Poster Presentation International Congress on Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses 2025

Possible impact of nanoplastic particles on the Drosophila Batten disease models (#2)

Adaeze S Gbufor 1 , Chao Wang 1 , Thu Dong 1 , Mina Zhang 1 2 , Zhihao Wu 1
  1. Wu lab at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
  2. Allen High School, Allen, Texas, United States

The widespread distribution of nanoplastic particles has become an important environmental concern. Nanoplastic particles can be ingested by animals and spread throughout the body through the circulatory system. At the cellular level, nanoplastic particles may enter the endosome via endocytosis and localize within the lysosome. Given the absence of effective plastic-degrading enzymes in cells, these particles can cause lysosomal dysfunction. In our studies, we found that nanoplastic particles were remarkably toxic to the Cln3 and Cln10/CathD-related Batten disease Drosophila models. Furthermore, particle accumulation significantly perturbed autophagy flux. These results suggest the potential impact of plastic particle pollution on Batten disease.