biostudies-literatureWei YYAnhui Medical UniversityNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinaresearch and practice innovation project of graduate students of Anhui Medical Universityclinical medical research and transformation project of Anhui Province1717-1743https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12283003biostudies-literatureUnknown21(8)Microplastics (MPs) induce mitochondrial dysfunction and iron accumulation, contributing to mitochondrial macroautophagy/autophagy and ferroptosis, which has increased susceptibility to the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We demonstrated that MPs intensified inflammation in COPD by enhancing autophagy-dependent ferroptosis (ADF) in vitro and in vivo. In the lung tissues of patients with COPD, the concentrations of MPs, especially polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), were significantly higher than that of the control group, as detected by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS), with increased iron accumulation. The exposure to PS-MPs, 2 μm in size, resulted in their being deposited in the lungsAutophagyMicroplastics exacerbate ferroptosis via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-mediated autophagy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.PMC12283003YJS2023012120230429510702003882170050Wei YYZhang DWChen KGFei GHZhang YLi FWang MYChen TTZhang LDing YCfalseMicroplastics exacerbate ferroptosis via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-mediated autophagy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Microplastics (MPs) induce mitochondrial dysfunction and iron accumulation, contributing to mitochondrial macroautophagy/autophagy and ferroptosis, which has increased susceptibility to the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We demonstrated that MPs intensified inflammation in COPD by enhancing autophagy-dependent ferroptosis (ADF) in vitro and in vivo. In the lung tissues of patients with COPD, the concentrations of MPs, especially polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), were significantly higher than that of the control group, as detected by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS), with increased iron accumulation. The exposure to PS-MPs, 2 μm in size, resulted in their being deposited in the lungs2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-03-31T10:31:52.742Z2025-08-23T03:09:21.766ZS-EPMC122830034011431010.1080/15548627.2025.2481126