2. Academic Validation
  3. Potential mechanisms of aortic medial degeneration promoted by co-exposure to microplastics and lead

Potential mechanisms of aortic medial degeneration promoted by co-exposure to microplastics and lead

  • J Hazard Mater. 2024 Aug 15:475:134854. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134854.
Xiaoping Xie 1,  Kexin Wang 1,  Xiaoyan Shen 1,  Xu Li 1,  Su Wang 2,  Shun Yuan 1,  Bowen Li 3,  Zhiwei Wang 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 9# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China.
  • 2 Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 9# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 9# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China.
  • 3 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 9# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China. Electronic address: bowenli@whu.edu.cn.
  • 4 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 9# Zhangzhidong Road, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China. Electronic address: wangzhiwei@whu.edu.cn.
PMID: 38889468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134854
Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have attracted widespread attention because they can lead to combined toxicity by adsorbing heavy metals from the environment. Exposure to lead (Pb), a frequently adsorbed heavy metal by MPs, is common. In the current study, the coexistence of MPs and Pb was assessed in human samples. Then, mice were used as models to examine how co-exposure to MPs and Pb promotes aortic medial degeneration. The results showed that MPs and Pb co-exposure were detected in patients with aortic disease. In mice, MPs and Pb co-exposure promoted the damage of elastic fibers, loss of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and release of inflammatory factors. In vitro cell models revealed that co-exposure to MPs and Pb induced excessive Reactive Oxygen Species generation, impaired mitochondrial function, and triggered PANoptosome assembly in VSMCs. These events led to PANoptosis and inflammation through the cAMP/PKA-ROS signaling pathway. However, the use of the PKA Activator 8-Br-cAMP or mitochondrial ROS scavenger Mito-TEMPO improved, mitochondrial function in VSMCs, reduced cell death, and inhibited inflammatory factor release. Taken together, the present study provided novel insights into the combined toxicity of MPs and Pb co-exposure on the aorta.

Keywords

Aortic medial degeneration; Inflammation; Lead; Microplastics; PANoptosis.

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