The long-term in vitro co-exposure of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics and cigarette smoke condensate exacerbates the induction of carcinogenic traits
Morataya Reyes, Michelle (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Villacorta, Aliro (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Gutiérrez-García, Javier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Egea, Raquel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Martín Pérez, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Barguilla, Irene (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Marcos Dauder, Ricardo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Hernández Bonilla, Alba (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	This study examines the long-term impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET-NPLs) and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) on human lung BEAS-2B cells, focusing on key biological hallmarks of carcinogenesis. True-to-life PET-NPLs were generated from plastic water bottles and characterized to simulate environmental exposure conditions; and a comprehensive battery of assays was employed to assess genotoxicity, cellular transformation, and invasiveness. It was observed that, compared to passage control and individual exposures, co-exposure to PET-NPLs and CSC exacerbates oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and tumorigenic transformation, as evidenced by increased DNA damage, colony formation in soft agar, and enhanced cell migration and invasion. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a shift in cellular stress regulation including the upregulation of stress-response genes, including SLC7A11, NQO1, and HSPA1A, which are linked to oxidative stress adaptation and tumor survival. At the same time, key tumor-suppressor genes, such as LOX, and FN1, were significantly downregulated, promoting cellular transformation and invasiveness. These results provide compelling evidence that the combination of PET-NPLs and CSC enhances carcinogenic traits through oxidative stress, genomic instability, and disruption of tumor-suppressive pathways. This study underscores the importance of evaluating the synergistic effects of combined environmental exposures and their implications for human health.
Grants:	Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2023/BP-00212 European Commission 965196 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-116789RB-C43 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-00731
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Nanoplastics ; Cigarette smoke condensate ; Long-term co-exposure ; Beas-2B cells ; Carcinogenic traits
Published in:	Journal of hazardous materials, Vol. 493 (August 2025) , art. 138359, ISSN 1873-3336

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138359

13 p, 5.0 MB

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