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Zebrafish study reveals nanoplastics' impact on red blood cell maturation

Polystyrene nanoparticles are widely used in packaging, but their effects on organisms are unclear. Very little was known about how they affect blood cell development until now.

A study led by Professor Yun Hak Kim from Pusan National University, in Zoological Research explores how polystyrene nanoparticles affect red blood cell (RBC) development in zebrafish embryos.

Red blood cells are essential for carrying oxygen throughout the body. In this study, zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles showed an increase in immature RBCs and a decrease in mature RBCs. This suggests that the nanoparticles disrupt normal blood cell maturation.

"Our research shows that polystyrene nanoparticles can interfere with the normal development of red blood cells in zebrafish embryos. These findings raise important questions about the broader impact of nanoplastic exposure on blood cell formation," comments Prof. Kim.

The research team used single-cell RNA sequencing to study changes in gene expression linked to RBC development. They found that exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles interfered with the process by which immature blood cells mature into functional RBCs. Specifically, there was an accumulation of common myeloid progenitors (CMPs), which are early-stage blood cells.

Further investigations revealed that polystyrene nanoparticles disrupt heme synthesis by down-regulating key genes, thereby reducing RBCs' oxygen-carrying capacity. This was confirmed by mass spectrometry, which detected a significant decrease in hemin levels in exposed embryos.

The research also showed that polystyrene nanoparticles affected overall protein production in RBCs, particularly reducing the expression of rps7, a gene involved in protein synthesis. To confirm the role of rps7, the team conducted knockdown experiments, which led to facial malformations and a reduction in RBCs in zebrafish embryos. These results indicate that nanoparticles impair the protein synthesis machinery necessary for RBC development.

The study's findings have critical environmental implications. The tested concentrations of polystyrene nanoparticles (0.1–10 µg/mL) are comparable to levels detected in natural water sources, suggesting that aquatic organisms may already be experiencing similar disruptions.

"Our results suggest that nanoplastics in the environment could interfere with red blood cell formation and oxygen transport in aquatic species," says Prof. Kim.

This study highlights the need for stricter regulations on nanoplastics, especially polystyrene.

"As we learn more about the biological effects of nanoplastics, it becomes essential to rethink plastic waste management and explore safer materials," adds Prof. Kim.

The study by Prof. Kim and colleagues emphasizes the importance of continued research on nanoplastics' effects at the cellular level to better understand their long-term ecological and health implications.