Effects of methyl-, phenyl-, ethylmercury and mercurychlorid on immune cellsof harbor seals (Phoca vitulina)
Antje Kakuschke , Elizabeth Valentine-Thon , Sonja Fonfara , Katharina Kramer , Andreas Prange
DOI:
Received January 08, 2009,Revised August 14, 2009, Accepted , Available online
Volume 21,2009,Pages 1716-1721
- Summary
- References
- Related Articles
Mercury (Hg) is present in the marine environment as a natural metal often enhanced through human activities. Depending on its
chemical form, Hg can cause a wide range of immunotoxic e ects. In this study, the influence of methyl-, ethyl- and phenylmercury as
well as mercurychloride on immune functions was evaluated. Two parameters of cellular immunity, proliferation and mRNA cytokine
expression of interleukin-2, -4, and transforming growth factor , were investigated in harbor seal lymphocytes after in vitro exposure
to Hg compounds. While all Hg compounds had a suppressive e ect on proliferation, di erences between juvenile and adult seals
were found. Lymphocytes from juveniles showed a higher susceptibility to the toxic e ect compared to lymphocytes from adults.
Furthermore, the degree of inhibition of proliferation varied among the four Hg compounds. The organic compounds seem to be
more immunotoxic than the inorganic compound. Finally, for the cytokine expression of methylmercury-incubated lymphocytes, timedependent
changes were observed, but no dose-dependency was found. Marine mammals of the North Sea are burdened with Hg, and
lymphocytes of harbor seals may be functionally impaired by this metal. The present in vitro study provides baseline information for
future studies on the immunotoxic e ects of Hg on cellular immunity of harbor seals.
