Methylmercury-Induced Dysfunction of Blood Vessel Cells: Implications in Cardiovascular Diseases

摘要

Methylmercury (MeHg) has long been known as a neurotoxic agent. Recent epidemiological research has also linked MeHg exposure to cardiovascular disease. However, the precise mechanisms linking MeHg toxicity to blood vessels at the cellular levels are lacking. Endothelial cells exist as a single monolayer of cells that form the inner lining of blood vessels and are crucial to the structure and function of blood vessels. It was proposed that these cells link MeHg cytotoxicity to cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was therefore to observe the effects of MeHg on endothelial cells. This study revealed that increasing concentrations of MeHg had significant effects on cytotoxicity and loss of cell viability in endothelial cells. This is the first study offering a connection between the adverse effects of MeHg at the cellular level and the cardiovascular diseases due to MeHg exposure, confirming empirical evidence at this level.