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Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure Triggers an Activation and Stress Response in Human Astrocytes
Sonia Kiran, Uvindu Thilanka, Yu Xue, Qing‐Xiang Amy Sang. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025-11-21
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Recent evidence indicates the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in the human brain, with higher accumulation observed in patients with dementia. However, their mechanistic effects on the human brain at the cellular level remain underexplored. Astrocytes play a crucial role in repairing neurons following injury. The dysfunction of these cells can lead to chronic inflammation, a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we investigated the cytotoxic responses of primary human astrocytes exposed to polystyrene particles of two representative sizes, 25 nm and 1 µm, at concentrations of 1 µg/mL and 5 µg/mL for 48 h. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy revealed the accumulation of particles of both sizes within the cytoplasm. Functional assays revealed reduced cell viability and elevated lactate dehydrogenase release, indicating cytotoxic effects following microplastic exposure. Gene expression analysis showed significant upregulation of MAPK14 and SOD2, indicating oxidative stress activation, and increased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB1. In parallel, GLUT1 transcripts and GLUT1-positive cell populations were markedly reduced, suggesting impaired glucose metabolism. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that microplastics disrupt astrocytic homeostasis by inducing oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic disturbances, leading to a reactive yet metabolically compromised phenotype. This study demonstrates the cellular damage caused by microplastics in astrocytes, which may contribute to a cellular mechanism linking environmental pollutant exposure to adverse effects on human health.
Key findings
- Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy revealed the accumulation of particles of both sizes within the cytoplasm.
- Functional assays revealed reduced cell viability and elevated lactate dehydrogenase release, indicating cytotoxic effects following microplastic exposure.
- Gene expression analysis showed significant upregulation of MAPK14 and SOD2, indicating oxidative stress activation, and increased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB1.
- Collectively, these findings demonstrate that microplastics disrupt astrocytic homeostasis by inducing oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic disturbances, leading to a reactive yet metabolically compromised phenotype.
Why it matters
In human astrocytes grown in the laboratory, polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics caused oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired glucose metabolism. This is cell research, so it does not show that microplastics cause or worsen Alzheimer's disease in people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 37/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Molecular Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences: journal h-index 426 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Qing‐Xiang Amy Sang: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Florida State University: institution h-index 755 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41373431) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 37 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms262311273
- PubMed: 41373431
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Molecular Sciences →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kiran, S., Thilanka, U., Xue, Y., & Sang, Q. A. (2025). Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure Triggers an Activation and Stress Response in Human Astrocytes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311273
Vancouver
Kiran S, Thilanka U, Xue Y, Sang QA. Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure Triggers an Activation and Stress Response in Human Astrocytes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025. doi:10.3390/ijms262311273. PMID: 41373431.
BibTeX
@article{kiran2025-41373431,
author = {Kiran, Sonia and Thilanka, Uvindu and Xue, Yu and Sang, Qing‐Xiang Amy},
title = {{Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure Triggers an Activation and Stress Response in Human Astrocytes}},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/ijms262311273},
pmid = {41373431},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311273}
}
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