Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Heterogeneity effects of nanoplastics and lead on zebrafish intestinal cells identified by single-cell sequencing

Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to examine how polystyrene nanoplastics and lead individually and together affect different cell types in zebrafish intestines. They found that nanoplastics primarily affected macrophages while lead mostly impacted enterocytes, and the combined exposure showed synergistic effects specifically in goblet cells. The study reveals that population-average toxicity measurements can mask important cell-type-specific responses to environmental contaminants.

2021 Chemosphere 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Size-Dependent Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Immune and Secretory Cell Populations from Zebrafish Intestines

Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to examine how different sizes of polystyrene microplastics affect intestinal cell populations in zebrafish. The study revealed size-dependent effects on immune and secretory cell populations, providing a detailed transcriptomic view of how microplastics disrupt intestinal function at the individual cell level and alter the interplay between intestinal cells and gut microbiota.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 232 citations
Article Tier 2

Single‐Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Hair Cell‐Specific Molecular Responses to Polystyrene Nanoplastics in a Zebrafish Embryo Model

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify hair cell-specific transcriptional changes in the inner ear, finding molecular-level effects without overt developmental phenotypes.

2025 Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry
Article Tier 2

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Profiling Cellular Heterogeneity and Specific Responses of Fish Gills to Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Using advanced single-cell sequencing, researchers mapped how individual cell types in fish gills respond differently to micro- and nanoplastic exposure. Microplastics mainly affected immune cells called macrophages, while nanoplastics primarily targeted T cells, and a structural cell type called fibroblasts was especially sensitive to microplastics. This detailed cell-level view reveals that plastic particles of different sizes can trigger distinct immune and tissue responses.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinctive lipidomic responses induced by polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics in zebrafish liver cells

Researchers compared how micro-sized and nano-sized polystyrene plastic particles affect fat metabolism in zebrafish liver cells. They found that both sizes were taken up by cells, but the smaller nanoplastics caused more pronounced disruptions to lipid profiles and triggered cell death pathways. The findings underscore that particle size matters when assessing the biological impact of plastic pollution on fish.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to decipher the regulatory mechanisms of polystyrene nanoplastic-induced metabolic disorders in hepatocytes

Using combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis, this study found that polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt lipid and amino acid metabolism in hepatocytes, identifying key regulatory genes and providing data relevant to assessing health risks from nanoplastic exposure.

2025 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome sequencing and metabolite analysis reveal the toxic effects of nanoplastics on tilapia after exposure to polystyrene

Researchers exposed larval tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics and then analyzed changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles after a recovery period. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune-related pathways, energy metabolism, and lipid processing in the fish, with some effects persisting even after exposure ended. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause lasting metabolic and immune disruptions in freshwater fish.

2021 Environmental Pollution 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanospheres-induced hepatotoxicity in swamp eel (Monopterus albus): From biochemical, pathological and transcriptomic perspectives

Researchers exposed swamp eels to polystyrene nanoplastics for 28 days and found significant liver damage including oxidative stress, tissue abnormalities, and disrupted gene expression related to immune response and metabolism. Higher concentrations caused more severe liver injury, with changes detectable at both the biochemical and genetic levels. This study adds evidence that nanoplastic exposure can harm liver function in freshwater species important to aquaculture and local food supplies.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating Polystyrene Nano-Plastic Effects on Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Focusing on mRNA Expression: Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Lipid Metabolism Dynamics

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the liver of largemouth bass, focusing on endoplasmic reticulum stress and fat metabolism. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted normal lipid processing and triggered stress responses in liver cells, altering the expression of genes involved in fat storage and energy regulation. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in freshwater environments may impair metabolic health in fish.

2024 Fishes 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome alterations in zebrafish gill after exposure to different sizes of microplastics

Researchers found that microplastic exposure in zebrafish gills caused size-dependent transcriptomic changes, with smaller particles triggering more differentially expressed genes related to immune response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis pathways compared to larger particles.

2022 Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of zebrafish exposure to high-density polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics at molecular and histological levels

This study exposed zebrafish to high-density polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics and used genomic analysis to identify which biological pathways were most affected, finding widespread disruption of immune function, metabolism, and stress response genes. The transcriptomic approach reveals that different plastic types activate distinct molecular stress responses in fish.

2018 Use Siena air (University of Siena)
Article Tier 2

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal the mechanism of polystyrene nanoplastics toxicity to mice

Researchers used gene expression and metabolic profiling to understand how polystyrene nanoplastics harm mice at the molecular level, finding disrupted energy metabolism, fat processing, and amino acid pathways in the liver. These molecular changes suggest that nanoplastic exposure could contribute to metabolic disorders, with effects becoming more severe at higher doses.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic contamination: Impact on zebrafish liver metabolism and implications for aquatic environmental health

Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles for 28 days showed significant disruptions in liver metabolism, including altered fat processing, signs of inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Notably, at lower doses the liver's detox enzymes appeared to break down the nanoplastics themselves, while higher doses overwhelmed these defenses and caused more severe injury.

2024 Environment International 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of mouse liver reveals nonparenchymal cells’ intricate responses to PCB126 exposure

Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers found that PCB126 exposure triggers cell-type-specific responses in mouse liver, activating the AhR signaling pathway mainly in endothelial cells while altering immune cell transcriptional profiles, revealing previously hidden heterogeneity in PCB toxicity.

2023
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

Application of transcriptomic profiling to investigate the toxicity mechanisms caused by dietary exposure of nanoplastics in fish

Researchers used transcriptomic profiling to evaluate the impact of dietary nanoplastic exposure on European sea bass, finding changes in gene expression in intestinal tissue after 21 days of feeding with polystyrene nanoparticle-containing food. The study suggests that while no significant changes were observed in enzymatic stress markers, nanoplastics may trigger subtle molecular-level responses in the fish gut.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Sequencing data of Amphiprion ocellaris (clownfish) exposed to polystyrene nanoplastic

Researchers exposed clownfish to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant and high concentrations for seven days and performed biochemical and transcriptomic analyses. The study found that even low-concentration exposure triggered significant gene expression changes indicating energy reallocation and stress responses, while high concentrations amplified these effects and activated additional inflammatory and detoxification pathways.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Sequencing data of Amphiprion ocellaris (clownfish) exposed to polystyrene nanoplastic

Researchers exposed clownfish to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant and high concentrations for seven days and performed biochemical and transcriptomic analyses. The study found that even low-concentration exposure triggered significant gene expression changes indicating energy reallocation and stress responses, while high concentrations amplified these effects and activated additional inflammatory and detoxification pathways.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastic (MNPs) exposure at single-cell resolution impaired placental function and cellular dynamics

Researchers performed single-cell transcriptomic analysis of placentas from pregnant women exposed to micro- and nanoplastics, finding that MNP exposure altered trophoblast, macrophage, and fibroblast subpopulations, suggesting impaired placental function through disruption of cell communication and immune regulation.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce liver fibrosis and lipid deposition in mice through three hub genes revealed by the RNA-seq

A mouse study revealed that long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes caused liver scarring (fibrosis) and abnormal fat buildup in the liver. Genetic analysis identified three key genes driving this damage, with smaller microplastics causing more severe effects, providing new insight into how microplastic exposure may contribute to chronic liver disease.

2025 Scientific Reports 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nano- and microplastics and of microplastics with sorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to nano- and microplastic particles of different sizes, some carrying additional chemical pollutants, over a 21-day period. The study found that nanoplastics and microplastics triggered different stress responses in the fish, with nanoplastics altering antioxidant gene activity and microplastics causing liver changes. The findings suggest that particle size matters when it comes to the biological effects of plastic pollution in aquatic organisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics impact the zebrafish (Danio rerio) transcriptome: Associated developmental and neurobehavioral consequences

Researchers exposed developing zebrafish larvae to polystyrene nanoplastics of two sizes and found dose-dependent accumulation in tissues along with swimming hyperactivity, despite no effects on mortality or hatching. Transcriptomic analysis revealed changes in gene expression associated with neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction at both high and low concentrations. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure during early development can alter brain function and behavior in ways that may reduce organismal fitness.

2020 Environmental Pollution 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastic exposure disturbs hepatic glycolipid metabolism at the physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic levels in adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and examined effects on liver metabolism at multiple biological levels. The study found that microplastic exposure caused significant decreases in body weight and disrupted glycolipid metabolism, with reduced levels of key metabolic enzymes and gene expression changes in the liver. Transcriptomic analysis confirmed widespread downregulation of genes related to fatty acid, amino acid, and carbon metabolism.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 237 citations