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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics induce immune suppression via S100A8 downregulation
ClearResponse to microplastic exposure: An exploration into the sea urchin immune cell proteome
Researchers exposed sea urchins to polystyrene microbeads at various concentrations and analyzed immune cell protein profiles using proteomics. The study found that microplastic exposure altered immune cell protein expression in a concentration-dependent manner, with higher concentrations leading to particle internalization in tissues and changes to proteins involved in metabolism and stress responses.
Effect of micro- and nanoplastics as food contaminants on the immune system
This review synthesized research on how microplastic and nanoplastic exposure affects immune system function, finding evidence across multiple studies that these particles can modulate immune responses and trigger inflammatory pathways in exposed organisms. The authors highlight immune disruption as an emerging health concern from micro- and nanoplastic contamination.
Genome-wide identification of socs gene in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and response to microplastic exposure
Researchers identified 27 members of the SOCS gene family in rainbow trout and studied how their expression changed after microplastic exposure. They found that several of these immune-regulating genes were significantly up- or down-regulated in the liver, intestine, and brain following exposure. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which microplastics may disrupt immune signaling in freshwater fish.
Polyethylene microplastics impede the innate immune response by disrupting the extracellular matrix and signaling transduction
Mice exposed to polyethylene microplastics showed a weakened immune response when challenged with bacterial toxins, with lower levels of immune signaling molecules and reduced immune cell activity. The microplastics disrupted proteins in the extracellular matrix, the structural framework around cells in the liver and spleen, which impaired immune signaling. This suggests that microplastic accumulation in organs could make the body less effective at fighting infections.
Microplastics released from food containers can suppress lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages
Researchers found that microplastics released from common food containers could suppress immune cell function by impairing lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages. The study tested particles from real commercial packaging materials rather than standard laboratory microplastics, making the findings more relevant to everyday exposure scenarios. These results suggest that microplastic contamination from food packaging may directly affect immune system function.
Microplastic consumption induces inflammatory signatures in the colon and prolongs a viral arthritis
Researchers found that mice consuming polystyrene microplastics through drinking water developed mild inflammatory changes in the colon, even though the particles were not detected in internal organs. When the mice were infected with chikungunya virus, those consuming microplastics experienced significantly prolonged arthritic swelling associated with elevated immune cell activity. The study suggests that microplastic consumption may subtly alter gut and immune function in ways that worsen inflammatory responses.
Microbiome: A forgotten target of environmental micro(nano)plastics?
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics affect the microbiome of various organisms, an area that has received less attention than other toxicological endpoints. Researchers found that most studies focused on polystyrene particles and that exposure consistently disrupted microbiome composition, triggered immune responses, and altered enzyme activity across organisms including crustaceans, fish, and mammals. The study highlights the microbiome as an important but often overlooked target of microplastic pollution.
Effects of microplastics on the immune system: How much should we worry?
This review examines how microplastics may affect the human immune system, noting that people are mainly exposed through food and breathing. While early research shows microplastics can trigger inflammation and immune responses in lab and animal studies, the authors stress that more research is needed to understand what this means for human health at real-world exposure levels.
Impacts of microplastics on immunity
This review examines the growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics can affect the immune system, covering studies in marine organisms, mammals, and human cell lines. Researchers found that these particles can trigger inflammation, alter immune cell function, and disrupt immune signaling pathways. The study underscores the need for more immunological research to fully understand how plastic particle exposure may compromise immune health in humans.
Polystyrene microplastics induce an immunometabolic active state in macrophages
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics taken up by macrophages — immune cells lining the gut and lungs — triggered a metabolic shift toward an inflammatory state. This finding suggests microplastics reaching human tissues may alter immune function in ways that could contribute to inflammation-related diseases.
Sorption, uptake, trophic transfer and immunotoxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics in the aquatic environment
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics are sorbed, taken up by organisms, transferred through food webs, and how they affect immune function in aquatic species. Researchers synthesize evidence showing these particles can accumulate across trophic levels and trigger immunotoxic effects, with implications for both wildlife and human health.
The Emerging Threat of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Maturation and Activity of Immune Cells
This review examines how micro and nanoplastics affect the immune system, focusing on their impact on immune cell development and function. Studies show that these tiny plastic particles can alter how immune cells mature and respond to threats, potentially weakening the body's defenses or triggering excessive inflammation. Since humans are constantly exposed to microplastics through food, water, and air, understanding these immune effects is critical for assessing long-term health risks.
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.
The impact of micro- and nanoplastics on immune system development and functions: Current knowledge and future directions
This review summarizes existing research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect the immune system, finding that exposure can disrupt blood cell development, alter immune cell behavior, and trigger inflammatory responses in lab and animal studies. While some studies show significant effects on organs like the spleen and intestines, others found minimal impact at environmentally realistic exposure levels, highlighting the need for more standardized research.
Micro- and Nanoplastics and the Immune System: Mechanistic Insights and Future Directions
This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt the human immune system at the cellular level, impairing key immune cells like macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells. The particles trigger chronic low-grade inflammation through oxidative stress and activation of inflammatory pathways, and can worsen autoimmune conditions like lupus and inflammatory bowel disease in animal studies. These findings raise concerns that ongoing microplastic exposure could gradually weaken immune function and contribute to immune-related diseases in people.
Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics modulated the immune response and swimming activity, and impaired the development of marine medaka Oryzias melastigma larvae
Researchers found that environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics impaired immune responses, swimming behavior, and larval development in marine medaka fish, demonstrating that even low-level exposure poses ecological risks.
Microplastic-Induced Macrophage Dysfunction Drives Lung Tumor Progression through Glutathione Imbalance
Researchers found that microplastics trigger a cascade of immune dysfunction in macrophages through toll-like receptor signaling, leading to disrupted glutathione metabolism and macrophage cell death via ferroptosis. In tumor-bearing mice, orally ingested microplastics accumulated in the lungs and remodeled the immune microenvironment over time, with increased infiltration of inflammatory macrophages and impaired lymphocyte function accompanying greater tumor burden.
Maternal ingestion of polyethylene microplastics results in reduced antiviral responses by dysregulating the immune system in their progeny
Researchers found that mice exposed to polyethylene microplastics during pregnancy transferred particles to offspring, and those offspring showed impaired antiviral immune responses. The findings suggest that maternal microplastic exposure can programme immune dysfunction in the next generation through disruption of developing immune systems.
Airborne polystyrene nanoplastic exposure leads to splenic cell senescence and immune imbalance
Researchers investigated the effects of inhaled polystyrene nanoplastics on spleen immune function in mice. They found that airborne nanoplastic exposure led to splenic cell senescence and disrupted the balance of immune cell populations in this critical immune organ. The study provides early evidence that nanoplastic inhalation may compromise immune system regulation, highlighting a potential health concern for occupational and environmental exposure scenarios.
Detrimental effects of microplastic exposure on normal and asthmatic pulmonary physiology
Researchers exposed both healthy and asthmatic mice to airborne microplastics and found significant lung inflammation, immune activation, and increased mucus production in both groups. Microplastic particles were taken up by immune cells called macrophages, and gene analysis revealed changes in immune response, cellular stress, and cell death pathways. The study suggests that inhaling microplastics may worsen respiratory health in both normal and vulnerable populations.
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.
Perturbation of gut microbiota plays an important role in micro/nanoplastics-induced gut barrier dysfunction
Researchers investigated how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt gut barrier function in mice, finding that different surface chemistries caused varying levels of damage. The study suggests that these plastic particles harm the gut by altering the gut microbiome, which then leads to inflammation and weakening of the intestinal barrier that normally keeps harmful substances out of the body.
Generation of Eroded Nanoplastics from Domestic Wastes and Their Impact on Macrophage Cell Viability and Gene Expression
Researchers created nanoplastics from common household plastic waste like water bottles, styrofoam, and plastic bags, then tested their effects on immune cells. All types of nanoplastics killed immune cells in a dose-dependent way and triggered changes in genes related to inflammation, with polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene being the most toxic. This study shows that the tiny plastic particles shed from everyday items can harm immune cells, which could weaken the body's ability to fight infection and disease.
Microplastics negatively impact embryogenesis and modulate the immune response of the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma
Researchers exposed marine medaka embryos (Oryzias melastigma) to polystyrene microplastics at varying concentrations and found dose-dependent developmental toxicity, including reduced hatching rates and altered immune gene expression, providing mechanistic insight into early-life MP effects.