Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory response
Abstract The presence of micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) in our environment, food and drinking water has raised public concern due to inevitable human exposure. MNPs can be intentionally added to products or formed from plastics through fragmentation in the environment. Macrophages may becom...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00138-5 |
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| author | Annemijne E. T. van den Berg Kas J. Adriaans Luke A. Parker Elena M. Höppener Hanna M. Dusza Juliette Legler Raymond H.H. Pieters |
| author_facet | Annemijne E. T. van den Berg Kas J. Adriaans Luke A. Parker Elena M. Höppener Hanna M. Dusza Juliette Legler Raymond H.H. Pieters |
| author_sort | Annemijne E. T. van den Berg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The presence of micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) in our environment, food and drinking water has raised public concern due to inevitable human exposure. MNPs can be intentionally added to products or formed from plastics through fragmentation in the environment. Macrophages may become activated upon encountering MNPs, potentially triggering inflammation. However, this process, particularly in response to fragmented MNPs, remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate whether fragmented MNPs have cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects on human macrophages. We examined the immunotoxic effects of mechanically degraded secondary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyamide particles (PVC, PP; < 1 μm and 1–5 μm, PA6.6; 1–5 µm), in addition to primary polystyrene beads (PS; 0.05, 0.2 and 1 μm) and titanium dioxide particles (TiO2; < 0.1 μm) on human THP-1 macrophages. After up to 24 h of exposure to 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml, uptake was determined through flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, and effects on macrophages were measured by assessing lysosomal activity, mitochondrial activity, lactate dehydrogenase leakage, NF-κB activity and cytokine secretion. PS particles were taken up by macrophages in a concentration-, time-, and size-dependent manner based on particle mass. Additionally, MNPs increased lysosomal activity, suggesting potential accumulation of the particles. Fragmented MNPs induced a decrease in mitochondrial activity and an increase in LDH leakage depending on concentration, specifying their cytotoxic potential. However, at these levels, they did not significantly induce NF-κB activity and cytokine production (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α). Our findings suggest a lack of a direct pro-inflammatory response by macrophages to fragmented MNPs of various polymer types. However, higher exposure concentrations induced cytotoxicity, which may indirectly influence immune system functioning. This work emphasizes the importance of studying environmentally relevant MNPs to provide deeper insights into potential health impact of physico-chemically altered MNPs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-11286cc1ff8049c786c8c6772b0185ab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4966 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| spelling | doaj-art-11286cc1ff8049c786c8c6772b0185ab2025-08-20T03:45:44ZengSpringerOpenMicroplastics and Nanoplastics2662-49662025-08-015111510.1186/s43591-025-00138-5Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory responseAnnemijne E. T. van den Berg0Kas J. Adriaans1Luke A. Parker2Elena M. Höppener3Hanna M. Dusza4Juliette Legler5Raymond H.H. Pieters6Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityTNO Environmental Modelling, Sensing and AnalysisTNO Environmental Modelling, Sensing and AnalysisInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht UniversityAbstract The presence of micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) in our environment, food and drinking water has raised public concern due to inevitable human exposure. MNPs can be intentionally added to products or formed from plastics through fragmentation in the environment. Macrophages may become activated upon encountering MNPs, potentially triggering inflammation. However, this process, particularly in response to fragmented MNPs, remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate whether fragmented MNPs have cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects on human macrophages. We examined the immunotoxic effects of mechanically degraded secondary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyamide particles (PVC, PP; < 1 μm and 1–5 μm, PA6.6; 1–5 µm), in addition to primary polystyrene beads (PS; 0.05, 0.2 and 1 μm) and titanium dioxide particles (TiO2; < 0.1 μm) on human THP-1 macrophages. After up to 24 h of exposure to 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml, uptake was determined through flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, and effects on macrophages were measured by assessing lysosomal activity, mitochondrial activity, lactate dehydrogenase leakage, NF-κB activity and cytokine secretion. PS particles were taken up by macrophages in a concentration-, time-, and size-dependent manner based on particle mass. Additionally, MNPs increased lysosomal activity, suggesting potential accumulation of the particles. Fragmented MNPs induced a decrease in mitochondrial activity and an increase in LDH leakage depending on concentration, specifying their cytotoxic potential. However, at these levels, they did not significantly induce NF-κB activity and cytokine production (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α). Our findings suggest a lack of a direct pro-inflammatory response by macrophages to fragmented MNPs of various polymer types. However, higher exposure concentrations induced cytotoxicity, which may indirectly influence immune system functioning. This work emphasizes the importance of studying environmentally relevant MNPs to provide deeper insights into potential health impact of physico-chemically altered MNPs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00138-5MicroplasticsNanoplasticsImmune systemToxicologyMacrophagesSecondary microplastics |
| spellingShingle | Annemijne E. T. van den Berg Kas J. Adriaans Luke A. Parker Elena M. Höppener Hanna M. Dusza Juliette Legler Raymond H.H. Pieters Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory response Microplastics and Nanoplastics Microplastics Nanoplastics Immune system Toxicology Macrophages Secondary microplastics |
| title | Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory response |
| title_full | Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory response |
| title_fullStr | Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory response |
| title_full_unstemmed | Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory response |
| title_short | Top-down generated micro- and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro-inflammatory response |
| title_sort | top down generated micro and nanoplastics reduce macrophage viability without eliciting a pro inflammatory response |
| topic | Microplastics Nanoplastics Immune system Toxicology Macrophages Secondary microplastics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00138-5 |
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