Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Hazards of nanoplastics (NPls) have recently garnered concern because of their tiny size and widespread existence in the environment and daily life. Evidence indicates that the frequently used model particle polystyrene NPls can accumulate in adipose tissues of mice and disrupt lipid metabolism, whi...

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Main Authors: Yu-Tung Jhang, Ching-Hao Li, Chih-En Yeh, Yen-Ju Chan, Tsung-Min Yang, Carlos Jose Quiroz Reyes, Ching-Wei Lin, I-Lun Hsiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500973X
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author Yu-Tung Jhang
Ching-Hao Li
Chih-En Yeh
Yen-Ju Chan
Tsung-Min Yang
Carlos Jose Quiroz Reyes
Ching-Wei Lin
I-Lun Hsiao
author_facet Yu-Tung Jhang
Ching-Hao Li
Chih-En Yeh
Yen-Ju Chan
Tsung-Min Yang
Carlos Jose Quiroz Reyes
Ching-Wei Lin
I-Lun Hsiao
author_sort Yu-Tung Jhang
collection DOAJ
description Hazards of nanoplastics (NPls) have recently garnered concern because of their tiny size and widespread existence in the environment and daily life. Evidence indicates that the frequently used model particle polystyrene NPls can accumulate in adipose tissues of mice and disrupt lipid metabolism, which is a potential obesogen. However, NPl uptake mechanisms and their potential interference with energy homeostasis of adipocytes by other NPl types are still unknown. In this study, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA)–NPls which were shown to abundantly be released from plastic tea bags at brewing temperatures–were selected to study the abovementioned issues in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We found that similar sized self-synthesized PET NPls and commercial PLA NPls could be taken up by cells, and the former’s uptake was via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and micropinocytosis, and they were then localized in lysosomes. PET NPls treatment decreased triglycerides (TGs) and increased the non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) level. Significant activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) was observed. However, none of the effects was found with PLA. No representative proinflammatory factors were induced by NPl treatment. This study first proved that NPl-induced lipolysis of adipocytes is dependent on the plastic type, which serves as a basis for future concerns about NPl effects on cardiovascular disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease driven by adipocyte dysfunction.
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spelling doaj-art-9cf4da8a24d94ba6bc6aaa2d0fcfc9542025-08-20T03:36:10ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130211862810.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118628Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytesYu-Tung Jhang0Ching-Hao Li1Chih-En Yeh2Yen-Ju Chan3Tsung-Min Yang4Carlos Jose Quiroz Reyes5Ching-Wei Lin6I-Lun Hsiao7Master Program in Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10031, TaiwanDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10031, TaiwanSchool of Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10031, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10031, TaiwanInstitute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106319, Taiwan; International Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235603, TaiwanInstitute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106319, TaiwanMaster Program in Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10031, Taiwan; School of Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Research Center of Food Safety Inspection and Function Development, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Correspondence to: School of Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10031, Taiwan.Hazards of nanoplastics (NPls) have recently garnered concern because of their tiny size and widespread existence in the environment and daily life. Evidence indicates that the frequently used model particle polystyrene NPls can accumulate in adipose tissues of mice and disrupt lipid metabolism, which is a potential obesogen. However, NPl uptake mechanisms and their potential interference with energy homeostasis of adipocytes by other NPl types are still unknown. In this study, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA)–NPls which were shown to abundantly be released from plastic tea bags at brewing temperatures–were selected to study the abovementioned issues in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We found that similar sized self-synthesized PET NPls and commercial PLA NPls could be taken up by cells, and the former’s uptake was via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and micropinocytosis, and they were then localized in lysosomes. PET NPls treatment decreased triglycerides (TGs) and increased the non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) level. Significant activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) was observed. However, none of the effects was found with PLA. No representative proinflammatory factors were induced by NPl treatment. This study first proved that NPl-induced lipolysis of adipocytes is dependent on the plastic type, which serves as a basis for future concerns about NPl effects on cardiovascular disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease driven by adipocyte dysfunction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500973XPolyethylene terephthalate (PET)Polylactic acid (PLA)Lipid metabolismCellular uptakeAdipocyte dysfunction3T3-L1
spellingShingle Yu-Tung Jhang
Ching-Hao Li
Chih-En Yeh
Yen-Ju Chan
Tsung-Min Yang
Carlos Jose Quiroz Reyes
Ching-Wei Lin
I-Lun Hsiao
Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polylactic acid (PLA)
Lipid metabolism
Cellular uptake
Adipocyte dysfunction
3T3-L1
title Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes
title_full Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes
title_fullStr Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes
title_full_unstemmed Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes
title_short Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes
title_sort impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3t3 l1 adipocytes
topic Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polylactic acid (PLA)
Lipid metabolism
Cellular uptake
Adipocyte dysfunction
3T3-L1
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500973X
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