In vitro and in vivo effects of mercuric chloride on thymic endocrine activity, NK and NKT cell cytotoxicity, cytokine profiles (IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-6): Role of the nitric oxide-l-arginine pathway

Nephroprotective potential of selenium and taurine against mercuric chloride induced nephropathy in rats

“…These results are in accordance with El-Boshy and Taha 48 who stated that mercuric chloride treated group shows significant decrease in serum NO level when compared with the control. Berkels et al 49 and Santarelli et al 50 revealed that plasma NO concentration is significantly lower in mice treated with the higher dose of mercury than in the control group. Huang et al 51 observed that, NO levels in the brain are significantly decreased in all HgCl 2 -treated groups.…”

“…Kempuraj et al 76 found that HgCl 2 stimulates IL-6 release from human umbilical cord blood derived cultured mast cells compared to untreated cells. It has been found that high doses of Hg 2+ induce inflammatory status with consequent Th1/Th2 imbalance 50 and eventual development of neoplasm 77 or autoimmune disease. 78 The mechanisms by which Hg 2+ affects the cell-mediated immune response are still unclear.…”

Effects of β-glucan on some environmental toxins: An overview

“…Our laboratory focused on the ability of yeast-derived insoluble glucan #300 to decrease the immunosuppressive actions of various immunotoxins including mercury and perluorooctanic acid. The presence of mercury salts in the environment represents a serious problem, resulting in accumulation of mercury in fish 24 and despite the fact that organic ethylmercury present in limited amounts in vaccines was apparently officially cleared from causing autism 25 , it can still have strong immunosuppressive properties 26 including lowering of cellular and humoral reactions such as phagocytosis, IL-6 and IL-12 secretion and NK cell activity. Similarly, perfluorooctanesulfonates were found to decrease humoral immunity 27 , IL-6 and IL-10 secretion 28 and natural killer cell activity 29 .…”

L-arginine Reduces Mercury Accumulation in Thymus of Mercury-exposed Mice: Role of Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity and Metallothioneins

“…Mercury ions (Hg 2+ ) can induce a variety of immunopathological disorders 2) . Impaired function of thymus, one of the target organs, is found in mercury intoxication [3][4][5] .…”

“…Thymic epithelial cells secrete thymulin, a zinc-dependent nonapeptide hormone with a large role in immune regulation 7) , whose production declines during chronic inflammation and ageing 8,9) . Hg 2+ impairs active thymulin production both in vitro and in vivo 10,11) , possibly due to inhibition of protein synthesis 12) and to a mechanism involving direct substitution of zinc with Hg 2+ in thymulin molecules, resulting in reduced hormone activity 5,13,14) .…”