title: Protective effect of prolactin against methylmercury-induced mutagenicity and cytotoxicity on human lymphocytes.
abstract: Mercury exhibits cytotoxic and mutagenic properties as a result of its effect on tubulin. This toxicity mechanism is related to the production of free radicals that can cause DNA damage. Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic of the mercury compounds. It accumulates in the aquatic food chain, eventually reaching the human diet. Several studies have demonstrated that prolactin (PRL) may be differently affected by inorganic and organic mercury based on interference with various neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of PRL secretion. This study evaluated the cytoprotective effect of PRL on human lymphocytes exposed to MeHg in vitro, including observation of the kinetics of HL-60 cells (an acute myeloid leukemia lineage) treated with MeHg and PRL at different concentrations, with both treatments with the individual compounds and combined treatments. All treatments with MeHg produced a significant increase in the frequency of chromatid gaps, however, no significant difference was observed in the chromosomal breaks with any treatment. A dose-dependent increase in the mitotic index was observed for treatments with PRL, which also acts as a co-mitogenic factor, regulating proliferation by modulating the expression of genes that are essential for cell cycle progression and cytoskeleton organization. These properties contribute to the protective action of PRL against the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of MeHg.
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Para, Itaituba Campus, IFPA Itaituba, Para 68180000, Brazil. lizcarme@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Liz Carmem
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Silva-Pereira
authors.affiliation: Education Federal Institute, Science and Technologie of Para, Belem Campus, IFPA. Belem, Para 66645240, Brazil. camrocha@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto Machado
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: da Rocha
authors.affiliation: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Para, Itaituba Campus, IFPA Itaituba, Para 68180000, Brazil. lizcarme@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luiz Raimundo Campos da Silva E
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Para, Belem, Para 66075110, Brazil. etcosta@ufpa.br.
authors.forename: Edmar Tavares
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Center of Biological and Health Sciences, University of Para, Belem Campus UEPA, Belem, Para 66050540, Brazil. guimaferraz338@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Araújo
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Para, Belem, Para 66075110, Brazil. thaisbrilhante@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Thais Brilhante
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Pontes
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Western Para, Oriximiná Campus, UFOPA, Santarém, Para 68040470, Brazil. domingos.diniz@ufopa.edu.br.
authors.forename: Domingos Luiz Wanderley Picanço
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology and Genetics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021001 Brazil. lealmf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana Ferreira
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.affiliation: Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Para, Belem, Para 66075110, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline Aquino
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Moreira-Nunes
authors.affiliation: Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Para, Belem, Para 66075110, Brazil. carolfam@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rommel Rodríguez
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Burbano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D011388:Prolactin; C004925:methylmercuric chloride