Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-PO927

Microplastics and Bisphenol A Coexposure on Human Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells

Session Information

• Pathology and Lab Medicine - 2
  October 26, 2024 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Pathology and Lab Medicine

• 1800 Pathology and Lab Medicine

Authors

• Estienne, Luca, Azienda Ospedaliera Nazionale Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo Alessandria, Alessandria, Piemonte, Italy

Luca Estienne

• Verzola, Daniela, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy

Daniela Verzola

• Esposito, Pasquale, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy

Pasquale Esposito, MD, PhD

• Viazzi, Francesca, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy

Francesca Viazzi, MD

• Angeletti, Andrea, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Liguria, Italy

Andrea Angeletti, MD, PhD

• Cravedi, Paolo, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States

Paolo Cravedi, MD, PhD

• Quaglia, Marco, Azienda Ospedaliera Nazionale Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo Alessandria, Alessandria, Piemonte, Italy

Marco Quaglia, MD, PA

• La Porta, Edoardo, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Liguria, Italy

Edoardo La Porta, MD

Background

Microplastics (MPs) accumulate in human tissues, including kidney. Beyond direct harmful actions, MPs can also adsorb a wide range of toxic substances, such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and so, enhancing their toxicity. MPs have been found in human blood, urine, and several human tissues, including lungs, placenta, blood, heart, and the kidney by Massardo et al. Moreover, it have recently demonstrated that patients with evidence of MPs in carotid artery plaque experience an increased risk of death and cardiovascular event compared with those without MPs .

Methods

We exposed a proximal tubular cell line for 5-24 hours to polyethylene (PE)-MPs and BPA alone or combined. MP characterization was performed by by means of Dynamic Light Scattering analyses. We analyzed molecules involved in renal damage through mRNA Analysis, Immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry and Western Blot Analysis

Results

Compared with the single exposure, the co-treatment was more powerful, reducing cell viability and boosting the pro-oxidant a pro-inflammatory response. Exposition to co-treatment induced a 3.5 and 2.7 fold increase of CCL-2 and -5 (both p<0.05 vs CTR). In addition, Heat Shock protein (HSP90), a chaperone involved in multiple cellular functions, was reduced, while Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression, a transcription factor which binds multiple environmental ligands, was increased.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that all the treatments influenced the cell behavior, but the co-exposure was more incisive. The combination of PE-MPs and BPA can negatively modify the cellular homeostasis, contributing to the induction of kidney damage.