Polystyrene microplastics induce myocardial inflammation and cell death via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in carp. Issue 135 (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Qirui; Wang, Fuhan; Xu, Shuang; Cui, Jie; Li, Kan; Shiwen, Xu; Guo, Meng-yao
• Is Part Of: Fish & shellfish immunology. Issue 135(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Polystyrene microplastics -- TLR4 -- NF-κB -- Inflammation -- Cell death; Fishes -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Shellfish -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Poissons -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; Crustacés -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; 571.9617
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108690
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-4648

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) have attracted widespread attention as an emerging environmental pollutant. Especially in aquatic ecosystems, the harm of MPs to aquatic animals has increasingly become a severe environmental problem. In this study, we constructed a carp polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) exposure model to explore the damage and mechanism of PS-MPs exposure to carp myocardial tissue. The results of H&E, TUNEL, and AO/EB staining showed that PS-MPs exposure could induce inflammation, apoptosis, and necrosis in carp myocardial tissue and cardiomyocytes. In addition, our study explored the targeting relationship between PS-MPs and TLR4 and found that PS-MPs exposure could significantly increase the expression of TLR4 pathway-related factors. As the concentration of PS-MPs increased, the NF-κB pathway and inflammation-related factors increased dose-dependent. In addition, myocardial injury induced by exposure to PS-MPs was predominantly apoptotic, accompanied by necrosis. In short, our data suggest that PS-MPs cause damage to myocardial tissue via the TLR4\NF-κB pathway. The above findings enrich the theory of toxicological studies on PS-MPs and provide an essential reference for aquaculture. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: PS-MPs can cause myocardium inflammation of carp. PS-MPs can cause myocardium inflammation of carp. PS-MPs can activate TLR4 signaling pathway. PS-MPs can activate NF-κB pathway.