{
  "abstract": "Polyethylene nanoplastics (PE-NPs) are emerging environmental contaminants. The PPARγ–NF-κB signaling axis critically regulates inflammation and tumorigenesis, but its role in NP-induced cancer promotion is unknown. We investigated whether PE-NPs promote mammary tumor progression through this axis using canine mammary tumor (CMT-U27) cells as a translational model. Cells were exposed to 50-nm PE-NPs (0.25 mg/mL, 48 h). Transmission electron microscopy revealed intracellular PE-NP accumulation in autophagic lysosomes, mitochondrial enlargement, and apoptotic bodies. Transcriptomic analysis revealed dysregulation of pro-tumorigenic pathways including PPAR signaling. RT-qPCR and Western blotting confirmed PPARγ downregulation, NF-κB activation, and EMT marker changes: decreased E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin, Vimentin, and SNAIL (all P < 0.05). Functionally, PE-NPs significantly enhanced colony formation, cell migration, invasion, and tumorsphere formation ( P < 0.01). Following PE-NP removal, MMP1, p65, N-cadherin, and SNAIL mRNA remained elevated at 72 h and 168 h (all P < 0.05), indicating persistent molecular alternations. In a mouse xenograft model, PE-NPs accelerated tumor growth ( P < 0.001) and increased mitotic figures, Ki-67 expression, and intratumoral ROS levels ( P < 0.001). Although there was no statistical difference, the PE group showed a trend of shorter survival. The PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone attenuated PE-NP-induced cell migration, invasion, and tumorsphere formation in vitro , as well as tumor growth in vivo , accompanied by reversal of EMT-associated marker changes and attenuation of PE-NP-induced p -p65 upregulation and IκBα downregulation (all P < 0.05). These findings reveal that PE-NPs promote mammary tumor progression via PPARγ–NF-κB axis dysregulation, representing an under-recognized environmental oncogenic risk, and identify PPARγ as a therapeutic target to mitigate NP-associated cancer risks.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China",
    "Correspondence to: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China."
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Muyao Xu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuhan Wu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhaoyi Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zixin Fang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Meng Li"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bm04ermzvrp7t.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120948",
  "fulltext_url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651326012789",
  "id": "bm04ermzvrp7t",
  "issns": [
    "0147-6513",
    "1090-2414"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120948",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "GE1-350"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "TD172-193.5"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2310|Microplastics and Plastic Pollution"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223337162",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-24",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bm04ermzvrp7t.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:44:32Z",
      "native_id": "70457a5745be452bae67bba15af4a69b",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120948"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "openalex:2310|Microplastics and Plastic Pollution",
      "subfield": "environmental-science"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Polyethylene nanoplastics promote tumor progression in canine mammary tumor U27 cells via the PPARγ–NF-κB axis",
  "title_text": "Polyethylene nanoplastics promote tumor progression in canine mammary tumor U27 cells via the PPARγ–NF-κB axis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:44:32Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bm04ermzvrp7t",
  "venue": "Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety",
  "versions": []
}