Micro-/nano-plastics as vectors of heavy metals and stress response of ciliates using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 360; p. 124667
• Main Authors: Wang, Yunlong, Wang, Yaxin, Liu, Minhao, Jia, Ruiqi, Zhang, Yan, Sun, Gaojingwen, Zhang, Zhaoji, Liu, Mingjian, Jiang, Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Cadmium; Combined exposure; Dual-omics profiling; Polystyrene microspheres; Protozoa; Cadmium; Protozoa; Combined exposure; Polystyrene microspheres; Dual-omics profiling
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124667

The escalating presence of microplastics and heavy metals in marine environments significantly jeopardizes ecological stability and human health. Despite this, research on the combined effects of microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) and heavy metals on marine organisms remains limited. This study evaluated the impact of two sizes of polystyrene beads (approximately 2 μm and 200 nm) combined with cadmium (Cd) on the ciliate species Euplotes vannus. Results demonstrated that co-exposure of MPs/NPs and Cd markedly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in ciliates while impairing antioxidant enzyme activities, thus enhancing oxidative damage and significantly reducing carbon biomass in ciliates. Transcriptomic profiling indicated that co-exposure of MPs/NPs and Cd potentially caused severe DNA damage and protein oxidation, as evidenced by numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with mismatch repair, DNA replication, and proteasome function. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that DEGs and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were significantly enriched in the TCA cycle, glycolysis, tryptophan metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. This suggests that co-exposure of MPs/NPs and Cd may reduce ciliate abundance and carbon biomass by inhibiting energy metabolism and antioxidant pathways. Additionally, compared to MPs, the co-exposure of NPs and Cd exhibited more severe negative effects due to the larger specific surface area of NPs, which can carry more Cd. These findings provide novel insights into the toxic effects of MPs/NPs and heavy metals on protozoan ciliates, offering foundational data for assessing the ecological risks of heavy metals exacerbated by MPs/NPs. [Display omitted] •MPs/NPs can serve as carriers for transporting Cd and increasing its toxicity.•Co-exposure to MPs/NPs and Cd led to a notable decline in ciliate carbon biomass.•Ciliates treated with MPs/NPs and Cd developed severe oxidative stress response.•Co-exposure to MPs/NPs and Cd caused transcriptomic and metabolomic disorders.•Co-exposure to NPs and Cd had more severe adverse effects than MPs with Cd.