title: High susceptibility of neural stem cells to methylmercury toxicity: effects on cell survival and neuronal differentiation.
abstract: Neural stem cells (NSCs) play an essential role in both the developing embryonic nervous system through to adulthood where the capacity for self-renewal may be important for normal function of the CNS, such as in learning, memory and response to injury. There has been much excitement about the possibility of transplantation of NSCs to replace damaged or lost neurones, or by recruitment of endogenous precursors. However, before the full potential of NSCs can be realized, it is essential to understand the physiological pathways that control their proliferation and differentiation, as well as the influence of extrinsic factors on these processes. In the present study we used the NSC line C17.2 and primary embryonic cortical NSCs (cNSCs) to investigate the effects of the environmental contaminant methylmercury (MeHg) on survival and differentiation of NSCs. The results show that NSCs, in particular cNSCs, are highly sensitive to MeHg. MeHg induced apoptosis in both models via Bax activation, cytochrome c translocation, and caspase and calpain activation. Remarkably, exposure to MeHg at concentrations comparable to the current developmental exposure (via cord blood) of the general population in many countries inhibited spontaneous neuronal differentiation of NSCs. Our studies also identified the intracellular pathway leading to MeHg-induced apoptosis, and indicate that NSCs are more sensitive than differentiated neurones or glia to MeHg-induced cytotoxicity. The observed effects of MeHg on NSC differentiation offer new perspectives for evaluating the biological significance of MeHg exposure at low levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Division of Toxicology and Neurotoxicology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tamm
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duckworth
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hermanson
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceccatelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002154:Calpain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D020262:Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D045304:Cytochromes c; D002154:Calpain; D020169:Caspases