Investigation of nephrotoxicity on mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics and the potential amelioration effects of DHA-enriched phosphatidylserine

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 892; p. 164808
• Main Authors: Tang, Yunping, Zhao, Rui, Pu, Qiuyan, Jiang, Su, Yu, Fangmiao, Yang, Zuisu, Han, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.09.2023
• Subjects: Amelioration effect; DHA-enriched phosphatidylserine; Metabolomics; Nephrotoxicity; Polystyrene nanoplastics; Metabolomics; DHA-enriched phosphatidylserine; Nephrotoxicity; Polystyrene nanoplastics; Amelioration effect
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164808

Nanoplastics (NPs) induce nephrotoxicity in mammals, but an understanding of the potential mechanism or amelioration strategies is lacking. Herein, we established the polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 100 nm)-induced nephrotoxicity murine model, and investigated the potential molecular mechanism of docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phosphatidylserine (DHA-PS) alleviating effects. Based on the biochemical indices, H&E staining and kidney metabolomics, we found that PS-NPs did cause murine nephrotoxicity, mainly due to inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid disturbance. DHA-PS administration alleviated these effects, mainly by decreasing renal levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and MDA, increasing the level of IL-10, increasing the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and alleviating lipid disturbance, mainly by modulating kidney glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and the SIRT1-AMPK pathway. This is the first time that the amelioration effects of DHA-PS on PS-NPs-induced nephrotoxicity have been investigated from multiple perspectives, providing a potential mechanism of nephrotoxicity caused by PS-NPs. [Display omitted] •PS-NPs-induced nephrotoxicity on mice was evaluated by metabolomics approach.•PS-NPs aggravated renal oxidative stress and inflammatory response.•PS-NPs induce lipid metabolism disorders through the SIRT1/AMPK pathway.•DHA-PS could alleviate the nephrotoxicity caused by PS-NPs.