Polystyrene micro and nano-particles induce metabolic rewiring in normal human colon cells: A risk factor for human health

show that internalization of NPs and MPs induces metabolic changes under both acute and chronic exposure by inducing oxidative stress, increasing glycolysis via lactate to sustain energy metabolism and glutamine metabolism to sustain anabolic processes. We also show that this decoupling of nutrients mirrors the effect of the potent carcinogenic agent azoxymethane and HCT15 colon cancer cells, carrying out the typical strategy of cancer cells to optimize nutrients utilization and allowing metabolic adaptation to environmental stress conditions. Taken together our data provide new evidence that chronic NPs and MPs exposure could act as cancer risk factor for human health.

Automated summary

The study shows that internalization of NPs and MPs leads to metabolic changes, including oxidative stress, increased glycolysis and glutamine metabolism. These changes mirror the metabolic adaptations of cancer cells and suggest that chronic exposure to NPs and MPs may pose a cancer risk to human health.