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Real-life nanoplastics induce endothelial dysfunction in primary human endothelial cells
Joan Martín-Pérez1, Michelle Morataya-Reyes1, Aliro Villacorta1,2
1Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus of Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
Archives of Toxicology
|May 5, 2026
Summary
Nanoplastics (NPLs) exposure can harm vascular endothelium. Irregularly shaped NPLs, like PET and PTFE, cause more endothelial dysfunction, impacting cell migration and cholesterol levels, highlighting risks in health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Nanoplastics (NPLs) pose a growing environmental concern.
- Understanding NPLs' impact on vascular endothelium is crucial for assessing cardiovascular risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of different types of nanoplastics on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
- To evaluate the role of NPLs' morphology and environmental relevance in their biological impact.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of HUVECs to four types of NPLs: polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- Assessment of NPLs' internalization, cytotoxicity, DNA damage, IL-6 secretion, intracellular cholesterol accumulation, and cell migration.
Main Results:
- All tested NPLs were internalized by HUVECs, with varying efficiencies.
- No cytotoxicity or DNA damage was observed at the tested concentration.
- Irregularly shaped NPLs (PTFE and PET) induced endothelial dysfunction, including impaired cell migration and IL-6 secretion.
- PET-NPLs also led to intracellular cholesterol accumulation.
Conclusions:
- NPLs' morphology significantly influences their biological impact on vascular endothelium.
- Environmentally relevant, irregular NPLs pose a greater risk, causing inflammation and cholesterol dysregulation.
- These findings emphasize the importance of considering NPLs' physical characteristics in human health risk assessments.
