title: Protective effect of pravastatin against mercury induced vascular cells damage: erythrocytes as surrogate markers.
abstract: In the present study we investigated the protective effect of pravastatin (PRV) against mercury-induced cellular damage. Human erythrocytes were incubated with PRV, HgCl(2) and HgCl(2) pretreated with PRV. Our results revealed that incubation of erythrocytes with HgCl(2) induces a significant increase the ratios of superoxide dismutase/glutathione peroxidase (SOD/GPx), superoxide dismutase/catalase (SOD/CAT), oxidized/reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA) and protein carbonyl(PCO) by 60%, 50%, 333%, 400% and 208% respectively. Whereas, prior incubation of erythrocytes with PRV maintains these parameters at values similar to control cells. Furthermore, the level of nitrite in erythrocytes decreases significantly on treatment with HgCl(2), whereas it remains similar to the control when pretreated with PRV. Also, there was an increase in erythrocytes hemolysis when treated with HgCl(2), whereas it remained the like to the control when pretreated with PRV. In conclusion, PRV pretreatment maintained the erythrocytes oxidant/antioxidant balance and nitrite level during mercury exposure. Consequently, PRV pretreatment is worthy of further investigation in the reduction of the cardiovascular risk of mercury.
authors: Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: gamal.harisa@yahoo.com.
authors: Gamaleldin I
authors: GI
authors: Harisa
authors: Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Fars K
authors: FK
authors: Alanazi
authors: Biology Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Randa A
authors: RA
authors: El-Bassat
authors: Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Abdul
authors: A
authors: Malik
authors: Department of Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Gamil M
authors: GM
authors: Abdallah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006454:Hemoglobins; D009573:Nitrites; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D008628:Mercury; D017035:Pravastatin