ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2024
Polyethylene Micro/Nanoplastics Exposure Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Bronchial and Alveolar Epithelial Cells.
Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Respiratory risks of microplastics and nanoplastics: Where? What? How?Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.)) · 2026Review
- Polyethylene nano- and microplastics trigger metabolic stress responses in human vaginal epithelial cells.Cell death discovery · 2026Article
- Micro- and Nanoplastics and Pulmonary Health: The Current State of Research.Microplastics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Microplastics as environmental modifiers of lung disease.EMBO molecular medicine · 2026Review
- Environmental Micro-Nanoplastics and Musculoskeletal Disorders: Current Research and Insights.International journal of nanomedicine · 2026Review
- Silent invaders: the role of MPs on epithelium inflammation and damage in airway diseases.Frontiers in allergy · 2026Review
- Transcriptomic and functional profiling of endothelial dysfunction induced by polystyrene nanoplastics.Frontiers in toxicology · 2026Article
- Environmental co-exposure to microplastics and phenol may influence redox signaling and tumor microenvironment dynamics.Journal of Cancer · 2026Review
- Polystyrene microplastics are internalized by human gingival fibroblasts, enhance cell motility and induce molecular changes revealed through proteomic analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Review
- Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT) Enhances Tenocyte Regenerative Potential: Evidence for Senolytic-like Effects and Matrix Remodeling.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Forever particles: histochemistry in the plasticene age.European journal of histochemistry : EJH · 2025Review
- Article
- Impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET) on fibroblasts: a study on NIH-3T3 cells.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
- Rising Concern About the Carcinogenetic Role of Micro-Nanoplastics.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs), which are widely spread in the environment, have gained attention because of their ability to enter the human body mainly through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, thus representing a serious health threat. Several studies have reported the presence of MNPs in lung tissue and the potential role of MNP inhalation in triggering lung fibrosis and tumorigenesis. However, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding the cellular response to MNPs composed of polyethylene (PE), one of the most common plastic pollutants in the biosphere. In this study, we investigated the effects of low/high concentrations of PE MNPs on respiratory epithelial cell viability and migration/invasion abilities, using MTT, scratch, and transwell assays. Morphological and molecular changes were assessed via immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qRT-PCR. We demonstrated that acute exposure to PE MNPs does not induce cellular toxicity. Instead, cells displayed visible morphological changes also involving actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Our data underlined the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in triggering this process. Moreover, a remarkable increase in migration potential was noticed, in absence of a significant alteration of the cell's invasive capacity. The present study highlights the potential impact of PE MNPs inhalation on the human respiratory epithelium, suggesting a possible role in carcinogenesis.
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Registered trials
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