image: Polystyrene nanoparticles disrupt red blood cell (RBC) maturation in zebrafish embryos. Nanoparticle exposure increases immature RBCs while reducing mature ones, interfering with heme synthesis.
Credit: Yun Hak Kim from Pusan National University, Korea
Polystyrene nanoparticles are widely used in packaging, but their effects on organisms are unclear. Very little was known about how they affect blood cell development until now.
A study led by Professor Yun Hak Kim from Pusan National University, which was made available online on November 30, 2024, and published in Volume 46, Issue 1, Jan 2025 in Zoological Research explores how polystyrene nanoparticles affect RBC development in zebrafish embryos.
Red blood cells are essential for carrying oxygen throughout the body. In this study, zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles showed an increase in immature RBCs and a decrease in mature RBCs. This suggests that the nanoparticles disrupt normal blood cell maturation.
“Our research shows that polystyrene nanoparticles can interfere with the normal development of red blood cells in zebrafish embryos. These findings raise important questions about the broader impact of nanoplastic exposure on blood cell formation,” comments Prof. Kim.
The research team used single-cell RNA sequencing to study changes in gene expression linked to RBC development. They found that exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles interfered with the process by which immature blood cells mature into functional RBCs. Specifically, there was an accumulation of common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), which are early-stage blood cells.
Further investigations revealed that polystyrene nanoparticles disrupt heme synthesis by down-regulating key genes, thereby reducing RBCs' oxygen-carrying capacity. This was confirmed by mass spectrometry, which detected a significant decrease in hemin levels in exposed embryos.
The research also showed that polystyrene nanoparticles affected overall protein production in RBCs, particularly reducing the expression of rps7, a gene involved in protein synthesis. To confirm the role of rps7, the team conducted knockdown experiments, which led to facial malformations and a reduction in RBCs in zebrafish embryos. These results indicate that nanoparticles impair the protein synthesis machinery necessary for RBC development.
The study’s findings have critical environmental implications. The tested concentrations of polystyrene nanoparticles (0.1–10 µg/mL) are comparable to levels detected in natural water sources, suggesting that aquatic organisms may already be experiencing similar disruptions. “Our results suggest that nanoplastics in the environment could interfere with red blood cell formation and oxygen transport in aquatic species,” says Prof. Kim.
This study highlights the need for stricter regulations on nanoplastics, especially polystyrene. “As we learn more about the biological effects of nanoplastics, it becomes essential to rethink plastic waste management and explore safer materials,” adds Prof. Kim.
The study by Prof. Kim and colleagues emphasizes the importance of continued research on nanoplastics’ effects at the cellular level to better understand their long-term ecological and health implications.
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Reference
DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2024.277
About the institute
Pusan National University, located in Busan, South Korea, was founded in 1946 and is now the No. 1 national university of South Korea in research and educational competency. The multi-campus university also has other smaller campuses in Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. The university prides itself on the principles of truth, freedom, and service, and has approximately 30,000 students, 1200 professors, and 750 faculty members. The university is composed of 14 colleges (schools) and one independent division, with 103 departments in all.
Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do
About Associate Professor Yun Hak Kim
Professor Yun Hak Kim is an associate professor in the Department of Anatomy at Pusan National University's School of Medicine. He serves as the head professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Science of Genomic Science at PNU. His group utilizes cutting-edge technology to understand the pathophysiology of diseases and to discover therapeutic targets. The Kim group handles both experiments and bioinformatics, employing a multiomics approach that includes single-cell transcriptomics, spatial omics, genomics, epigenomics, and microbiomics to unravel the causes of complex diseases.
Website: https://yunhakkim.pusan.ac.kr/
ORCID id: 0000-0002-9796-8266
About Assistant Professor Chang-Kyu Oh
Dr. Chang-Kyu Oh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Pusan National University School of Medicine. His research focuses on the impact of various types of microplastics on living organisms. Utilizing transcriptomics, phenomics, and metabolomics, his team investigates the toxicity of microplastics and oxidized microplastics. Their research in environmental medicine and toxicology aims to contribute to a healthier planet. Based at the medical school, they explore the environmental effects on human health, striving to develop solutions for reducing toxic impacts and fostering sustainable practices
Website: https://axis29.wixsite.com/etm-lab
ORCID id: 0009-0009-8609-4338
Journal
动物学研究
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Animals
Article Title
Deciphering the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on erythropoiesis at single-cell resolution
Article Publication Date
1-Jan-2025
COI Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.