2023 Environmental Toxicology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Single-cell RNA-seq analysis decodes the kidney microenvironment induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice receiving a high-fat diet

Using advanced single-cell gene analysis, researchers found that mice fed both polystyrene microplastics and a high-fat diet suffered significantly worse kidney damage than either exposure alone. The combination reshaped the kidney's cellular environment, promoting scarring, triggering cancer-related pathways, and altering immune cell populations. This is particularly relevant to human health because many people are simultaneously exposed to microplastics through food and drink while also consuming high-fat diets.

2024 Journal of Nanobiotechnology 38 citations
Article Tier 2

The Kidney-Related Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Kidney Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells HK-2 and Male C57BL/6 Mice

This study found that polystyrene microplastics caused damage to human kidney cells in the lab and accumulated in the kidneys of mice. The microplastics triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and a cellular stress response called autophagy in kidney tissue. These results suggest that long-term microplastic exposure could be a risk factor for kidney disease.

2021 Environmental Health Perspectives 326 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure on Blood Parameters in Mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics in drinking water over four weeks and found increased white blood cell counts, elevated liver enzymes indicating hepatic injury, and altered kidney function markers. The study suggests that subchronic oral microplastic exposure induces inflammatory responses and disrupts liver and kidney function, with no significant recovery observed after a two-week withdrawal period.

2026 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Effects of Orally Ingested Microplastics on the Structure and Function of the Kidneys

This study reviewed the structural and functional effects of orally ingested microplastics on kidney tissue, synthesizing experimental evidence from animal and in vitro studies. Microplastic exposure was consistently associated with kidney histopathology including inflammation and fibrosis, with particle size, shape, and polymer type influencing the severity of renal damage.

2024 Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
Article Tier 2

Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure

Researchers fed mice polystyrene microplastics of two sizes and tracked where the particles accumulated in the body, finding them in the liver, kidneys, and gut with distribution patterns depending on particle size. Biochemical analysis revealed that microplastic exposure disrupted energy and fat metabolism, caused oxidative stress, and altered markers of neurotoxicity in the blood. The study provides evidence that microplastics can accumulate in mammalian tissues and may pose widespread health risks.

2017 Scientific Reports 1354 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics disrupt renal function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox homeostasis, and histoarchitecture in Wistar rats

Researchers gave rats polyethylene microplastics orally for 28 days and found dose-dependent kidney damage, including impaired filtration, electrolyte imbalances, and tissue inflammation. The microplastics depleted antioxidant defenses, increased oxidative stress markers, and disrupted mitochondrial energy production in kidney cells, identifying the kidneys as a critical target of microplastic toxicity.

2025 Scientific Reports 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Kidneys: An Update on the Evidence for Deposition of Plastic Microparticles in Human Organs, Tissues and Fluids and Renal Toxicity Concern

This review summarizes the growing evidence that microplastics are found throughout the human body, including in the placenta, lungs, liver, heart, blood, and breast milk. While direct evidence for kidney damage in humans is still lacking, animal studies show that microplastics can cause kidney inflammation, cell death, and oxidative stress. The findings highlight that microplastics are accumulating in virtually every human organ, though the long-term health consequences remain unclear.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary study on impacts of polystyrene microplastics on the hematological system and gene expression in bone marrow cells of mice

Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene microplastics on the blood system and bone marrow gene expression in mice. They found that higher doses significantly decreased white blood cell counts and altered gene expression patterns in bone marrow cells, suggesting that microplastic exposure may affect the hematological system in mammals through changes in immune-related gene regulation.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of reliable reference genes for gene expression studies in mouse models under microplastics stress

Researchers sought to identify reliable reference genes for gene expression studies in mouse models exposed to polypropylene microplastics. The study found that while kidney tissues showed no obvious histological damage from microplastic exposure, careful selection and validation of reference genes is essential for accurate RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression changes under microplastic stress conditions.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Kidney and Liver Cell Morphology, Cellular Proliferation, and Metabolism

Researchers exposed human kidney and liver cells to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations to assess their effects on cell health. They found that microplastics altered cell shape, reduced proliferation, and disrupted cellular metabolism, with smaller particles generally causing more damage. The findings suggest that microplastics reaching internal organs could have measurable effects at the cellular level.

2022 ACS Omega 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Additional file 1 of Single-cell RNA-seq analysis decodes the kidney microenvironment induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice receiving a high-fat diet

Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to decode kidney microenvironmental changes induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice fed a high-fat diet, characterizing mural cell and mesangial cell heterogeneity, DEG profiles, and pathway enrichment in affected renal tissue.

2024 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in motion: Genotoxic and redox imbalance impacts of systemic exposure in a murine model

Researchers injected polyethylene microplastics into mice and found the particles accumulated in the blood, liver, and kidneys, with DNA damage detected in peripheral blood. The study revealed complex organ-specific oxidative and nitrosative stress responses, suggesting that systemic microplastic exposure can trigger genotoxicity and disrupt redox balance in multiple tissues.

2026 Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic exposure and its consequences for renal and urinary health: systematic review of in vivo studies

This systematic review examines animal studies on how microplastic exposure affects the kidneys and urinary system. The evidence suggests that microplastics can accumulate in kidney tissue and may cause inflammation and oxidative stress, raising concerns about potential long-term effects on human kidney health as our exposure to these particles continues to grow.

2025 All Life 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Polypropylene microplastics triggered mouse kidney lipidome reprogramming combined with ROS stress as revealed by lipidomics and Raman biospectra

Researchers exposed mice to polypropylene microplastics and found significant disruptions to kidney fat metabolism, with altered levels of triglycerides and phospholipids alongside increased oxidative stress. Advanced imaging confirmed changes at the cellular level, including damage to kidney filtration structures. The study suggests that microplastic exposure can reprogram lipid metabolism in the kidneys, potentially contributing to kidney injury through combined fat and oxidative stress pathways.

2024 Chemosphere 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastiques : une menace silencieuse pour vos reins ?

Researchers reviewed evidence on microplastic contamination and its potential effects on kidney health, noting that microplastics have been detected in kidneys and urine in humans. In vitro and animal studies suggest potential nephrotoxicity from microplastic exposure, and patients with kidney diseases may face increased risk due to higher exposure through medical procedures and reduced urinary elimination. The study calls for further research to clarify the relationship between microplastic exposure and kidney damage.

2026 Revue Médicale Suisse
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects and mechanisms of renal injury induced by inhalation exposure to airborne nanoplastics

Researchers studied what happens to mouse kidneys after breathing in airborne polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated in kidney tissue after entering through the lungs. The nanoplastics activated stress and inflammation pathways that led to kidney cell damage and death. Testing on lab-grown human kidney organoids showed they were even more sensitive to nanoplastic exposure than standard cell lines, suggesting developing kidneys in embryos could be particularly vulnerable.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations