Transcriptional response of short-term nanoplastic exposure in Monodonta labio

Abstract

Although nanoplastic (NP) pollution across aquatic environments has elicited widespread attention in recent years, its associated risks remain unclear. Using intertidal Monodonta labio as the test organism, RNA-Seq was performed to analyze the expression levels of genes under acute exposure to different concentrations of NPs in this study. A large quantity of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in response to three concentrations (0.1, 1, and 10 mg/L) of NPs. The expression levels of genes related to immunity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were altered after NP exposure, and most of them were suppressed. These findings establish the foundation for future research on the biological effects of NP ingestion among aquatic organisms and their potential effects on humans via the consumption of these marine resources. However, further research on DEGs is needed to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind their responses to NP toxicity in aquatic organisms.