Selective effect of mercury on Th2-type cytokine production in humans.
Mercury induces autoimmune disease and increases IL-4 production and IgE levels in certain rodent strains. The object of this study was to determine if mercury was capable of inducing Th2 cytokine production in human leucocytes. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were incubated with PMA/ionomycin or Con A in the presence or absence of methyl mercury (CH(3)Hg) or mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)). IL-4 and gamma-IFN were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
IL-4 production significantly increased at low concentrations of CH(3)Hg (0.5 uM, p < 0.01), while gamma-IFN production was suppressed starting at CH(3)Hg 2 uM (p = 0.004). Inorganic mercury (HgCl(2)) increased IL-4 only at concentrations 10-20 times higher than CH(3)Hg. These findings suggest a mechanism by which mercury could trigger or potentiate TH2 cytokine production in humans.
de Vos
Gabriele
G
Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. gdevos@aecom.yu.edu
Abotaga
Sherif
S
Liao
Zenghua
Z
Jerschow
Elina
E
Rosenstreich
David
D
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4; D015759:Ionomycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008628:Mercury; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate