Polystyrene microplastics induced inflammation with activating the TLR2 signal by excessive accumulation of ROS in hepatopancreas of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 251; p. 114539
• Main Authors: Cui, Jie, Zhang, Yanhe, Liu, Lin, Zhang, Qirui, Xu, Shiwen, Guo, Meng-yao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.02.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Carps; Cell signaling; Cyclooxygenase 2; Hepatopancreas; Inflammation - veterinary; Liver; Microplastics - toxicity; Oxidative stress; Plastics; Polystyrene microplastics; Polystyrenes - toxicity; Reactive Oxygen Species; Toll-Like Receptor 2; Toxicology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Oxidative stress; Toxicology; Liver; Polystyrene microplastics; Cell signaling
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114539

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) affect the immune defense function on carp (Cyprinus carpio). The PS-MPs model of carp was established by feeding with PS-MPs particle size of 8 µm and concentration of 1000 ng/L water. Hepatopancreas function test revealed the activities of AKP, ALT, AST and LDH abnormal increase. PS-MPs induced tissue damage and lead to abnormal hepatopancreas function. The PS-MPs also induced a oxidative stress with the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, GSH-PX, and T-AOC activities decreasing and reactive oxygen species (ROS) excessive accumulation. PS-MPs activated the Toll like receptor-2 (TLR2) signaling pathway. The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR2, Myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), NF-κB p65, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS), and cycooxygenase 2(COX2) was revealed increased in both hepatopancreas and hepatocytes with the qPCR and Western blotting analysis mode. ELISA showed the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, and COX2 inflammatory molecule were increased in both hepatopancreas and hepatocytes. The results showed that PS-MPs caused a serious injure in the hepatopancreas and brought serious effects on the inflammatory response of carp. The present study displayed the harm caused by PS-MPs in freshwater fish, and provided some suggestions and references for toxicological studies of microplastics in freshwater environment. [Display omitted] •PS-MPs caused injury and abnormal function in the hepatopancreas of carp.•PS-MPs induced inflammation by excessive accumulation of ROS in liver of carp.•The TLR2 signal is the key role on the hepatopancreas damage with PS-MPs.