Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Multimodal detection and analysis of microplastics in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Researchers used multiple detection methods to analyze microplastics in tumor and normal kidney tissue from patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. They found that tumor tissues contained significantly higher levels of total microplastics, particularly polyethylene and PVC, compared to surrounding normal tissue. Gene expression analysis revealed that patients with higher microplastic levels showed activation of signaling pathways associated with tumor progression, suggesting a potential link worth further investigation.

2025 Environmental Pollution 4 citations
Article Tier 2

PS-MPs promotes the progression of inflammation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy through NLRP3/Caspase-1 and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathways.

In a mouse model of diabetic nephropathy, polystyrene microplastic exposure worsened kidney inflammation and fibrosis by activating the NLRP3/Caspase-1 and TGF-beta1/Smad2/3 signaling pathways, suggesting microplastics may accelerate progression of this common diabetic complication.

2024 Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
Article Tier 2

Assessment of cancer-related signaling pathways in responses to polystyrene nanoplastics via a kidney-testis microfluidic platform (KTP)

Researchers developed a kidney-testis microfluidic platform to assess cancer-related signaling pathway responses to polystyrene nanoplastics. The study found that nanoplastic exposure activated cancer-associated signaling pathways in both kidney and testis tissue models, providing new insights into the potential molecular mechanisms through which nanoplastics may affect organ health.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics facilitate renal fibrosis through accelerating tubular epithelial cell senescence

Mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics at doses relevant to human exposure developed kidney inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) within 28 days. The microplastics caused kidney tube cells to age prematurely, triggering a chain reaction that activated scar-forming cells through a specific signaling pathway. This study provides evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to chronic kidney damage in people.

2024 Food and Chemical Toxicology 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic polystyrene microplastics exposure promotes lung adenocarcinoma metastasis through EREG-regulated phosphorylation-dependent NF-κB activation

Researchers found that chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics significantly enhanced the migration, invasion, and proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells in laboratory and animal models. The microplastics activated a protein called EREG that triggered NF-kB signaling, a pathway associated with tumor progression and metastasis. The study also found that high EREG expression correlated with worse clinical outcomes in lung cancer patients, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which microplastic exposure could promote cancer spread.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Identification and analysis of microplastics in para-tumor and tumor of human prostate

Researchers detected microplastics in both tumor and surrounding tissue from 22 prostate cancer patients, with polystyrene found exclusively in tumor tissue. Larger microplastic particles were more common in tumors, and higher microplastic levels correlated with more advanced cancer stages, suggesting a potential link between microplastic accumulation and prostate cancer progression.

2024 EBioMedicine 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics exacerbate experimental chronic kidney disease via inflammatory and oxidative pathways involving NF-κB, ERK/p38 MAPK, and sirtuin-1

Researchers examined the effects of polystyrene microplastics on mice with chronic kidney disease and found that microplastic exposure worsened kidney dysfunction, inflammation, and tissue scarring. Even in healthy mice, microplastics reduced kidney filtration and increased markers of kidney damage. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may aggravate existing kidney conditions through inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.

2025 Life Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce apoptosis in chicken testis via crosstalk between NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused testicular damage in chickens through crosstalk between inflammatory and antioxidant defense pathways. Exposure to microplastics through drinking water disrupted the blood-testis barrier, triggered oxidative stress by inhibiting the Nrf2 pathway, activated inflammatory signaling through NF-kB, and ultimately induced cell death in testicular tissue.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 52 citations
Article Tier 2

From exposure to oncogenesis: a review on the multifaceted roles of microplastics in tumor initiation and progression

This review examined the evidence linking microplastic exposure to tumor initiation and progression, covering physical, chemical, and inflammatory mechanisms by which MPs may promote oncogenesis. The authors conclude that while current evidence is largely preclinical, accumulating data warrant serious concern about microplastics as environmental carcinogens.

2025 Journal of Translational Medicine
Article Tier 2

Cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory effect of polystyrene nano-plastic and micro-plastic on RAW264.7 cells.

Researchers found that polystyrene nano-plastics (80 nm) induced apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine release in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells at lower concentrations than micro-plastics (3 μm), with nano-plastics also enhancing phagocytic activity and activating NF-kB signaling pathways more potently than their larger counterparts.

2023 Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Induce Radiotherapy Resistance in Lung Cancer by Suppressing Ferroptosis Through NF-κB Activation

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics impaired radiotherapy efficacy in lung cancer cells by suppressing ferroptosis—a form of iron-dependent cell death—through NF-κB activation, providing the first evidence that microplastics may contribute to cancer therapy resistance.

2025 Antioxidants and Redox Signaling
Article Tier 2

Chronic Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Promotes Lung Cancer Progression via Activating Gluconeogenesis and Inhibiting Glycolysis

Researchers found that long-term exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics promoted lung cancer cell growth and migration by reprogramming cellular metabolism. The study suggests nanoplastics activate a specific metabolic pathway through the stress-response protein ATF3, shifting energy production in ways that enhance cancer cell proliferation.

2026 Environment & Health
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastic-induced extracellular vesicles cause kidney-related effects in the crosstalk between tubular cells and fibroblasts

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics cause kidney tubule cells to release tiny signaling packages (extracellular vesicles) that trigger stress responses and scarring in neighboring kidney cells. This cell-to-cell communication pathway spread the damage beyond the cells directly exposed to the microplastics. The findings suggest a mechanism by which microplastic exposure could contribute to kidney fibrosis and long-term kidney damage in humans.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplastics at an Environmentally Relevant Concentration Promote Ovarian Cancer Progression via CDK4/6-Dependent Signaling

Researchers demonstrated that polystyrene nanoplastics at concentrations as low as 20 μg/mL—consistent with environmental exposure levels—significantly promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation through CDK4/6 signaling, providing evidence of a potential carcinogenic risk from nanoplastic exposure.

2025 Environment & Health
Article Tier 2

Supplemental exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics synergistically amplifies calcium oxalate crystal–induced injury to renal tubular epithelium, accelerating the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics can synergistically worsen kidney stone formation when combined with calcium oxalate crystals, the primary component of kidney stones. The study detected microplastic components in human kidney stone samples and showed in both cell and animal models that nanoplastics amplify renal cell injury through ferroptosis and increased crystal adhesion.

2026 Particle and Fibre Toxicology
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Biomedicines 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microscopic menace: exploring the link between microplastics and cancer pathogenesis

This review examines the growing evidence linking microplastic exposure to cancer development in humans. Microplastics can accumulate in the body and trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and other biological changes associated with tumor growth. While more clinical research is needed, the review highlights that microplastics should be taken seriously as a potential factor in cancer risk.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene microplastics triggers lung injury via targeting toll-like receptor 2 and activation of the NF-κB signal in mice

This mouse study found that inhaling polystyrene microplastics caused serious lung damage, including inflammation, cell death, and scar tissue buildup. Smaller microplastics (1-5 micrometers) caused more harm than larger ones, and the damage worsened with longer exposure. The study identified a specific immune pathway (TLR2/NF-kB) through which inhaled microplastics trigger lung injury, raising concerns about the respiratory effects of airborne microplastics on humans.

2023 Environmental Pollution 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of microplastics in the tumor microenvironment (Review)

This review examines how microplastics may help tumors grow by influencing the environment around cancer cells. Microplastics can interact with immune cells, connective tissue cells, blood vessel cells, and the tissue scaffolding around tumors in ways that may promote cancer progression and inflammation. While more research is needed, the findings raise important questions about whether chronic microplastic exposure could affect cancer development in humans.

2025 Oncology Letters 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplasticsat an Environmentally RelevantConcentration Promote Ovarian Cancer Progression via CDK4/6-DependentSignaling

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations (20 μg/mL) promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation through CDK4/6-dependent signaling, representing the first evidence that environmentally relevant nanoplastic levels may drive ovarian cancer progression.

2025 Figshare