Cellular response of keratinocytes to the entry and accumulation of nanoplastic particles

Date

2024-04-29

Authors

Martin, Leisha
Simpson, Kayla
Brzezinski, Molly
Watt, John
Xu, Wei

ORCID

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Plastic accumulation in the environment is rapidly increasing, and nanoplastics (NP), byproducts of environmental weathering of bulk plastic waste, pose a significant public health risk. Particles may enter the human body through many possible routes such as ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. However, studies on NP penetration and accumulation in human skin are limited. Loss or reduction of the keratinized skin barrier may enhance the skin penetration of NPs. The present study investigated the entry of NPs into a human skin system modeling skin with compromised barrier functions and cellular responses to the intracellular accumulations of NPs. Two in vitro models were employed to simulate human skin lacking keratinized barriers. The first model was an ex vivo human skin culture with the keratinized dermal layer (stratum corneum) removed. The second model was a 3D keratinocyte/ dermal fibroblast cell co-culture model with stratified keratinocytes on the top and a monolayer of skin fibroblast cells co-cultured at the bottom. The penetration and accumulation of the NPs in different cell types were observed using fluorescent microscopy, confocal microscopy, and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The cellular responses of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblast cells to stress induced by NPs stress were measured. The genetic regulatory pathway of keratinocytes to the intracellular NPs was identified using transcript analyses and KEGG pathway analysis. The cellular uptake of NPs by skin cells was confirmed by imaging analyses. Transepidermal transport and penetration of NPs through the skin epidermis were observed. According to the gene expression and pathway analyses, an IL-17 signaling pathway was identified as the trigger for cellular responses to internal NP accumulation in the keratinocytes. The transepidermal NPs were also found in co-cultured dermal fibroblast cells and resulted in a large-scale transition from fibroblast cells to myofibroblast cells with enhanced production of α-smooth muscle actin and pro-Collagen Ia. The upregulation of inflammatory factors and cell activation may result in skin inflammation and ultimately trigger immune responses.

Description

Keywords

nanoplastics, skin barrier, transepidermal transport, keratinocyte, dermal fibroblast, inflammation

Sponsorship

The study was supported by NIH (R15ES030955) and Harte Research Institute Fellowship.

Rights:

CC BY 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International

Citation

Martin, L., Simpson, K., Brzezinski, M. et al. Cellular response of keratinocytes to the entry and accumulation of nanoplastic particles. Part Fibre Toxicol 21, 22 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-024-00583-9