These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Suppression of methylmercury-induced IL-6 and MCP-1 expressions by N-acetylcysteine in U-87MG human astrocytoma cells.
    Author: Muniroh M, Khan N, Koriyama C, Akiba S, Vogel CF, Yamamoto M.
    Journal: Life Sci; 2015 Aug 01; 134():16-21. PubMed ID: 26006043.
    Abstract:
    AIMS: The aim of this study was to clarify the involvement of oxidative stress in methylmercury (MeHg)-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions and the suppressive effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in MeHg-induced cytokine expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using U-87-MG human astrocytoma cell line, interleukin (IL)-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 expressions induced by 4 μM MeHg were measured at mRNA and protein levels. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2(-)) were quantified by flow-cytometry analysis. To examine the suppressive effects of NAC on the cytokine expressions among different timing of NAC treatment, cells were treated with 0.5 or 5mM NAC before, simultaneously, or after MeHg administration. KEY FINDINGS: MeHg exposure at 4 μM, a non-cytotoxic concentration, significantly induced MCP-1 and IL-6 expressions at both mRNA and protein levels. A significant increase of H2O2 production but not O2(-) was observed. MeHg-induced expression of MCP-1 and IL-6 mRNA was reduced by 10-20% in the presence of 5mM NAC (co-treatment experiment) compared to cells treated with MeHg only. Pre-treatment of cells with 0.5 or 5mM NAC at 0.5 or 1h and its subsequent washout before MeHg addition suppressed MCP-1 and IL-6 cytokine expressions. Post-treatment of cells with NAC after MeHg addition also suppressed the cytokine induction, but the magnitude of suppression was evidently lower than in co-treated cells even though the H2O2 generation was almost completely suppressed by NAC. SIGNIFICANCE: NAC may effectively suppress the MeHg-induced cytokine production through both, inhibition of reactive oxygen species as well as extracellular chelation of MeHg in astrocytes.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]