TY - JOUR
T1 - EtHg is more toxic than MeHg to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
T2 - Involvement of apoptotic, mitochondrial, oxidative and proliferative parameters
AU - de Souza Prestes, Alessandro
AU - Vargas, João Luis Souza
AU - dos Santos, Matheus Mülling
AU - Druzian, Gabriel Toneto
AU - da Rocha, João Teixeira
AU - Aschner, Michael
AU - Barbosa, Nilda Vargas
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Background: Methylmercury (MeHg) and ethylmercury (EtHg) are potent toxicants affecting the environment and human healthy. In this way, the present study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of MeHg and EtHg exposure on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which are critical components of the mammalian immune system. Methods: PBMCs were exposed to 2.5 μM MeHg or 2.5 μM EtHg. The number of cells and incubation times varied according to each assay. After exposures, the PBMCs were subjected to different evaluations, including cell viability, morphological aspects, cell cycle phases, indices of apoptosis and necrosis, reactive species (RS) production, and mitochondrial functionality. Results: PBMCs exposed to EtHg were characterized by decreased viability and size, increased granularity, RS production, and apoptotic indexes accompanied by an intensification of Sub-G1 and reduction in G0-G1 cell cycle phases. Preceding these effects, we found mitochondrial dysfunctions, namely a reduction in the electron transport system related to mitochondrial complex I. In contrast, PBMCs exposed to MeHg showed only reduced viability. By ICP-MS, we found that PBMCs treated with EtHg accumulated Hg + levels ∼1.8-fold greater than MeHg-exposed cells. Conclusions and significance: Taken together, our findings provide important insights about mercury immunotoxicity, showing that EtHg is more immunotoxic to human PBMCs than MeHg.
AB - Background: Methylmercury (MeHg) and ethylmercury (EtHg) are potent toxicants affecting the environment and human healthy. In this way, the present study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of MeHg and EtHg exposure on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which are critical components of the mammalian immune system. Methods: PBMCs were exposed to 2.5 μM MeHg or 2.5 μM EtHg. The number of cells and incubation times varied according to each assay. After exposures, the PBMCs were subjected to different evaluations, including cell viability, morphological aspects, cell cycle phases, indices of apoptosis and necrosis, reactive species (RS) production, and mitochondrial functionality. Results: PBMCs exposed to EtHg were characterized by decreased viability and size, increased granularity, RS production, and apoptotic indexes accompanied by an intensification of Sub-G1 and reduction in G0-G1 cell cycle phases. Preceding these effects, we found mitochondrial dysfunctions, namely a reduction in the electron transport system related to mitochondrial complex I. In contrast, PBMCs exposed to MeHg showed only reduced viability. By ICP-MS, we found that PBMCs treated with EtHg accumulated Hg + levels ∼1.8-fold greater than MeHg-exposed cells. Conclusions and significance: Taken together, our findings provide important insights about mercury immunotoxicity, showing that EtHg is more immunotoxic to human PBMCs than MeHg.
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Ethylmercury
KW - Lymphocytes
KW - Methylmercury
KW - Mitochondria
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U2 - 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130446
DO - 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130446
M3 - Article
C2 - 37619690
AN - SCOPUS:85169591372
SN - 0304-4165
VL - 1867
JO - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects
JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects
IS - 10
M1 - 130446
ER -