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  11. First Identification Of Microplastics In Umbilical Cord Blood And Their Direct Target Proteins: A Pioneering Discovery

First identification of microplastics in umbilical cord blood and their direct target proteins: A pioneering discovery

Zhao Yin1, Qing Zhang1, Yangmin Zhu1

  • 1The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510317, China.

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|November 15, 2025

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View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microplastics (MPs) contaminate human umbilical cord blood, impacting fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway. This discovery reveals a potential risk to fetal development and hematopoiesis.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Toxicology
  • Biomedical Science

Background:

  • Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly detected in human tissues, but their presence and effects in fetal circulation are unknown.
  • Understanding biomolecular interactions of MPs with fetal cells is crucial for assessing developmental risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detect and quantify MPs in human umbilical cord blood (UCB).
  • To identify direct protein interactions with MPs.
  • To investigate the impact of MPs on fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Raman spectroscopy, Py-GC/MS, and SEM for MP detection and quantification in UCB.
  • Limited proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry (LiP-MS) to identify MP-protein interactions.
Keywords:
MicroplasticsTarget identificationUmbilical cord blood

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  • In vitro experiments with UCB-derived HSCs and genetic ablation of HIF-1α.

    • Main Results:

    • MPs were ubiquitous in UCB samples, with polystyrene, polyethylene, PVC, and polypropylene as predominant polymers.
    • 84 proteins directly bound to MPs, significantly enriched in the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathway.
    • MPs suppressed HSC self-renewal and clonogenic capacity via HIF-1α inhibition, establishing a causal link.

    Conclusions:

    • First evidence of systemic MP infiltration into fetal circulation.
    • MPs impair fetal hematopoiesis through direct interaction with proteins and HIF-1α signaling.
    • Highlights potential risks of microplastic exposure for developmental toxicity.