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Autoimmunity Systems
If you are interested in our solutions for Clinical Analysis, you can learn more on our Global website and reach out to us with your needs. Biochemistry Systems
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Autoimmunity Systems

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Biochemistry Systems
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Vector-borne Diseases Systems

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If you are interested in our solutions for Clinical Analysis, you can learn more on our Global website and reach out to us with your needs. Biochemistry Systems
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Clinical analysis

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are small fragments of plastic that originate from the environmental or industrial breakdown of plastic polymers such as polyethylene, polystyrene or polypropylene.

We are taking these microscopic plastics through our diet (food & drinks), by inhalation or by absorbing them through the skin.

Due to the exponential increase in plastic production over the years and their low biodegradation rates, microplastics accumulate in ecosystems, but also in our bodies.

How our immune system deals with microplastics?

Recent studies have shown that microplastics are recognized as foreign invaders by our immune system.

Therefore, the presence of microplastics is suggested to cause chronic immune inflammation, a state that contributes to the development of autoimmune diseases such as lupus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

In animal studies, microplastic exposure has been shown to worsen disease progression in SLE and RA rodent models.

Our mission

At Biosystems, we are committed to addressing this challenge from two complementary angles:

Advancing autoimmune disease diagnostics
Promoting sustainability

1.Vethaak, A.D., Legler, J. Microplastics and human health. Science (2021).. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe5041

2.Nihart, A.J., Garcia, M.A., El Hayek, E. et al. Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nat Med (2025). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03453-1

3.Tan, Y., et al. Unraveling the impact of microplastics on autoimmune diseases: hidden dangers and environmental triggers. Environ Geochem Health (2026). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10653-026-02976-5

4.Zeng, W. et al. Microplastics exposure aggravates synovitis and pyroptosis in SLE by activating NF-kB and NRF2/KEAP1 signaling. Toxics (2024). https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/840

5.Lihua, C., Zhiyin, T. Microplastics aggravates rheumatoid arthritis by affecting the proliferation/migration/inflammation of fibroblast-like synovial cells by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. Int Immunopharmacol (2023). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1567576923005908?via%3Dihub

Sub-category

Autoimmunity Systems

Customer Area

ARA

BioSystems ARA is a laboratory management software that facilitates the interaction between BioSystems instruments and the management of working sessions.

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