Cytotoxic and dysmetabolic impact of polystyrene nanoplastics, a new potential atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factor, on a steatosis model of HepG2 cells

The widespread presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment has recently raised concerns regarding the human health. More specifically, adverse effects related to NP exposure and potentially associated with the occurrence and progression of cardiometabolic diseases, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), are currently under investigation. To understand the toxic and dysmetabolic effects induced by NPs in the liver, a major player in cardiometabolic health, we aimed at characterizing the cytotoxic effects induced by polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) of 500 nm in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. PS-NPs tested at concentrations of 10, 100, and 200 mg/mL reduced HepG2 cell viability. Intracellular PS-NP content increased according to exposure time and concentration. Moreover, exposure to 500 nm PS-NPs altered glucose uptake after 24 hour-NP exposure (200 mg/mL). This study may contribute to unveil the PS-NP involvement in the pathological mechanisms associated with liver diseases, including MASLD.