Transcriptomic and functional profiling of endothelial dysfunction induced by polystyrene nanoplastics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPLs) are detected in human blood, raising concerns about vascular effects and cardiovascular disease risk.
• Endothelial cells, crucial for vascular function, are primary targets of circulating MNPLs.
• The molecular and functional impacts of MNPL exposure on endothelial cells are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular and functional consequences of nanoplastic exposure on human endothelial cells.
• To elucidate the cellular pathways affected by nanoplastics in the vascular system.

Main Methods:

• Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to carboxylated polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPLs) of varying sizes (30, 50, 100 nm).
• RNA sequencing was employed to analyze transcriptomic changes.
• Targeted functional assays were conducted to validate observed molecular responses.

Main Results:

• Transcriptomic analysis revealed dysregulation in cholesterol homeostasis, genotoxic stress and DNA repair, inflammatory signaling, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
• Functional assays confirmed increased intracellular cholesterol, DNA damage, altered cell migration and angiogenesis, and reduced IL-6 secretion.
• Nanoplastic size influenced the magnitude and timing of responses, but a core molecular response was consistent across treatments.

Conclusions:

• Polystyrene nanoplastic exposure significantly alters endothelial cell molecular networks, affecting metabolic and stress-response pathways.
• These alterations have downstream consequences for critical vascular functions, including cell plasticity and inflammatory signaling.
• The findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding nanoplastic-induced vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular disease risk.