Document Detail


Differential immunotoxic effects of inorganic and organic mercury species in vitro.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20600710     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Despite the fact that humans are exposed to multiple forms of mercury (elemental, inorganic, and organic), most research on mercury toxicity has focused on methylmercury (MeHg) and on neurotoxic outcomes and mechanisms. Recent work has indicated that the immunotoxic effects of mercury compounds may be significant contributors to human disease as well as mechanistically relevant to other target organ toxicities. In this study, we compared the effects of inorganic Hg (iHg) to organic Hg species (MeHg and ethylmercury, EtHg) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro at sub-cytotoxic concentrations, using methods developed to characterize response of human PBMCs to iHg in vitro. PBMCs were isolated from six volunteer blood donors (three males and three females) and cultured in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and low levels (up to 200nM of each Hg species, separately) for 24h in culture. Cell culture supernatants were analyzed for cytokine concentrations with a bead-based multiplex assay. We report that iHg and MeHg both increase pro-inflammatory cytokine release in LPS-stimulated PBMCs, while EtHg decreases IFN-gamma release as well pro-inflammatory cytokine release. IL-17 release is significantly increased only in response to iHg treatment. Levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1Ra and IL-10) were not significantly altered by any Hg treatment. These results indicate that both organic and inorganic species of Hg can affect the human immune system, but that they may exert different effects on immune function.
Authors:
Renee M Gardner; Jennifer F Nyland; Ellen K Silbergeld
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2010-06-26
Journal Detail:
Title:  Toxicology letters     Volume:  198     ISSN:  1879-3169     ISO Abbreviation:  Toxicol. Lett.     Publication Date:  2010 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-24     Completed Date:  2010-09-10     Revised Date:  2011-05-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7709027     Medline TA:  Toxicol Lett     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  182-90     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. rgardner@jhsph.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Cell Survival / drug effects
Cells, Cultured
Cytokines / immunology*
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Humans
Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects*,  immunology
Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
Male
Mercuric Chloride / toxicity*
Methylmercury Compounds / toxicity*
Thimerosal / toxicity*
Young Adult
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
1R21ES014857-01/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS; ES07141/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS; K99/R00ES015426/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS; R00 ES015426-05/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Cytokines; 0/Lipopolysaccharides; 0/Methylmercury Compounds; 115-09-3/methylmercuric chloride; 54-64-8/Thimerosal; 7487-94-7/Mercuric Chloride

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  An acellular assay to assess the genotoxicity of complex mixtures of organic pollutants bound on siz...
Next Document:  Role of plasma membrane disruption in reference moist smokeless tobacco-induced cell death.