2024-03-29T00:43:39Zhttps://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace-oai/requestoai:eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp:2115/802302022-11-17T02:08:08Zhdl_2115_20051hdl_2115_144Zinc-pretreatment triggers glutathione and Nrf2-mediated protection against inorganic mercury-induced cytotoxicity and intrinsic apoptosis in PC12 cellsHossain, Kaniz Fatima Binte1000000157025Hosokawa, Toshiyuki1000040153811Saito, Takeshi1000080161727Kurasaki, Masaakimetadata only accessCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 InternationalHemeoxygenese1Cytochrome cERK1AntioxidantOxidative stress519Mercury (Hg) is a hazardous metal, poses environmental problems with severe human health effects; whereas zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient with antioxidant properties. The purpose of this research was to inves-tigate the effect of Zn on inorganic Hg-induced cytotoxicity in the PC12 cells. The cells were treated with HgCl2 (5 mu M) for 48 h with/without 1 h prior ZnCl2-treatment (100 mu M) and deliberated for further analysis. After 48 h of incubation with only Hg2+, the cell showed reduced cell viability, compromised cell membrane, DNA degradation, depleted glutathione level, ROS generation and drastically increased apoptosis. Subsequently, Hg2+-treated cells demonstrated a significant downregulation of akt, mTOR, ERK1, Nrf2, HO1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and upregulation of p53, Bax, cytochrome c and cleaved caspase 3, indicating intrinsic apoptosis induction. However, cells pretreated with Zn2+ before Hg2+-exposure showed a significant improvement in cell viability, cell membrane, DNA damage, glutathione level, ROS amount and apoptotic cells, with a significant upregulation in mTOR, akt, ERK1, Nrf2, HO1, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and downregulation in p53, Bax, cytochrome c and cleaved caspase 3, indicating inhibition of apoptosis. The findings suggested that Zn2+-pretreatment not only improves glutathione content but also induces activation of Nrf2-HO1 pathway, which would tend to suppress Hg-cytotoxicity.Elsevier2021-01-01engjournal articleNAhttp://hdl.handle.net/2115/80230https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.1113200147-6513AA00179452Ecotoxicology and environmental safety207111320