Tissue distribution of polystyrene nanoplastics in mice and their entry, transport, and cytotoxicity to GES-1 cells

Highlights: • Nanoplastics are visible in gastric and other tissues of mice after treatment. • Nanoplastics entering GES-1 cells rely on endocytosis and macropinocytosis. • Nanoplastics regulate endocytosis through RhoA/F-actin signaling pathway. • Internalized nanoplastics produce cytotoxicity to GES-1 cells. With the widespread use of plastics and nanotechnology products, nanoplastics (NPs) have become a potential threat to human health. It is of great practical significance to study and evaluate the distribution of NPs in mice as mammal models and their entry, transport, and cytotoxicity in human cell lines. In this study, we detected the tissue distribution of fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in mice and assessed their endocytosis, transport pathways, and cytotoxic effects in GES-1 cells. We found that PS-NPs were clearly visible in gastric, intestine, and liver tissues of mice and in GES-1 cells treated with PS-NPs. Entry of PS-NPs into GES-1 cells decreased with the inhibition of caveolae-mediated endocytosis (nystatin), clathrin-mediated endocytosis (chlorpromazine HCl), micropinocytosis (ethyl-isopropyl amiloride), RhoA (CCG-1423), and F-actin polymerization (lantrunculin A). Rac1 inhibitors (NSC 23766) had no significant effect on PS-NPs entering GES-1 cells. F-actin levels significantly decreased in CCG-1423-pretreated GES-1 cells exposed to PS-NPs. GES-1 cell ultrastructural features indicated that internalized PS-NPs can be encapsulated in vesicles, autophagosomes, lysosomes, and lysosomal residues. RhoA, F-actin, RAB7, and LAMP1 levels in PS-NPs-treated GES-1 cells were remarkably up-regulated and the Rab5 level was significantly down-regulated compared to levels in untreated cells. PS-NPs treatment decreased cell proliferation rates and increased cell apoptosis. The formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes and levels of LC3II increased with the length of PS-NPs treatment. The results indicated that cells regulated endocytosis in response to PS-NPs through the RhoA/F-actin signaling pathway and internalized PS-NPs in the cytoplasm, autophagosomes, or lysosomes produced cytotoxicity. These results illustrate the potential threat of NPs pollution to human health.