Immunotoxic Effect of Low-Dose Methylmercury Is Negligible in Mouse Models of Ovalbumin or Mite-Induced Th2 Allergy
Immunotoxic Effect of Low-Dose Methylmercury Is Negligible in Mouse Models of Ovalbumin or Mite-Induced Th2 Allergy
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DOI：
10.1248/bpb.b16-00306
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发表时间：
2016-08-01
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Kiyono, Masako
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Nakamura, Ryosuke;Takanezawa, Yasukazu;Kiyono, Masako
甲基汞（MeHg）是毒性最大的环境污染物之一，对全世界的健康构成严重危害。尽管对甲基汞的不利影响，包括神经毒性进行了研究，但其对免疫功能，特别是免疫反应的影响仍不清楚。本研究探讨了低剂量甲基汞对小鼠免疫反应的影响。用卵清蛋白（OVA）口服免疫小鼠或皮下注射螨提取物以诱导T辅助细胞2（Th 2）过敏反应。然后将他们暴露于甲基汞（0、0.02、1.0或5.0mg.kg（-1）.d（-1））。与未免疫小鼠的水平相比，用口服OVA或皮下螨提取物免疫增加了OVA特异性免疫球蛋白（IG）E（OVA-IgE）、OVA-IgG 1、白细胞介素（IL）-4和IL-13的血清水平，以及总IgE、总IgG和IL-13的血清水平。然而，未检测到干扰素（IFN）-γ。相比之下，随后用甲基汞处理的Th 2变态反应模型小鼠的OVA-IgE、OVA-IgG 1、IL-4和IL-13或总IgE、总IgG和IL-13的血清水平并不高于未处理的小鼠。这些结果表明，甲基汞暴露对抗原免疫小鼠的Th 2免疫应答没有不利影响。
Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic environmental pollutants and presents a serious hazard to health worldwide. Although the adverse effects of MeHg, including neurotoxicity, have been studied, its effects on immune function, in particular the immune response, remain unclear. This study examined the effects of low-dose MeHg on immune responses in mice. Mice were orally immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) or subcutaneously injected with mite extract to induce a T-helper 2 (Th2) allergic response. They were then exposed to MeHg (0, 0.02, 1.0, or 5.0mg.kg(-1).d(-1)). Immunization with oral OVA or subcutaneous mite extract increased serum levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E (OVA-IgE), OVA-IgGl, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-13, and total IgE, total IgG, and IL-13 when compared with levels in non-immunized mice. However, no interferon (IFN)-gamma was detected. By contrast, serum levels of OVA-IgE, OVA-IgG1, IL-4, and IL-13, or total IgE, total IgG, and IL-13 in Th2 allergy model mice subsequently treated with MeHg were no higher than those in MeHg-untreated mice. These results suggest that MeHg exposure has no adverse effects on Th2 immune responses in antigen-immunized mice.