<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant that causes a wide range of adverse health effects in humans. Three forms of mercury exist: elemental, inorganic and organic. Each of them has its own profile of toxicity. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of thimerosal, a topical antiseptic and preservative in vaccines routinely given to children, methyl mercury, and mercuric chloride on cellular viability measured by MTT in Jurkat T cells, a human T leukemia cell line. The treatment of Jurkat T cells with thimerosal caused a significant decrease in cellular viability at 1 μM (25%, <italic>p&lt;</italic>0.05; IC50: 10 μM). Methyl mercury exhibited a significant decrease in cellular viability at 50 μM (33%, <italic>p&lt;</italic>0.01; IC50: 65 μM). Mercuric chloride (HgCl<sub>2</sub>) did not show any significant change in cellular survival. Our findings showed that contrary to thimerosal and methyl mercury, mercuric chloride did not modify Jurkat T cell viability.</p></abstract>

Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant that causes a wide range of adverse health effects in humans. Three forms of mercury exist: elemental, inorganic and organic. Each of them has its own profile of toxicity. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of thimerosal, a topical antiseptic and preservative in vaccines routinely given to children, methyl mercury, and mercuric chloride on cellular viability measured by MTT in Jurkat T cells, a human T leukemia cell line. The treatment of Jurkat T cells with thimerosal caused a significant decrease in cellular viability at 1 μM (25%, p<0.05; IC50: 10 μM). Methyl mercury exhibited a significant decrease in cellular viability at 50 μM (33%, p<0.01; IC50: 65 μM). Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) did not show any significant change in cellular survival. Our findings showed that contrary to thimerosal and methyl mercury, mercuric chloride did not modify Jurkat T cell viability.

Effect of thimerosal, methylmercury, and mercuric chloride in Jurkat T Cell Line

Italian Association for Metals and Biocompatibility Research – A.I.R.M.E.B. Via A. Banfi, 4, 20122 Milan, Italy TEL. +39-02-782 561

Department of Technology for Health, Dermatological Clinic, IRCCS Galeazzi Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Fondazione Ca’ Granda IRCCS, University ofMilan, Milan, Italy

Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Interdisciplinary Toxicology

{"article-title":"Effect of thimerosal, methylmercury, and mercuric chloride in Jurkat T Cell Line"}

Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant that causes a wide range of adverse health effects in humans. Three forms of mercury exist: elemental, inorganic...

Effect of thimerosal, methylmercury, and mercuric chloride in Jurkat T Cell Line

Online veröffentlicht: 16. Jan. 2013

Seitenbereich: 159 - 161

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10102-012-0026-1

This content is open access.