Polystyrene microplastic-induced pathophysiology is driven by disruption of efferocytosis - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #immunometabolism
- #microplastics
- #efferocytosis
- Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) disrupt efferocytosis, impairing the removal of apoptotic cells in macrophages and Sertoli cells.
- PS-MP exposure leads to organ damage in lungs, liver, and testes by suppressing efferocytosis.
- Mechanistically, PS-MPs dysregulate metabolic and phagolysosome processes, increasing methylglyoxal (MGO) glycation.
- Overexpression of glyoxalase-1, an MGO detoxification enzyme, rescues PS-MP-induced efferocytosis defects.
- The study highlights the health risks of microplastics by linking their accumulation to impaired immune function and organ health.