Oral methylmercury intoxication aggravates cardiovascular risk factors and accelerates atherosclerosis lesion developmen
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Toxicol Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43188-020-00066-x
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Oral methylmercury intoxication aggravates cardiovascular risk factors and accelerates atherosclerosis lesion development in ApoE knockout and C57BL/6 mice Janayne L. Silva1 · Paola C. L. Leocádio2 · Jonas M. Reis1 · Gianne P. Campos3 · Luciano S. A. Capettini3 · Giselle Foureaux4 · Anderson J. Ferreira4 · Cláudia C. Windmöller5 · Flávia A. Santos6 · Reinaldo B. Oriá6 · Maria E. Crespo‑López7 · Jacqueline I. Alvarez‑Leite1 Received: 12 July 2020 / Revised: 9 September 2020 / Accepted: 23 September 2020 © Korean Society of Toxicology 2020
Abstract Methylmercury (MeHg) intoxication is associated with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and atherosclerosis by mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. We investigated the effects of MeHg intoxication in atherosclerosis-prone (ApoE-KO) and resistant C57BL/6 mice. Mice were submitted to carotid stenosis surgery (to induce atherosclerosis faster) and received water or MeHg solution (20 mg/L) for 15 days. Tail plethysmography was performed before and after MeHg exposure. Food and MeHg solution intakes were monitored weekly. On the 15th day, mice were submitted to intravital fluorescence microscopy of mesenteric vasculature to observe in vivo leukocyte rolling and adhesion. Results showed that despite the high hair and liver Hg concentrations in the MeHg group, food and water (or MeHg solution) consumption and liver function marker levels were similar to those in controls. MeHg exposure increased total cholesterol, the atherogenic (non-HDL) fraction and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. MeHg exposure also induced inflammation, as seen by the increased rolling and adhered leukocytes in the mesenteric vasculature. Atherosclerosis lesions were more extensive in the aorta and carotid sites of MeHg-ApoE knockout mice. Surprisingly, MeHg exposure also induced atherosclerosis lesions in C57BL/6 mice, which are resistant to atherosclerosis formation. We concluded that MeHg intoxication might represent a risk for cardiovascular diseases since it accelerates atherogenesis by exacerbating several independent risk factors. Keywords Methylmercury · Atherosclerosis · Dyslipidemia · Apolipoprotein E · Inflammation
Introduction
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s43188-020-00066-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Jacqueline I. Alvarez‑Leite [email protected] 1
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Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia ICB/UFMG Caixa Postal 486, Belo Horizonte, MG CEP 30161‑970, Brazil Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
According to the World Health Organization, mercury is presently among the top ten chemicals of major public health concern [1]. Many populations around the worl
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