Nanoplastics affect the inflammatory cytokine release by primary human monocytes and dendritic cells.

Weber, Annkatrin; Schwiebs, Anja; Solhaug, Helene; Stenvik, Jørgen; Nilsen, Asbjørn M.; Wagner, Martin; Relja, Borna; Radeke, Heinfried H.

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107173

by Annkatrin Weber, Anja Schwiebs, Helene Solhaug, Jørgen Stenvik, Asbjørn M. Nilsen, Martin Wagner, Borna Relja, Heinfried H. Radeke

Abstract:

So far, the human health impacts of nano- and microplastics are poorly understood. Thus, we investigated whether nanoplastics exposure induces inflammatory processes in primary human monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. We exposed these cells in vitro to nanoplastics of different shapes (irregular vs. spherical), sizes (50-310 nm and polydisperse mixtures) and polymer types (polystyrene; polymethyl methacrylate; polyvinyl chloride, PVC) using concentrations of 30-300 particles cell(-1). Our results show that irregular PVC particles induce the strongest cytokine release of these nanoplastics. Irregular polystyrene triggered a significantly higher pro-inflammatory response compared to spherical nanoplastics. The contribution of chemicals leaching from the particles was minor. The effects were concentration-dependent but varied markedly between cell donors. We conclude that nanoplastics exposure can provoke human immune cells to secrete cytokines as key initiators of inflammation. This response is specific to certain polymers (PVC) and particle shapes (fragments). Accordingly, nanoplastics cannot be considered one homogenous entity when assessing their health implications and the use of spherical polystyrene nanoplastics may underestimate their inflammatory effects.

Reference:

Nanoplastics affect the inflammatory cytokine release by primary human monocytes and dendritic cells. (Annkatrin Weber, Anja Schwiebs, Helene Solhaug, Jørgen Stenvik, Asbjørn M. Nilsen, Martin Wagner, Borna Relja, Heinfried H. Radeke), In Environment international, volume 163, 2022.

Bibtex Entry:

@article{weber_nanoplastics_2022,
	title = {Nanoplastics affect the inflammatory cytokine release by primary human monocytes  and dendritic cells.},
	volume = {163},
	copyright = {Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.},
	issn = {1873-6750 0160-4120},
	doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2022.107173},
	abstract = {So far, the human health impacts of nano- and microplastics are poorly  understood. Thus, we investigated whether nanoplastics exposure induces  inflammatory processes in primary human monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic  cells. We exposed these cells in vitro to nanoplastics of different shapes  (irregular vs. spherical), sizes (50-310 nm and polydisperse mixtures) and  polymer types (polystyrene; polymethyl methacrylate; polyvinyl chloride, PVC)  using concentrations of 30-300 particles cell(-1). Our results show that  irregular PVC particles induce the strongest cytokine release of these  nanoplastics. Irregular polystyrene triggered a significantly higher  pro-inflammatory response compared to spherical nanoplastics. The contribution of  chemicals leaching from the particles was minor. The effects were  concentration-dependent but varied markedly between cell donors. We conclude that  nanoplastics exposure can provoke human immune cells to secrete cytokines as key  initiators of inflammation. This response is specific to certain polymers (PVC)  and particle shapes (fragments). Accordingly, nanoplastics cannot be considered  one homogenous entity when assessing their health implications and the use of  spherical polystyrene nanoplastics may underestimate their inflammatory effects.},
	language = {eng},
	journal = {Environment international},
	author = {Weber, Annkatrin and Schwiebs, Anja and Solhaug, Helene and Stenvik, Jørgen and Nilsen, Asbjørn M. and Wagner, Martin and Relja, Borna and Radeke, Heinfried H.},
	month = may,
	year = {2022},
	pmid = {35303527},
	keywords = {*Microplastics/toxicity, *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis, Cytokines, Dendritic Cells/chemistry, Humans, Microplastic, Monocytes/chemistry, Nanoplastic, Particle toxicity, Plastic pollution, Plastics, Polymers, Polystyrenes/toxicity, Polyvinyl Chloride/toxicity},
	pages = {107173}
}