[en] Background
Mercury is known to bioaccumulate and to magnify in marine mammals, which is a cause of great concern in terms of their general health. In particular, the immune system is known to be susceptible to long-term mercury exposure. The aims of the present study were (1) to determine the mercury level in the blood of free-ranging harbour seals from the North Sea and (2) to examine the link between methylmercury in vitro exposure and immune functions using seal and human mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (T-lymphocytes).
Methods
Total mercury was analysed in the blood of 22 harbour seals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from seals (n = 11) and from humans (n = 9). Stimulated lymphocytes of both species were exposed to functional tests (proliferation, metabolic activity, radioactive precursor incorporation) under increasing doses of methylmercury (0.1 to 10 µM). The expression of cytokines (IL-2; IL-4 and TGF-beta was investigated in seal lymphocytes by RT-PCR and by real time quantitative PCR (n = 5) at methylmercury concentrations of 0.2 and 1 µM. Finally, proteomics analysis was attempted on human lymphocytes (cytoplasmic fraction) in order to identify biochemical pathways of toxicity at concentration of 1 µM (n = 3).
Results
The results showed that the number of seal lymphocytes, viability, metabolic activity, DNA and RNA synthesis were reduced in vitro, suggesting deleterious effects of methylmercury concentrations naturally encountered in free-ranging seals. Similar results were found for human lymphocytes. Functional tests showed that a 1 µM concentration was the critical concentration above which lymphocyte activity, proliferation and survival were compromised. The expression of IL-2 and TGF-beta mRNA was weaker in exposed seal lymphocytes compared to control cells (0.2 and 1 µM). Proteomics showed some variation in the protein expression profile (e.g. vimentin).
Research Center/Unit :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
Das, Krishna ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Siebert, Ursula; University of Kiel > Research and Technology Center Westcoast
Gillet, Audrey; Université de Liège - ULiège - ULG > Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement > Océanologie > 2006
Dupont, Aurélie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Di-Poï, Carole; Université de Liège - ULiège - ULG > Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement > Océanologie > 2004
Fonfara, Sonja; GKSS Research Centre > Institute for Coastal Research
Mazzucchelli, Gabriel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre interfac. d'analyse des résidus en traces (CART)
De Pauw, Edwin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie physique, spectrométrie de masse
De Pauw-Gillet, Marie-Claire ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Histologie - Cytologie - Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques
Language :
English
Title :
Mercury immune toxicity in harbour seals: Links to in vitro toxicity
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