Description and purpose
Nanoplastics (NPs) are pollutants resulting from the inappropriate management of end-life plastic waste. Once ingested or inhaled, NPs circulate in the blood, causing oxidative stress in various tissues and impairing bone remodeling. Multiple myeloma (MM) also interferes with adequate bone turnover, causing osteolytic lesions that significantly impact patients' quality of life. The connection between NP exposure and MM has never been investigated.
Purpose
The project aims to understand the mechanisms by which NPs can alter communication between MM cells and mesenchymal stromal cells, precursors of osteoblasts, with particular attention to the production of extracellular vesicles. Specifically, NANOULTRON aims to identify the signaling pathways and osteogenic metabolic routes modulated by vesicles secreted by multiple myeloma cells exposed to NPs.
Expected results
The results of NANOULTRON will provide a more comprehensive knowledge of the effects of NPs on the bone microenvironment and the interactions between MM cells and bone marrow cell populations. Specifically, the results will define whether NPs play a role in MM progression. Thus, the results will not only elucidate new aspects of MM pathogenesis but also lay the bases for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to inhibit tumor growth and prevent osteolytic lesions.
Achieved results
In mesenchymal stromal cells, NPs cause oxidative stress (Giannandrea et al., JHM 2024), alter glutamine metabolism, and inhibit osteogenic differentiation (publication in preparation). However, NPs modify the dimension and the content of extracellular vesicles secreted by MM cells, limiting their anti-osteogenic action (publication under review). The mechanisms underlying these opposite effects are still to be elucidated.
