Differential lncRNA Expression in Undifferentiated and Differentiated LUHMES Cells Following Co-Exposure to Silver Nanoparticles and Nanoplastic

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) has become an increasing concern due to its accumulation in the environment and human body. In the human organism, MNP accumulates in various tissues, including the central nervous system, where it is associated which neurotoxic effects. Beyond its inherent toxicity, MNP also acts as a carrier for various chemical contaminants, including metals. Consequently, recent studies emphasize the importance of the evaluation of co-exposure scenarios involving MNP and other types of nanoparticles. In this study, we investigated effects of co-exposure to 20 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and 20 nm polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) on cell viability and the expression of inflammation-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in undifferentiated and differentiated Lund human mesencephalic (LUHMES) cells. While PSNPs alone did not significantly affect cell viability or lncRNA expression, AgNPs markedly reduced viability and deregulated lncRNA expression in both cell types. Notably, in differentiated cells, co-exposure to AgNPs and high concentrations of PSNPs led to a significantly greater reduction in viability compared to AgNPs alone, suggesting a synergistic effect. At the molecular level, both synergistic and antagonistic interactions between AgNPs and PSNPs were observed in the regulation of lncRNA expression, depending on the cell differentiation status. These findings highlight the complex biological interactions between AgNPs and PSNPs and emphasize the importance of considering nanoparticle co-exposures in toxicological evaluations, as combined exposures may significantly affect cellular and molecular responses.