Microplastics dysregulate innate immunity in the SARS-CoV-2 infected lung

Global microplastic (MP) pollution is now well recognized, with humans and animals consuming and inhaling MPs on a daily basis, with a growing body of concern surrounding the potential impacts on human health. Using a mouse model of mild COVID-19, we describe herein the effects of azide-free 1 μm po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in immunology 2024-05, Vol.15, p.1382655-1382655
Main Authors: Bishop, Cameron R, Yan, Kexin, Nguyen, Wilson, Rawle, Daniel J, Tang, Bing, Larcher, Thibaut, Suhrbier, Andreas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Betacoronavirus - immunology
Coronavirus Infections - immunology
Coronavirus Infections - virology
COVID-19
COVID-19 - immunology
COVID-19 - virology
Cytokine Release Syndrome - immunology
Cytokines - metabolism
Disease Models, Animal
Female
Humans
Immunity, Innate - drug effects
Immunology
inflammation
Lung - immunology
Lung - pathology
Lung - virology
Mice
Microplastics
mouse
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral - immunology
Pneumonia, Viral - virology
RNA-Seq
SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 - immunology
SARS-CoV-2 - physiology
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Summary:Global microplastic (MP) pollution is now well recognized, with humans and animals consuming and inhaling MPs on a daily basis, with a growing body of concern surrounding the potential impacts on human health. Using a mouse model of mild COVID-19, we describe herein the effects of azide-free 1 μm polystyrene MP beads, co-delivered into lungs with a SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.5 inoculum. The effect of MPs on the host response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was analysed using histopathology and RNA-Seq at 2 and 6 days post-infection (dpi). Although infection reduced clearance of MPs from the lung, virus titres and viral RNA levels were not significantly affected by MPs, and overt MP-associated clinical or histopathological changes were not observed. However, RNA-Seq of infected lungs revealed that MP exposure suppressed innate immune responses at 2 dpi and increased pro-inflammatory signatures at 6 dpi. The cytokine profile at 6 dpi showed a significant correlation with the 'cytokine release syndrome' signature observed in some COVID-19 patients. The findings are consistent with the recent finding that MPs can inhibit phagocytosis of apoptotic cells via binding of Tim4. They also add to a growing body of literature suggesting that MPs can dysregulate inflammatory processes in specific disease settings.
ISSN:1664-3224
1664-3224
DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1382655