Plant Defense Mechanisms against Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contamination: Insights into the Role of Extracellular Vesicles

• Published in: Toxics (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 9; p. 653
• Main Authors: Barathan, Muttiah, Ng, Sook Luan, Lokanathan, Yogeswaran, Ng, Min Hwei, Law, Jia Xian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.09.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Adsorption; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic plants; Automotive emissions; Bioaccumulation; Bioavailability; Biodiversity; Biodiversity loss; Cancer; Carcinogens; Cell interactions; Chromatography; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Coal-fired power plants; Combustion; Contact stresses; Defense mechanisms; Degradation; Detoxification; Ecological function; Ecosystems; Emissions; Energy minerals; environmental contamination; Enzymes; Extracellular vesicles; Food chains; Food contamination & poisoning; Fossil fuels; Fuel combustion; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Human influences; Hypotheses; Ingestion; Inhalation; Mass spectrometry; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; Nanoparticles; Oxidation resistance; Oxidative stress; Persistent organic pollutants; phytoremediation; Plant cells; Plant growth; Plant layout; Plant resistance; Plant stress; plant stress responses; plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs); Pollutants; Pollution; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Respiration; Review; Scientific imaging; Sediments; Sediments (Geology); Soil contamination; Soil degradation; Soil resistance; Teratogenicity; Tissues; Vehicle emissions; Vesicles; Volcanic activity; Wildfires; China; United States > US; Arctic region; Turkey; plant stress responses; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs); phytoremediation; environmental contamination; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 2305-6304; 2305-6304
• DOI: 10.3390/toxics12090653

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that pose significant environmental and health risks. These compounds originate from both natural phenomena, such as volcanic activity and wildfires, and anthropogenic sources, including vehicular emissions, industrial processes, and fossil fuel combustion. Their classification as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic substances link them to various cancers and health disorders. PAHs are categorized into low-molecular-weight (LMW) and high-molecular-weight (HMW) groups, with HMW PAHs exhibiting greater resistance to degradation and a tendency to accumulate in sediments and biological tissues. Soil serves as a primary reservoir for PAHs, particularly in areas of high emissions, creating substantial risks through ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. Coastal and aquatic ecosystems are especially vulnerable due to concentrated human activities, with PAH persistence disrupting microbial communities, inhibiting plant growth, and altering ecosystem functions, potentially leading to biodiversity loss. In plants, PAH contamination manifests as a form of abiotic stress, inducing oxidative stress, cellular damage, and growth inhibition. Plants respond by activating antioxidant defenses and stress-related pathways. A notable aspect of plant defense mechanisms involves plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs), which are membrane-bound nanoparticles released by plant cells. These PDEVs play a crucial role in enhancing plant resistance to PAHs by facilitating intercellular communication and coordinating defense responses. The interaction between PAHs and PDEVs, while not fully elucidated, suggests a complex interplay of cellular defense mechanisms. PDEVs may contribute to PAH detoxification through pollutant sequestration or by delivering enzymes capable of PAH degradation. Studying PDEVs provides valuable insights into plant stress resilience mechanisms and offers potential new strategies for mitigating PAH-induced stress in plants and ecosystems.