title: Mercury-induced dysfunctions in multiple organelles leading to cell death.
abstract: Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal that can exert multiple adverse effects, ultimately leading to cell death. Before causing death, the Hg enters the cells and affects diverse intracellular targets. The present study aimed to investigate the structure and function of several organelles or cellular structures, including mitochondria, acidic compartments and vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum elements and microfilaments, following Hg exposure of a human hepatic cell line (HuH-7 cells) to examine the sequence and coordination of the events associated with Hg-induced cell death. Hg exposure led to a progressive decrease in cell viability and induced alterations in cell morphology including cytoplasmic shrinkage and nuclear fragmentation. Hg treatment (10 μM for 12 h) affected multiple intracellular targets simultaneously. These included loss of mitochondrial functionality, pronounced cytoplasmic acidification and dysfunctions in the cytoskeleton and endoplasmic reticulum. This overall Hg-induced toxicity in the human hepatocyte cell line (HuH-7 cells) led to cell death through both apoptosis and autophagy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: cristianevergilio@uenf.br.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Vergilio
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: carvalho.cev@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C E V
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: ejtm1202@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E J T
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Melo
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D015388:Organelles / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008627:Mercuric Chloride
keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cell death; Hepatocytes; Hg; HuH-7 cells