High-dose polystyrene nanoparticles trigger aberrant activation of the MAPK pathway in spinal cord and pain hypersensitivity - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #nanoplastics
- #pain hypersensitivity
- #MAPK pathway
- High-dose polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) trigger pain hypersensitivity by activating the MAPK pathway in the spinal cord.
- Microglia in the spinal dorsal horn internalize PS NPs, which bind to MAPK components (ERK, JNK, p38), altering their conformation.
- Molecular dynamics simulations suggest PS NPs enhance flexibility of MAPK phosphorylation sites, facilitating activation by upstream kinases.
- MAPK activation elevates neuroinflammatory cascades, leading to neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity.
- PS NPs-induced hypersensitivity is reversed by microglial depletion (PLX5622) and MAPK pathway inhibition.
- Study links environmental nanoplastic exposure to abnormal pain perception in humans.