Methylmercury causes glial IL-6 release.
Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental toxin that causes severe neurological complications in humans and experimental animals. MeHg caused IL-6 release from the rat C6 glioma cells, the human U251HF glioma cells and the human retina pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. These results plus those we reported earlier using mouse N9 microglia cells indicate that IL-6 induction may be a general property of MeHg among various glial cell types across species. MeHg caused a concentration-dependent increase of cellular oxidation with a maximal level reached by approximately 10 microM MeHg, which was similar to that caused by 30 microM H2O2 or t-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH). The ability of MeHg to induce IL-6 release was not affected by exogenously added H2O2 or t-butyl hydroperoxide. Furthermore, IL-6 release was not accompanied by other cytokine release. Given the reports by others that IL-6 could modulate neuronal survival, glia may affect MeHg neurotoxicity by their IL-6 release when exposed to this neurotoxin.
Chang
Jason Y
JY
Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Slot 510, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. changjasony@uams.edu
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005910:Glioma; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D015850:Interleukin-6; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide