{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T15:57:03Z","timestamp":1775577423255,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775520000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775520000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Environmental Toxicology"],"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Nanoplastics are emerging airborne pollutants capable of reaching the nasal cavity. However, their effects on nasal epithelial health remain poorly understood. This study investigated how polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics affect nasal epithelial cells, focusing on NOD\u2010like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial injury. Human RPMI 2650 nasal epithelial cells were exposed to PS nanoplastics at various concentrations for 24\u2009h. Cellular responses were evaluated by assessing viability, inflammasome protein expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels using colorimetric assays, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. Mitochondrial ROS was analyzed with MitoSOX, and mitochondrial regulators sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and AMP\u2010activated protein kinase (AMPK) were examined to clarify underlying mechanisms. The antioxidant\n                    <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2010acetylcysteine (NAC) was used to assess the role of oxidative stress. PS exposure reduced cell viability and increased the expression of inflammasome\u2010related proteins including NLRP3, apoptosis\u2010associated speck\u2010like protein containing a caspase\u2010recruitment domain (ASC), and cleaved caspase\u20101. Protein levels peaked at moderate concentrations and declined at higher doses, suggesting a progression toward pyroptosis. These alterations were accompanied by increased intracellular and mitochondrial ROS, mitochondrial depolarization, decreased ATP levels, and downregulation of SIRT1 and AMPK. NAC pretreatment mitigated ROS accumulation, alleviated mitochondrial impairment, and attenuated inflammasome activation. PS induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, and dysregulation of SIRT1\u2013AMPK signaling, collectively promoting inflammasome activation in nasal epithelial cells. These findings highlight potential health risks of inhaled nanoplastics and underscore the need for further investigation into antioxidant\u2010based protective strategies.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/tox.70093","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T15:05:26Z","timestamp":1775574326000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Inflammasome Activation in Nasal Epithelial Cells via\n                    <scp>ROS<\/scp>\n                    \u2010Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction"],"prefix":"10.1002","author":[{"given":"Ji\u2010Sun","family":"Kim","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jeong\u2010Min","family":"Oh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Institute, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital  Daejeon Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hyunsu","family":"Choi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Institute, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital  Daejeon Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hosung","family":"Choi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sung Won","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Soo Whan","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Byung Guk","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jin Hee","family":"Cho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joohyung","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7917-4390","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dong Chang","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea  Seoul Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_10_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cotox.2021.10.001","article-title":"Micro\u2010 and Nanoplastic Transfer, Accumulation, and Toxicity in Humans","volume":"28","author":"Stapleton P. 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C.","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environmental Pollution"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12989-020-00387-7","article-title":"Immunotoxicity and Intestinal Effects of Nano\u2010and Microplastics: A Review of the Literature","volume":"17","author":"Hirt N.","year":"2020","journal-title":"Particle and Fibre Toxicology"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_7_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"Activation of the Nrf2\/HO\u20101 Pathway by Curcumin Inhibits Oxidative Stress in Human Nasal Fibroblasts Exposed to Urban Particulate Matter","volume":"20","author":"Kim J.\u2010S.","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_10_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.3390\/biom13020220","article-title":"Hazard Assessment of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cells, Focusing on the Autophagic Effects","volume":"13","author":"Annangi B.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Biomolecules"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_2_10_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1491","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaci.2022.02.016","article-title":"Mechanisms and Pathogenesis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis","volume":"149","author":"Kato A.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_10_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1186\/s12989-021-00414-1","article-title":"Underestimated Health Risks: Polystyrene Micro\u2010and Nanoplastics Jointly Induce Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction by ROS\u2010Mediated Epithelial Cell Apoptosis","volume":"18","author":"Liang B.","year":"2021","journal-title":"Particle and Fibre Toxicology"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fsi.2022.04.048","article-title":"Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis and Myocardial Inflammation in Carp by Promoting ROS Production","volume":"125","author":"Wu H.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Fish & Shellfish Immunology"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169260","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2023.169260","article-title":"Polystyrene Nanoplastics\u2010Induced Lung Apoptosis and Ferroptosis via ROS\u2010Dependent Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress","volume":"912","author":"Wu Q.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_2_10_13_1","first-page":"1845","article-title":"Hazard Assessment of Ingested Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Drosophila Larvae","volume":"9","author":"Alaraby M.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environmental Science: Nano"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2015.11.078","article-title":"Characterisation of Nanoplastics During the Degradation of Polystyrene","volume":"145","author":"Lambert S.","year":"2016","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100525","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envadv.2024.100525","article-title":"Transport and Deposition of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Human Respiratory Tract","volume":"16","author":"Huang X.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environmental Advances"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_10_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1002\/alr.23239","article-title":"Identification and Characterization of Microplastics in Nasal Irrigation Fluids: A Preliminary Study","volume":"14","author":"Kim S. H.","year":"2024","journal-title":"International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_10_17_1","first-page":"310","article-title":"Measurement of Microplastic Release After the Use of Polypropylene Nasal Irrigation Bottles","volume":"17","author":"Kim K. S.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ceo"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_10_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1077","DOI":"10.1002\/lary.30926","article-title":"Role of Microplastics in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps","volume":"134","author":"Ta\u015f B. M.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158851","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.158851","article-title":"Investigation of Pulmonary Toxicity Evaluation on Mice Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics: The Potential Protective Role of the Antioxidant N\u2010Acetylcysteine","volume":"855","author":"Wu Y.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_10_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.3390\/biom13010140","article-title":"Pro\u2010Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human and Murine Intestinal Cell Lines","volume":"13","author":"Mattioda V.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Biomolecules"},{"issue":"19","key":"e_1_2_10_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3507","DOI":"10.3390\/nano12193507","article-title":"Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Lung Injury via Activating Oxidative Stress: Molecular Insights From Bioinformatics Analysis","volume":"12","author":"Zhang T.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nanomaterials"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_10_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1002\/tox.23705","article-title":"Polystyrene Microplastic Particles Induce Autophagic Cell Death in BEAS\u20102B Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells","volume":"38","author":"Jeon M. 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Endocrinology and Metabolism"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_10_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.1038\/nri2725","article-title":"NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation: The Convergence of Multiple Signalling Pathways on ROS Production?","volume":"10","author":"Tschopp J.","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nature Reviews. Immunology"},{"issue":"8","key":"e_1_2_10_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1095","DOI":"10.3390\/biom12081095","article-title":"Assessing the NLRP3 Inflammasome Activating Potential of a Large Panel of Micro\u2010and Nanoplastics in THP\u20101 Cells","volume":"12","author":"Busch M.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biomolecules"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1178434","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2023.1178434","article-title":"NLRP3 Inflammasome as a Sensor of Micro\u2010and Nanoplastics Immunotoxicity","volume":"14","author":"Alijagic A.","year":"2023","journal-title":"Frontiers in Immunology"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116439","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoenv.2024.116439","article-title":"Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induces Hepatotoxicity Involving NRF2\u2010NLRP3 Signaling Pathway in Mice","volume":"278","author":"Wen Y.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173458","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2024.173458","article-title":"Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Intestinal and Hepatic Inflammation Through Activation of NF\u2010\u03baB\/NLRP3 Pathways and Related Gut\u2010Liver Axis in Mice","volume":"935","author":"Chen X.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Science of the Total Environment"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_10_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"tfae106","DOI":"10.1093\/toxres\/tfae106","article-title":"The Size\u2010Dependence and Reversibility of Polystyrene Nanoplastics\u2010Induced Hepatic Pyroptosis in Mice Through TXNIP\/NLRP3\/GSDMD Pathway","volume":"13","author":"Lu Y. 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