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Methylmercury elicits intracellular Zn2+ release in rat thymocytes: its relation to methylmercury-induced decrease in

Takuya Kawanai1, Masaya Satoh, Koji Murao

  • 1Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Minami-Jyosanijuma 1-1, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan.

Toxicology Letters
|September 15, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Methylmercury (MetHg) exposure increases intracellular zinc (Zn2+) levels by releasing it from cellular thiols. This effect was observed in rat thymocytes at submicromolar concentrations, but not at critical maternal blood levels.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Environmental Health
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Thimerosal, an organomercurial preservative, is known to increase intracellular Zn(2+) in rat thymocytes.
  • Methylmercury (MetHg) is a significant environmental pollutant with known toxicity.
  • The potential impact of MetHg on intracellular Zn(2+) homeostasis remains an area of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether methylmercury (MetHg) affects intracellular Zn(2+) concentration.
  • To determine the mechanism by which MetHg might alter Zn(2+) levels.
  • To assess the relevance of these changes at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Main Methods:

  • Measurement of intracellular Zn(2+) using the fluorescent probe FluoZin-3.
  • Assessment of cellular thiol content using 5-chlormethylfluorescein fluorescence.

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  • Experiments conducted under controlled external Ca(2+)- and Zn(2+)-free conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • Submicromolar concentrations of MetHg (100 nM to 1 microM) significantly increased intracellular Zn(2+) in a concentration-dependent manner.
    • The MetHg-induced increase in Zn(2+) was reversed by the chelator TPEN.
    • MetHg exposure led to a decrease in cellular thiol content, correlating with increased intracellular Zn(2+).

    Conclusions:

    • Submicromolar methylmercury exposure releases Zn(2+) from intracellular thiols, leading to elevated intracellular Zn(2+) concentrations.
    • MetHg-induced changes in Zn(2+) homeostasis are unlikely at critical maternal blood concentrations (27 nM).
    • These findings provide insight into the cellular mechanisms of mercury toxicity.