L-Ascorbic Acid 2-Phosphate Attenuates Methylmercury-Induced Apoptosis by Inhibiting Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation and DNA Damage in Human SH-SY5Y Cells
Abstract:Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxin that causes severe neuronal oxidative damage. As vitamin C is an antioxidant well-known to protect neurons from oxidative damage, our goal was to elucidate its protective mechanism against MeHg-induced oxidative stress in human neuroblastomas (SHSY5Y). We treated cells with MeHg, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA2P), or both, and used MTT, flow cytometry, and Western blot analyses to assess cell damage. We found that MeHg significantly decreased the survival rate of SH-SY5Y cells … Show more
Preclinical and clinical studies worldwide have shown an association between methylmercury (MeHg) poisoning and the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmias, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. One of the hypotheses raised for MeHg-induced toxicity is associated with redox imbalance, which promotes oxidative stress by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reducing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). In addition, oxidative stress and organomercurial compounds are capable of activating MMPs. MMP-2 and MMP-9 participate in pathophysiological processes associated with cardiovascular remodeling. A positive correlation between mercury exposure and increased plasma activity of MMP-2 and circulating MMP-9 has been demonstrated, suggesting a possible mechanism that could increase susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases.
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