Journal: Scientific Reports

Article Title: Impact of polystyrene microplastic exposure at low doses on male fertility: an experimental study in rats

doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-38385-y

Figure Lengend Snippet: Characterization of PS-MPs by DLS and the detection of PS-MPs in testes by py GC-MS. ( a ) Particle size, ( b ) Zeta potential, ( c ) GC-MS result. Values are expressed as pooled samples of testes of 5 rats in each group. PS-MPs = Polystyrene microplastics, GC-MS = Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Value expressed as means ± S.D., n = 5. Means with different letters are significantly different, while means with the same letters are not significantly different by ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni post hoc test ( p < 0.05).

Article Snippet: Monodisperse polystyrene microplastics (PS‐MPs) were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Centre (Tianjin, China; Product No. 6-1-0 50 0; 10 ml, 5% w/v).

Techniques: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Zeta Potential Analyzer, Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518500

Figure Lengend Snippet: Characterization and accumulation of polystyrene microplastics (PS‐MPs) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues and cells. A) Total ion current (TIC) profiles from pyrolysis‐gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (Py‐GC‐MS) analysis of patient‐derived tissues. The upper panel shows normal adjacent tissues (NAT), and the lower panel shows ccRCC tissues. Polystyrene (PS)‐specific peaks are significantly higher in ccRCC tissues. B) Py‐GC‐MS spectrum of PS standard, showing characteristic fragmentation patterns with a prominent ion at m/z 91 for PS identification. C) Quantification of PS‐MPs using the ion intensity at m/z 91, showing a linear relationship between peak area and PS injection amount for accurate quantification. D) Four types of MPs detected by low‐dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in ccRCC tissues: polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and PS. E,F) Size distribution (E) and zeta potential (F) analysis of PS‐MPs. G) Intracellular localization of PS‐MPs in 786‐O (upper panel) and 769‐P (lower panel) cells by confocal microscopy. The cells were treated with 10 µg/mL PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 µm for 72 h. Scale bar is 10 µm. DAPI: blue. DiO: green. PS‐MPs: red.

Article Snippet: The PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 μm were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Center (7‐1‐0100) in accordance with our previous report.

Techniques: Pyrolysis, Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Derivative Assay, Injection, Electron Microscopy, Zeta Potential Analyzer, Confocal Microscopy

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518500

Figure Lengend Snippet: PS‐MPs enhance the malignant biological characteristics of ccRCC in vitro. A) Quantification of 786‐O cell numbers cultured with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h. B,C) Colony formation assay of 786‐O and 769‐P cells cultured with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h. D,E) Transwell assay of 786‐O and 769‐P cells cultured with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h. Scale bar is 100 µm. F,G) Wound healing assay of 786‐O (F) and 769‐P (G) cells cultured with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h. Scale bar is 200 µm. H,I) Flow cytometric apoptosis assay of 786‐O (H) and 769‐P (I) cells cultured with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h. Statistical significance was determined by two‐tailed unpaired t ‐test (A–C and E–I). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001, and ns p ≥ 0.05. Experiments were independently repeated three times with similar results; data from one representative experiment are shown (B, D, and F‐I).

Article Snippet: The PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 μm were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Center (7‐1‐0100) in accordance with our previous report.

Techniques: In Vitro, Cell Culture, Colony Assay, Transwell Assay, Wound Healing Assay, Apoptosis Assay, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518500

Figure Lengend Snippet: PS‐MPs reshape the transcriptomic landscape of ccRCC cells. A) Schematic illustration for RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) analysis. The PS‐MPs group: 786‐O cells were treated with 15 µg mL −1 PS‐MPs for 72 h. B) Volcano plot illustrating differentially expressed genes (DEGs). C–E) The KEGG enrichment analysis of RNA‐seq results. The total enriched pathways (C), up‐regulated enriched pathways (D), and down‐regulated enriched pathways (E) in the PS‐MPs group versus the control group were presented. F–H) The GO enrichment analysis of RNA‐seq results. The total enriched pathways (F), up‐regulated enriched pathways (G), and down‐regulated enriched pathways (H) in the PS‐MPs group versus the control group were presented.

Article Snippet: The PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 μm were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Center (7‐1‐0100) in accordance with our previous report.

Techniques: RNA Sequencing, Control

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518500

Figure Lengend Snippet: PS‐MPs activate the NF‐κB and TGF‐β pathways in ccRCC cells. A,B) 786‐O (A) and 769‐P (B) cells were treated with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h, and cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. C,D) Intracellular localization of p50 (left panel) and p65 (right panel) in 786‐O (C) and 769‐P (D) cells treated with or without 15 µg mL −1 PS‐MPs for 72 h. Scale bar is 10 µm. E,F) 786‐O (E) and 769‐P (F) cells were treated with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h, and cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. G,H) Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay of TGF‐β1 in 786‐O (G) and 769‐P (H) cells treated with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h. I,J) 786‐O (I) and 769‐P (J) cells were treated with indicated concentrations of PS‐MPs for 72 h, and cell lysates were immunoblotted with the indicated antibodies. Statistical significance was determined by two‐tailed unpaired t ‐test (G and H). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001, and ns p ≥ 0.05. Experiments were independently repeated three times with similar results; data of one representative experiment are shown (A–F and I,J).

Article Snippet: The PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 μm were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Center (7‐1‐0100) in accordance with our previous report.

Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518500

Figure Lengend Snippet: PS‐MPs promote ccRCC progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β pathways. A,B) Colony formation assay of 786‐O (A) and 769‐P (B) cells cultured with the indicated treatment. BAY 11‐7082 group: 1 µ m BAY 11‐7082 for 72 h. SB431542 group: 1 µ m SB431542 for 72 h. PS‐MPs group: 15 µg mL −1 PS‐MPs for 72 h. Plus group: BAY 11‐7082 (A) or SB431542 (B) co‐treatment with PS‐MPs for 72 h. C,D) Transwell assay of 786‐O (C) and 769‐P (D) cells cultured with the indicated treatment. Scale bar is 100 µm. E,F) Wound healing assay of 786‐O (E) and 769‐P (F) cells cultured with the indicated treatment. Scale bar is 200 µm. G,H) Flow cytometric apoptosis assay of 786‐O (G) and 769‐P (H) cells cultured with the indicated treatment. Statistical significance was determined by two‐tailed unpaired t ‐test (A–H). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001, and ns p ≥ 0.05. Experiments were independently repeated three times with similar results; data from one representative experiment are shown (A–H).

Article Snippet: The PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 μm were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Center (7‐1‐0100) in accordance with our previous report.

Techniques: Colony Assay, Cell Culture, Transwell Assay, Wound Healing Assay, Apoptosis Assay, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518500

Figure Lengend Snippet: PS‐MPs exposure accelerates tumor progression in preclinical ccRCC models. A) Schematic illustration for the generation of patient‐derived organoid (PDO). B) Representative hematoxylin‐eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for ccRCC PDO. Scale bar is 30 µm. C) Representative multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining for ccRCC PDO. Scale bar is 20 µm. D,E) Representative microscopy image of PDO (left panel) and relative PDO viability (right panel) at the end of the indicated treatment detected by CellTiter‐Glo 3D Cell Viability Assay kit. Scale bar is 50 µm. BAY 11‐7082 group: 1 µM BAY 11‐7082 for 72 h. SB431542 group: 1 µ m SB431542 for 72 h. PS‐MPs group: 15 µg mL −1 PS‐MPs for 72 h. Plus group: BAY 11‐7082 (D) or SB431542 (E) combined with PS‐MPs for 72 h. F,K) Schematic illustration for the generation of 786‐O cell‐derived xenograft (CDX). BAY 11‐7082 group: 20 mg kg −1 BAY 11‐7082 daily by intraperitoneal injection. SB431542 group: 15 mg kg −1 SB431542 daily by intraperitoneal injection. PS‐MPs group: fed with water containing 10 mg L −1 PS‐MPs (treated for 12 weeks in advance). Plus group: BAY 11‐7082 or SB431542 combined with PS‐MPs. G,L) Tumor images of indicated CDX groups. H,M) Tumor weight of indicated CDX groups. I,N) Growth curves of indicated CDX groups. J,O) Representative IHC staining of Ki‐67 in the indicated CDX groups. Scale bar is 100 µm. Statistical significance was determined by two‐tailed unpaired t ‐test (D, E, H, J, M, and O), and two‐way ANOVA (I and N). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001, and ns p ≥ 0.05. Experiments were independently repeated three times with similar results; data from one representative experiment are shown (D, E, J, and O).

Article Snippet: The PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 μm were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Center (7‐1‐0100) in accordance with our previous report.

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Immunohistochemistry, Multiplex Assay, Staining, Microscopy, Viability Assay, Injection, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518500

Figure Lengend Snippet: Schematic illustration of the research. This study provides the first comprehensive evidence that PS‐MPs exacerbate ccRCC progression by activating the NF‐κB and TGF‐β pathways. The findings establish PS‐MPs as an environmental risk factor for ccRCC and identify NF‐κB and TGF‐β signaling as potential therapeutic targets to mitigate the adverse effects of PS‐MPs exposure.

Article Snippet: The PS‐MPs with a diameter of 1 μm were purchased from Tianjin Baseline ChromTech Research Center (7‐1‐0100) in accordance with our previous report.

Techniques: Biomarker Discovery