Papers

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Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastic (MP) Exposure at Environmentally Relevant Doses on the Structure, Function, and Transcriptome of the Kidney in Mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics at doses matching levels found in the environment and examined the effects on kidney structure and function. While the microplastics did not cause obvious physical damage to the kidneys, they altered blood markers of kidney function and changed gene expression patterns related to immune response and metabolism. The study suggests that even low-level microplastic exposure may subtly affect kidney biology at the molecular level.

2023 Molecules 29 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

An In Vitro Assay to Quantify Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics on Human Gene Transcription

Researchers developed an in vitro assay to quantify how micro- and nano-plastics affect human gene transcription, demonstrating that internalized plastic particles can alter gene expression patterns in human cells, providing a standardized tool for assessing plastic particle toxicity.

2023 Microplastics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Selection, identification and evaluation of optimal reference genes in Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) under polypropylene microplastics stress

Researchers established reliable reference genes for studying how polypropylene microplastics affect gene expression in Chinese sturgeon, a protected fish species. They found that microplastic exposure caused visible liver damage, metabolic changes, and oxidative stress in the fish. The study provides essential tools for future research into the molecular-level impacts of microplastic pollution on endangered aquatic species.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo test of acute exposure of polyethylene microplastics on kidney and liver of Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain rats

Researchers exposed male rats to a single dose of polyethylene microplastics and monitored them for 14 days, finding significant changes in body weight, elevated markers of kidney and liver stress in blood tests, and visible tissue abnormalities under microscopy. The results indicate that even short-term, high-dose microplastic exposure can cause measurable organ damage in mammals.

2024 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 2 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

Genes of filter-feeding species as a potential toolkit for monitoring microplastic impacts

Researchers developed a genetic toolkit using candidate genes from filter-feeding marine species to monitor the biological impacts of microplastic exposure in natural environments. They identified six genes across nine species that show measurable expression changes when organisms encounter microplastics. The study offers a practical molecular approach for tracking how microplastic pollution is actually affecting wild marine populations.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and transcriptional effects of polystyrene microplastics in larval stages of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers exposed larval stages of a marine organism to polystyrene microplastics and measured gene expression changes, finding tissue-dependent transcriptional responses that suggest microplastics can affect development even at early life stages.

2018 Environmental Pollution 142 citations
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
Article Tier 2

Whole transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed key RNA profiles and toxicity in mice after chronic exposure to microplastics

Researchers examined the long-term effects of environmental levels of microplastics on mice given polystyrene particles in drinking water for 180 days. Whole transcriptome analysis revealed significant changes in RNA expression profiles, with biochemical and histopathological examination showing organ-level impacts. The study suggests that chronic exposure to microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations can alter key molecular signaling pathways in mammals.

2022 Chemosphere 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Altered gene expression in Chironomus riparius (insecta) in response to tire rubber and polystyrene microplastics

Researchers investigated changes in gene expression in the aquatic insect Chironomus riparius after exposure to polystyrene and tire rubber microplastics. The study found that both types of microplastics altered the expression of genes involved in stress response and detoxification, suggesting that microplastic pollution can cause molecular-level effects in freshwater organisms even at sublethal concentrations.

2021 Environmental Pollution 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Kidney and Liver Disorders Due to Microplastic Exposure: Chronic in Vivo Study in Male White Rats

Male white rats were chronically exposed to microplastics (particles 5 mm or smaller) to assess kidney and liver toxicity, with exposure resulting from environmental weathering and ultraviolet irradiation of plastic materials. The study found measurable histopathological and biochemical damage in both organs, confirming that long-term microplastic exposure causes organ-level injury in mammals.

2024 Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat
Article Tier 2

Gene Expression Analysis in Freshwater Mussels (Unio stevenianus) Collected from Pollutant-Associated Environment

Not relevant to microplastics — this study uses freshwater mussels in a Turkish river as biological sentinels of general water pollution by measuring stress-related gene expression levels, without a focus on microplastic contamination.

2023 Menba Kastamonu Üniversitesi Su Ürünleri Fakültesi Dergisi 1 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

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

Sex-specific gene expression alterations in response to ingested PVC microplastics in Wistar rats

Researchers examined sex-specific differences in gene expression changes in mice exposed to PVC microplastics via ingestion, finding that male and female animals responded differently at the molecular level. The sex-specific patterns suggest that biological sex may be an important variable in microplastic health risk assessments.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on transcriptional changes, biochemical response, and oxidative stress in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers exposed common carp to varying concentrations of polyethylene microplastics and assessed biochemical, oxidative, and gene expression changes. The study found that microplastic exposure caused significant oxidative stress, altered liver enzyme activity, and modified the expression of stress-related genes in a dose-dependent manner.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Sex-specific gene expression alterations in response to ingested PVC microplastics in Wistar rats

Researchers investigated sex-specific differences in gene expression changes triggered by PVC microplastic ingestion, examining whether males and females show distinct molecular responses to the same plastic exposure. Sex-specific gene expression patterns were identified, suggesting that microplastic toxicity may manifest differently in males and females with implications for health risk assessment.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microbeads induce transcriptional responses with tissue-dependent patterns in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers exposed fish to polyethylene microbeads and measured gene expression across tissues, finding tissue-dependent transcriptional responses that suggest microplastic ingestion affects multiple physiological systems in distinct ways.

2017 Journal of Molluscan Studies 90 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

The mouse model of induced sperm DNA damage caused by polystyrene microplastics exhibited distinct transcriptomic and proteomic features

Researchers established a mouse model of polystyrene microplastic-induced sperm DNA damage by administering 1 mg/kg/day for 60 days, which significantly elevated the sperm DNA fragmentation index, and characterized the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles associated with this reproductive toxicity.

2025 Reproductive Biology
Article Tier 2

Distribution and toxicity of submicron plastic particles in mice

Researchers found that orally administered submicron-sized microplastics distributed to multiple organs and biofluids in mice over four weeks, causing oxidative stress and inflammation in tissues including the liver, kidneys, and gut.

2022 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 31 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