Basini, G., Bussolati, S., Andriani, L., Grolli, S., Bertini, S., Iemmi, T., Menozzi, A., Quintavalla, F., Ramoni, R., Serventi, P., and Grasselli, F.
• Concern has been raised against pollution by nanoplastics (NPs). • Potential cellular effects of NPs have been examined in adipose stromal cells. • NPs affected ASCs viability, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. • We demonstrated critical effects of NPs in a primary cell culture model. Plastic is one of the main sources of marine and terrestrial pollution. This material can fragment into micro- (<-5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs) (<100 nm) following degradation. Animals are exposed to these particles by ingesting contaminated food, respiration or filtration, and transdermally. In organisms, NPs can cross biological membranes, and cause oxidative stress, cell damage, apoptosis, and endocrine interference. We previously demonstrated that polystyrene - NPs interfered with ovarian cell functions. Since reproduction involves a high energy expenditure and a crucial role is played by adipose tissue, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of NPs on primary adipose stromal cells (ASCs) isolated from swine adipose tissues. In particular, the effects on cell viability, proliferation, metabolic activity, inflammatory process mediators and oxidative stress markers were assessed. The obtained results did not reveal a significant variation in cell proliferation, metabolic activity was increased (P < 0.01) but only at the lowest concentration, while viability showed a significant decrease after prolonged exposure to NPs (P < 0.01). TNF-α was increased (P < 0.05), while PAI-1 was inhibited (P < 0.001). Redox status was significantly modified; in particular, the production of O 2 − , H 2 O 2 and NO was stimulated (P < 0.05), the non-enzymatic antioxidant power was reduced (P < 0.05) while catalase activity was significantly (P < 0.01) increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]