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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Beyond genetics: can micro and nanoplastics induce epigenetic and gene-expression modifications?
ClearEnvironmental Xenobiotics and Epigenetic Modifications: Implications for Human Health and Disease
This review examines how environmental pollutants, including microplastics, can change gene activity through epigenetic modifications without altering DNA itself. These changes to how genes are turned on and off can contribute to cancer, brain diseases, and developmental problems, and may even be passed down to future generations. The research highlights that microplastics and other common pollutants could have long-lasting health effects that go beyond direct chemical toxicity.
Epigenetic mechanisms of particulate matter exposure: air pollution and hazards on human health
This review examines how breathing in particulate matter from air pollution -- which can include microplastic particles -- causes lasting health damage through epigenetic changes, meaning it alters how genes are turned on and off without changing the DNA itself. These changes have been linked to cancer, lung scarring, brain diseases, and metabolic disorders. The findings suggest that airborne microplastics could contribute to disease through similar epigenetic mechanisms.
Untoward Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics: An Expert Review of Their Biological Impact and Epigenetic Effects
This expert review examined the biological and epigenetic effects of micro- and nanoplastics on living organisms. The study suggests that while intestinal uptake of plastic particles appears relatively low and size-dependent, nanoplastics may dysregulate molecular signaling pathways, alter gut microbiota composition, and induce transgenerational epigenetic changes potentially linked to metabolic disorders.
Nanoplastics as Epigenetic Disruptors: A Biochemical Review of Environmental Pollutants and Gene Regulation
This biochemical review examined how nanoplastics disrupt epigenetic regulation, focusing on their ability to alter DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression. The authors argued that nanoplastic-induced epigenetic changes could have lasting developmental and health consequences, especially during vulnerable life stages.
Micro- and nanoplastics: Emerging environmental threats to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastic exposure may contribute to chronic health conditions through the lens of developmental origins of health and disease. Evidence suggests that microplastics accumulate in human metabolic and reproductive tissues and may induce physiological and epigenetic changes that could potentially be inherited by future generations, though research into these mechanisms is still in early stages.
A systematic review on the impact of micro-nanoplastics on human health: Potential modulation of epigenetic mechanisms and identification of biomarkers
This systematic review found that micro-nanoplastic exposure can trigger epigenetic modifications including chromatin remodeling and miRNA modulation, with potential effects on the KSR-ERK-MAPK, FOXO-Insulin, and GPX3-HIF-alpha pathways in humans. These epigenetic changes could disrupt glucose balance, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and immune function, and may be heritable through mitosis, raising concerns about transgenerational health effects.
Micro(nano)plastics in the brain: Epigenetic perturbations in progression to neurodegenerative diseases.
This review examined how micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) accumulate in the brain and induce epigenetic changes—including DNA methylation and histone modification—that may drive the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. MNPs were found to disrupt neuronal homeostasis through multiple epigenetic mechanisms after crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Genotoxicity and Genomic Instability Induced by Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Comprehensive Multi-Taxa Mechanistic Review.
This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) can damage DNA in many different living things, from fish to human cells. The plastic particles cause this damage by creating harmful molecules called free radicals, disrupting the body's ability to repair DNA, and triggering inflammation. These findings suggest that the growing amount of plastic pollution in our environment could pose serious health risks to humans and wildlife.
Microplastic exposure is associated with epigenomic effects in the model organism Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow)
Researchers exposed fathead minnows to microplastics and found changes in DNA methylation -- a chemical modification that controls which genes are turned on or off -- across multiple organs including the brain, liver, and gonads. These epigenetic changes are heritable, meaning microplastic exposure could affect not just the exposed fish but also future generations, raising concerns about long-term ecological and evolutionary impacts.
Epigenetic and Gene Expression Responses of Daphnia magna to Polyethylene and Polystyrene Microplastics
This study exposed water fleas to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics and found that both types caused changes in gene activity and epigenetic modifications, which are chemical changes that affect how genes work without altering the DNA itself. Polystyrene caused more severe effects, altering genes involved in stress response, immune function, and reproduction. These epigenetic changes are concerning because they can potentially be passed to future generations, suggesting microplastics could have long-lasting biological effects beyond direct exposure.
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in Daphnia magna exposed to polyethylene microplastic fragments containing benzophenone-3 additive
Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to polyethylene microplastics containing benzophenone-3 for a single generation and then tracked effects through three subsequent unexposed generations. The study found persistent epigenetic changes across all four generations, including six genes that remained altered throughout, affecting pathways related to detoxification, development, and cardiovascular function, challenging current assumptions about how environmental risk from microplastics should be assessed.
Immune–Epigenetic Effects of Environmental Pollutants: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Transgenerational Impact
This review examines how environmental pollutants, including microplastics, heavy metals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, can alter immune function through epigenetic changes that modify gene expression without changing DNA itself. Researchers identified common molecular pathways through which these pollutants trigger inflammation and immune disruption. The study also highlights evidence that some of these epigenetic changes may be passed to future generations.
Epigenetic and Gene Expression Responses in Daphnia magna to Polyethylene and Polystyrene Microplastics
Researchers exposed water fleas (Daphnia magna) to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics and examined changes at the genetic and molecular level. They found that the microplastics altered DNA methylation patterns and disrupted the expression of genes involved in reproduction and stress response. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure can cause changes beyond physical harm, affecting organisms at the epigenetic level.
Nanoplastics as Gene and Epigenetic Modulators of Endocrine Functions: A Perspective
This review summarizes how nanoplastics act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with thyroid and sex hormones in animal studies and causing DNA and epigenetic changes that could be passed to future generations. With nanoplastics already detected in human breast milk and placenta, the research underscores the need for more studies on how chronic exposure may affect human hormone function and reproductive health.
Epigenetics of Microplastics
This student-authored paper reviews how microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) can alter gene expression and enzyme activity in animals, with particular concern for effects on the liver, brain, and male reproductive system. MNPs act as carriers for toxic chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and heavy metals, which can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and potentially cancer when ingested by humans. The paper highlights that human exposure is already occurring through contaminated soil, water, and food, making understanding these epigenetic risks an urgent public health priority.
Investigating the Epigenetic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastic Exposure in Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Epithelial Cells Using Methylation-Sensitive AFLPs
Researchers exposed bluegill fish cells to polystyrene nanoplastics and examined whether the exposure caused changes in DNA methylation, a type of genetic modification that can alter how genes function. They found that nanoplastic exposure did cause methylation changes across the genome, but the effect was not dependent on dose or exposure time -- simply being exposed to nanoplastics was enough to trigger the changes. The findings suggest that even low-level nanoplastic exposure could have epigenetic effects on aquatic organisms.
Poly-lactic Acid Nanoplastics Bioccumulate in Developing Zebrafish and Induce Epigenetic Changes
PLA nanoplastics were found to bioaccumulate in zebrafish embryos and larvae during development, and exposure induced epigenetic changes including altered DNA methylation patterns, raising concern about transgenerational effects from biodegradable plastic degradation products.
Vertebrate response to microplastics, nanoplastics and co-exposed contaminants: Assessing accumulation, toxicity, behaviour, physiology, and molecular changes
This review summarizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect vertebrate animals, finding that these particles can cross biological barriers, accumulate in organs including the brain, and cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and behavioral changes. A major concern highlighted is transgenerational harm, where toxic effects appear in offspring that were never directly exposed. The review underscores the need for more research on long-term, low-dose exposure that mirrors real-world human conditions.
Nanoplastics: Focus on the role of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs
This review explored how nanoplastics may affect gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, focusing on their potential to alter microRNA and long non-coding RNA regulation, which could contribute to chronic diseases including cancer.
Effects of Micro‐ and Nanoplastics on Human Genome
This review examines the emerging evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics may interact with human genetic material, including potential effects on DNA integrity and gene expression. Researchers surveyed laboratory studies showing that these particles can induce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human cells, which are known pathways for genetic damage. The study highlights significant knowledge gaps and calls for more research into the long-term genomic effects of chronic microplastic exposure.
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.
Effect of Early-Life Exposure of Polystyrene Microplastics on Behavior and DNA Methylation in Later Life Stage of Zebrafish
Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics during early development and then assessed neurobehavioral effects later in life. The study found that early-life microplastic exposure caused lasting changes in behavior and DNA methylation patterns, suggesting that developmental exposure to microplastics may have long-term epigenetic consequences on neurodevelopment.
The Environmental Hazards of Micro- and Nanoplastics
Researchers reviewed how microplastics — tiny plastic particles found everywhere in the environment — can enter the body, accumulate in tissues, and disrupt the immune, digestive, and nervous systems, with exposure linked to hormonal imbalances, chronic disease, and cancer risk.
Transgenerational reproductive toxicity induced by carboxyl and amino charged microplastics at environmental concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans: Involvement of histone methylation
This study exposed tiny roundworms to polystyrene microplastics with different surface charges at environmental concentrations and found reproductive damage that persisted across multiple generations. The charged microplastics altered gene activity related to epigenetic markers called histone methylation, suggesting the damage was passed down through chemical changes to DNA packaging rather than direct genetic mutations. This raises concerns that microplastic exposure could cause lasting reproductive harm that continues even after the exposure stops.