Do nanoplastics reshape microglial support of neuronal resilience? A study of microglial bioenergetics and microglia to neuron communication in vitro

Authors

Brunialti, E., Meda, C., Villa, A., Parolini, M., Ciana, P., Casati, L.

Abstract

Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging environmental contaminants able to cross biological barriers, disrupt cellular and organelle homeostasis, and alter the brain microenvironment. This study investigated whether NPs affect microglia to neuron communication, a key mechanism underlying neuronal resilience, via the nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (NFE2L2) pathway. Using an in vitro model, we evaluated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on microglial metabolic fitness and microglia-mediated neuronal stress responses. Increasing NP concentrations induced a dose dependent biphasic effect. Low to intermediate concentrations increased intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in microglia and enhanced microglia-mediated activation of neuronal NFE2L2. In contrast, high NP concentration impaired microglial metabolism, reduced ATP availability, and decreased microglia to neuron communication. These findings indicate that NPs alter microglial energetic status and modulate neuroprotective signalling, potentially contributing to impaired neuron to microglia interactions and increased susceptibility to neurotoxicity.

Preprint server: bioRxiv
The authors list and abstract were imported from bioRxiv on 26 Jun 2026.

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