title: Hg(II) exposure exacerbates UV-induced DNA damage in MRC5 fibroblasts: a comet assay study.
abstract: When exposed to UVR, MRC5 fibroblasts incubated with mercuric chloride (0-15 microM) for 1 hour show increased DNA damage (as measured by the comet assay) compared to control cells (UVR irradiated but no mercuric chloride). This demonstrates that mercuric chloride and UVR in combination increase DNA damage in a synergistic manner. This may have implications to those exposed to mercury as it suggests that exposure to mercury in the environment may increase sensitivity to sunlight-induced carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Cornwall Dermatology Research, Peninsula Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro, Cornwall, UK.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bradfield
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pye
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clifford
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salter
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curnow
mesh_terms: D020552:Comet Assay / Q000379:methods; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008627:Mercuric Chloride