New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal Platform
Microplastics (MPs) in fish can cross the intestinal barrier and are often bioaccumulated in several tissues, causing adverse effects. While the impacts of MPs on fish are well documented, the mechanisms of their cellular internalization remain unclear. A rainbow-trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss&...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/1/44 |
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| author | Nicole Verdile Nico Cattaneo Federica Camin Matteo Zarantoniello Federico Conti Gloriana Cardinaletti Tiziana A. L. Brevini Ike Olivotto Fulvio Gandolfi |
| author_facet | Nicole Verdile Nico Cattaneo Federica Camin Matteo Zarantoniello Federico Conti Gloriana Cardinaletti Tiziana A. L. Brevini Ike Olivotto Fulvio Gandolfi |
| author_sort | Nicole Verdile |
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| description | Microplastics (MPs) in fish can cross the intestinal barrier and are often bioaccumulated in several tissues, causing adverse effects. While the impacts of MPs on fish are well documented, the mechanisms of their cellular internalization remain unclear. A rainbow-trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) intestinal platform, comprising proximal and distal intestinal epithelial cells cultured on an Alvetex scaffold, was exposed to 50 mg/L of MPs (size 1–5 µm) for 2, 4, and 6 h. MP uptake was faster in RTpi-MI compared to RTdi-MI. Exposure to microplastics compromised the cellular barrier integrity by disrupting the tight-junction protein zonula occludens-1, inducing significant decreases in the transepithelial-electrical-resistance (TEER) values. Consequently, MPs were internalized by cultured epithelial cells and fibroblasts. The expression of genes related to endocytosis (<i>cltca</i>, <i>cav1</i>), macropinocytosis (<i>rac1</i>), and tight junctions’ formation (<i>oclna</i>, <i>cldn3a</i>, <i>ZO-1</i>) was analyzed. No significant differences were observed in <i>cltca</i>, <i>oclna</i>, and <i>cldn3a</i> expression, while an upregulation of <i>cav1</i>, <i>rac1</i>, and <i>ZO-1</i> genes was detected, suggesting macropinocytosis as the route of internalization, since also <i>cav1</i> and <i>ZO-1</i> are indirectly related to this mechanism. The obtained results are consistent with data previously reported in vivo, confirming its validity for identifying MP internalization pathways. This could help to develop strategies to mitigate MP absorption through ingestion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79d261b8b9664e9189958ef5f1f1c8a3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-79d261b8b9664e9189958ef5f1f1c8a32025-01-10T13:16:21ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-01-011414410.3390/cells14010044New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal PlatformNicole Verdile0Nico Cattaneo1Federica Camin2Matteo Zarantoniello3Federico Conti4Gloriana Cardinaletti5Tiziana A. L. Brevini6Ike Olivotto7Fulvio Gandolfi8Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, ItalyMicroplastics (MPs) in fish can cross the intestinal barrier and are often bioaccumulated in several tissues, causing adverse effects. While the impacts of MPs on fish are well documented, the mechanisms of their cellular internalization remain unclear. A rainbow-trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) intestinal platform, comprising proximal and distal intestinal epithelial cells cultured on an Alvetex scaffold, was exposed to 50 mg/L of MPs (size 1–5 µm) for 2, 4, and 6 h. MP uptake was faster in RTpi-MI compared to RTdi-MI. Exposure to microplastics compromised the cellular barrier integrity by disrupting the tight-junction protein zonula occludens-1, inducing significant decreases in the transepithelial-electrical-resistance (TEER) values. Consequently, MPs were internalized by cultured epithelial cells and fibroblasts. The expression of genes related to endocytosis (<i>cltca</i>, <i>cav1</i>), macropinocytosis (<i>rac1</i>), and tight junctions’ formation (<i>oclna</i>, <i>cldn3a</i>, <i>ZO-1</i>) was analyzed. No significant differences were observed in <i>cltca</i>, <i>oclna</i>, and <i>cldn3a</i> expression, while an upregulation of <i>cav1</i>, <i>rac1</i>, and <i>ZO-1</i> genes was detected, suggesting macropinocytosis as the route of internalization, since also <i>cav1</i> and <i>ZO-1</i> are indirectly related to this mechanism. The obtained results are consistent with data previously reported in vivo, confirming its validity for identifying MP internalization pathways. This could help to develop strategies to mitigate MP absorption through ingestion.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/1/44aquacultureemerging pollutantsintestinein vitro modelintestinal cellsorganotypic platform |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Verdile Nico Cattaneo Federica Camin Matteo Zarantoniello Federico Conti Gloriana Cardinaletti Tiziana A. L. Brevini Ike Olivotto Fulvio Gandolfi New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal Platform Cells aquaculture emerging pollutants intestine in vitro model intestinal cells organotypic platform |
| title | New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal Platform |
| title_full | New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal Platform |
| title_fullStr | New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal Platform |
| title_full_unstemmed | New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal Platform |
| title_short | New Insights in Microplastic Cellular Uptake Through a Cell-Based Organotypic Rainbow-Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) Intestinal Platform |
| title_sort | new insights in microplastic cellular uptake through a cell based organotypic rainbow trout i oncorhynchus mykiss i intestinal platform |
| topic | aquaculture emerging pollutants intestine in vitro model intestinal cells organotypic platform |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/1/44 |
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