Abstract
Mercury belongs to one of the most common heavy metals that have high biological activity in relation to human and animal cells. However, the physiological role of mercury in the metabolism of eukaryotic cells is still unclear. The given review provides current information on certain properties of mercury, the mechanisms of penetration of Hg (II) inside cells, its genotoxic and cytotoxic effects, as well as the role of mercury in the induction of autoimmune processes involving production of autoantibodies to the nucleolar protein fibrillarin.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Swain, E.B., Jakus, P.M., Rice, G., Lupi, F., Maxson, P.A., Pacyna, J.M. and Penn, A., Spiegel, S.J. and Veiga, M.M., Ambio: J. Human Environ., 2007, vol. 36, no. 1, p. 45.
[ATSDR] Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological profile for mercury, Atlanta, Georgia: Centers for Disease Control, 1999.
Ostroumov, S.A., Ecol. Studies, Hazards, Solutions, 2006, no. 11, p. 106.
Ostroumov, S.A., Hushvahtova, S.D., Danilova, V.N., and Ermakov, V.V., Ekol. Okruzhayucshej Sredy i Bezopasnost’ Zhiznedeyatel’nosti, 2007, no. 5, p. 79.
Ostroumov, S.A., Hushvahtova, S.D., Danilova, V.N., and Ermakov, V.V., in Problemy Ekologii i Gidrobiologii (Problems of Ecology and Hydrobiology), 2008, M.: MAKS Press, pp. 31–34.
Ostroumov, S.A., Hushvahtova, S.D., Danilova, V.N., and Ermakov, V.V., Ekol. Khim., 2008, vol. 17, no. 2, p. 84.
Ostroumov, S.A., Hushvahtova, S.D., Danilova, V.N., and Ermakov, V.V., Toksikologicheskij Vestnik, 2009, no. 1, p. 45.
Ball, L.K., Ball, R., Pratt, R.D., Pediatrics, 2001, vol. 107, no. 5b, p. 1147.
Clarkson, T.W., Environ. Health Perspect., 2001, no. 110, p. 11.
Siegler, R.W., Nierenberg, D.W. and Hickey, W.F., Human Pathol., 1999, vol. 30, no. 6, p. 720.
Clarkson, T.W., Vyas, J.B., and Ballatori, N., Amer. J. Ind. Med., 2007, vol. 50, no. 1, p. 757.
Trahtenberg, I.M. and Korshun, M.N., Rtut’ i ee soedineniya v okruzhayucshej srede (Mercury and its compounds in the environment). Kiev: High School, 1990.
Vavilova, N.M., Gomeopaticheskaya farmakodinam i ka (Homeopathic Pharmacodynamics), Rostov on/D.: Gefest, 1992.
Sager, P.R., Aschner, M. and Rodier, P.M., Brain Res., 1984, vol. 314, no. 1, p. 1.
Frustaci, A., Magnavita, N., Chimenti, C., Caldarulo, M., Sabbioni, E., Pietra, R., Cellini, C., Possati, G.F. and Maseri, A., J. Amer. Coll. Cardiol., 1999, vol. 33, no. 6, p. 1578.
[WHO] World Health Organization, Methylmercury, Intern. Program on Chem. Safety, 1990, pp. 1–144.
Venchikov, A.M., Printsipy lechebnogo primeneniya mikroelementov v kachestve biotikov (Principles of Medical Application of Trace Elements as Biotics), Ashhabad: Ylym, 1982.
Torchinskij, Ju.M., Sul’ fgidril’nye i disul’fi dnye gruppy belkov (Sulphydryl and disulfi de groups of proteins), M.: Nauka, 1971.
Valko, M., Morris, H. and Cronin, M.T.D., Current Medic. Chem., no. 12, p. 1161.
Kutsenko, S.A., Osnovy toksikologii (Principles of Toxicology), SPb: Folio, 2004.
Havarinasab, S. and Hultman, P., Autoimmun Rev., 2005, vol. 4, no. 5, p. 270.
InSug, O., Datar, S., Koch, C.J., Shapiro, I.M. and Shenker, B.J., Toxicology, 1997, vol. 124, no. 3, p. 211.
Havarinasab, S., Björn, E., Ekstrand, J. and Hultman, P., Toxicology, 2007, vol. 229, no. 1–2, p. 23.
Hemdan, N.Y., Lehmann, I., Wichmann, G., Lehmann, J., Emmrich, F. and Sack, U., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 2007, vol. 148, no. 2, p. 325.
de Vos, G., Abotaga, S., Liao, Z., Jerschow, E. and Rosenstreich, D., Immunopharmacol. Immunotoxicol., 2007, vol. 29, no. 3–4, p. 537.
Messer, R.L., Lockwood, P.E., Tseng, W.Y., Edwards, K., Shaw, M., Caughman, G.B., Lewis, J.B. and Wataha, J.C., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B, Appl. Biomater., 2005, no. 75, p. 257.
Glinka, N.L., Obshchaya Khimiya (General Chemistry), L.: Khimiya, 1985, 702.
Bucio, L., García, C., Souza, V., Hernández, E., González, C., Betancourt, M. and Gutiérrez-Ruiz, M.C., Mutat. Res., 1999, no. 423, p. 65.
Königsberg, M., López-Díazguerrero, N.E., Bucio, L. and Gutiérrez-Ruiz, M.C., J. Appl. Toxicol., 2001, no. 21, p. 323.
Chen, C., Qu, L., Zhao, J., Liu, S., Deng, G., Li, B., Zhang, P. and Chai, Z., Sci. Total Environ., 2006, no. 366, p. 627.
Carranza-Rosales, P., Said-Fernández, S., Sepúlveda-Saavedra, J., Cruz-Vega, D.E., and Gandolfi, A.J., Toxicology, 2005, vol. 210, no. 2–3, p. 111.
Kaur, P., Aschner, M. and Syversen, T., Neurotoxicology, 2006, no. 27, p. 492.
Verlecar, X.N., Jena, K.B. and Chainy, G.B., Chem. Biol. Interact., 2007, no. 167, p. 219.
Shenker, B.J., Guo, T.L., Insug, O. and Shapiro, I.M., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 1999, no. 157, p. 23.
Shenker, B.J., Pankoski, L., Zekavat, A. and Shapiro, I.M., Antioxid. Redox Signal., 2002, no. 4, p. 379.
Saeko, A., Masuo, K., Masaki, K., Sayaka, S., Minoru, H., and Masao, S., Toxicology, 2003, no. 184, p. 1.
Schurz, F., Sabater-Vilar, M. and Fink-Gremmels, J., Mutagenesis, 2000, no. 15, p. 525.
Ueda, S., Nakamura, H., Masutani, H., Sasada, T., Yonehara, S., Takabayashi, A., Yamaoka, Y., and Yodoi, J., J. Immunol., 1998, no. 161, p. 6689.
Hultberg, B., Andersson, A., and Isaksson, A., Toxicology, 1998, 126 no. 3, p. 203.
Vas, J. and Monestier, M., Immunology of Mercury, Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 2008, no. 1143, p. 240.
Zhang, J., Bárdos, T., Mikecz, K., Finnegan, A., and Glant, T.T., J. Immunol., 2001, vol. 166, no. 8, p. 4981.
Ziemba, S.E., McCabe, M.J. Jr., and Rosenspire, A.J., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 2005, vol. 206, no. 3, p. 334.
Pollard, K.M. and Landberg, G.P., Intern. Immunopharmacol., 2001a, vol. 1, no. 3, p. 581.
Pollard, K.M., Pearson, D.L., Bluthner, M., and Tan, E.M., J. Immunol., 2001, vol. 165, no. 4, p. 2263.
Ballatori, N., Environ. Health Perspect., 2002, no. 110, p. 689.
Zalups, R.K., and Ahmad, S., J. Amer. Soc. Nephrology, 2004, no. 15, p. 2023.
Lawrence, H.L., Hueni, S.E., Putt, D.A., and Zalups, R.K., Toxicol. Sci., 2005, no. 88, p. 630.
Bridges, C.C., Bauch, C., Verrey, F., and Zalups, R.K., J. Amer. Soc. Nephrology, 2004, no. 15, p. 663.
Galaktionova, V.G., Immunologiya (Immunology), M.: Akademiya, 2004.
Jacobson, D.L., Gange, S.J., Rose, N.R., and Graham, N.M., Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 1997, vol. 84, no. 3, p. 223.
Helmick, C.G., Felson, D.T., Lawrence, R.C., Gabriel, S., Hirsch, R., Kwoh, C.K., Liang, M.H., Kremers, H.M., Mayes, M.D., Merkel, P.A., Pillemer, S.R., Reveille, J.D., and Stone, J.H., Arthritis Rheum., 2008, vol. 58, no. 1, p. 15.
Bigazzi, P.E., Mercury. Immunotoxicology of Environmental and Occupational Metals, Eds. Zelikoff, J. and Thomas, P., London: Taylor & Francis, 1998, p. 131.
Rowley, B. and Monestier, M., Mol. Immunol., 2005, vol. 42, no. 7, p. 833.
Pollard, K.M. and Hultman, P., Arthritis Rheum., 2007, vol. 56, no. 5, pp. 1721–1722.
da Costa, G.M., dos Anjos, L.M., Souza, G.S., Gomes, B.D., Saito, C.A., Pinheiro, Mda C., Ventura, D.F., da Silva, Filho M., and Silveira, L.C., Environ Res., 2008, vol. 107, no. 1, p. 98.
Guzzi, G., Fogazzi, G.B., Cantù, M., Minoia, C., Ronchi, A., Pigatto, P.D., and Severi, G., J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol. Oncol., 2008, vol. 27, no. 2, p. 147.
Abedi-Valugerdi, M., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 2009, vol. 155, no. 1, p. 117.
Pollard, K.M., Lee, D.K., Casiano, C.A., Bluthner, M., Johnston, M.M., and Tan, E.M., J. Immunol., 1997, vol. 158, no. 7, p. 3521.
Bigazzi, P.E., Environ. Health Perspect., 1999, vol. 107, no. 5, p. 753.
Havarinasab, S., Pollard, K.M., and Hultman, P., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 2009, vol. 155, no. 3, p. 567.
Pedersen, L.M. and Permin, H., Lancet, 1988, vol. 1, no. 8597, p. 1267.
Arnett, F.C., Fritzler, M.J., Ahn, C., and Holian, A., J. Rheumatol., 2000, vol. 27, no. 2, p. 405.
Silbergeld, E.K., Silva, I.A., and Nyland, J.F., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 2005, vol. 207,(2 suppl.), p. 282.
Takeuchi, K., Turley, S.J., Tan, E.M., and Pollard, K.M., J. Immunol., 1995, vol. 154, no. 2, p. 961.
Hultman, P. and Hansson-Georgiadis, H., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 1999, vol. 154, no. 3, p. 203.
Hansson, M., and Abedi-Valugerdi, M., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 2003, vol. 131, no. 3, p. 405.
Kono, D.H., Park, M.S., Szydlik, A., Haraldsson, K.M., Kuan, J.D., Pearson, D.L., Hultman, P., and Pollard, K.M., J. Immunol., 2001, vol. 167, no. 4, p. 2396.
Reichow, S.L., Hamma, T., Ferré-D’Amaré, A.R., and Varani, G., Nucleic Acids Res., 2007, vol. 35, no. 5, p. 1452.
Muhar’yamova, K.Sh., Dudnik, O.A., Speranskij, A.I. and Zatsepina, O.V., Biologicheskie membrany, 1998, no. 15, p. 657.
Levitskij, S.A., Muhar’yamova, K.Sh., Vejko, V.P., and Zatsepina, O.V., Molekulyarnaya biologiya, 1998, no. 38, p. 1.
Van Eenennaam, H., Vogelzangs, J.H., Bisschops, L., Te Boome, L.C., Seeling, H.P., Renz, M., De Rooij, D.J., Brouwer, R., Pluk, H., Pruijn, G.J., Van Venrooij, W.J., and Van Den Hoogen, F.H., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 2002, vol. 130, no. 3, p. 532.
Yang, J.M., Hildebrandt, B., Ludershmidt, C., and Pollard, K.M., Arthritis Rheum., 2003, vol. 48, no. 1, p. 210.
Ho, K.T. and Reveille, J.D., Arthritis Res. Ther., 2003, vol. 5, no. 2, p. 80.
Rhodes, B. and Vyse, T.J., Autoimmunity, 2007, vol. 40, no. 8, p. 550.
Tormey, V.J., Bunn, C.C., Denton, C.P., and Black, C.M., Rheumatology (Oxford), vol. 40, no. 10, p. 1157.
Chen, M., Rockel, T., Steinweger, G., Hemmerich, P., Risch, J., and von Mikecz, A., Moll. Biol. Cell., 2002, vol. 13, no. 10, p. 3576.
Chen, M., Hemmerich, P., and von Mikecz, A., Immunobiol., 2002, vol. 206, no. 5, p. 474.
Chen, M. and von Mikecz, A., Autoimmun. Rev., 2005, vol. 4, no. 3, p. 117.
Chen, M. and von Mikecz, A., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 2005, no. 1051, p. 382.
Rockel, T.D., Stuhlmann, D., and von Mikecz, A., J. Cell Sci., 2005, no. 118, p. 5231.
Muhar’yamova, K.Sh. and Zatsepina, O.V., Tsitologiya, 2001, no. 43, p. 792.
Abedi-Valugerdi, M. and Moller, G. Intern. Immunol., 2000, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 1425.
Stiller-Winkler, R., Radaszkiewicz, T., and Gleichmann, E., Intern. J. Immunopharmacol., 1998, vol. 10, no. 4, p. 475.
Johansson, U., Hansson-Georgiadis, H. and Hultman, P., Intern. Arch. Allergy Immunol., 1998, vol. 116, no. 4, p. 295.
Hultman, P., Eneström, S., Pollard, K.M., and Tan, E.M., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 1989, vol. 78, no. 3, p. 470.
Robinson, C. J., White, H.J., and Rose, N.R., Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 1997, vol. 83, no. 2, p. 127.
Bagenstose, L.M., Salgame, P., and Monestier, M., Immunol. Res., 1999, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 67.
Ohsawa, M., Cancer Caus. Control., 1997, vol. 8 no. 3, p. 514.
Arnett, F.C., Reveille, J.D., Goldstein, R., Pollard, K.M., Leaird, K., Smith, E.A., Leroy, E.C., and Fritzler, M.J., Arthritis Rheum., 1996, vol. 9, no. 7, p. 1151.
Abedi-Valugerdi, M., Hansson, M., and Möller, G., Scand. J. Immunol., 2001, vol. 54, no. 1–2, p. 190.
Pollard, K.M., Pearson, D.L., Hultman, P., Hildebrandt, B., and Kono, D.H., Environ. Health Perspect., 1999, vol. 107,suppl. 5, p. 729.
Pollard, K.M., Pearson, D.L., Hultman, P., Deane, T.N., Lindh, U., and Kono, D.H., Environ. Health Perspect., 2001, vol. 109, no. 1, p. 27.
Robinson, C.J., Abraham, A.A., and Balazs, T., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 1984, 5 vol. 8, no. 2, p. 300.
Saegusa, J., Yamamoto, S., Iwai, H., and Ueda, K., Ind. Health, 1990, vol. 28, no. 1, p. 21.
Pietsch, P., Vohr, H.W., Degitz, K., and Gleichmann, E., Intern. Arch. Allergy Appl. Immunol., 1989, vol. 90, no. 1, p. 47.
Goldman, M., Druet, P., and Gleichmann, E., Immunol. Today, 1991, vol. 12, no. 7, p. 223.
Hultman, P., Taylor, A., Yang, J.M., and Pollard, K.M., J. Toxicol. Environ. Health A., 2006, vol. 69, no. 6, p. 505.
Markowitz, G.S. and D’Agati, V.D., Curr. Opin. Nephrol. Hypertens., 2009, vol. 18, no. 3, p. 220.
Hultman, P. and Eneström, S., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 1987, vol. 67, no. 2, p. 283.
Hultman, P., Bell, L.J., Eneström, S., and Pollard, K.M., Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 1993, vol. 68, no. 1, p. 9.
Eneström, S. and Hultman, P., Experientia, 1984, vol. 40, no. 11, p. 1234.
Hultman, P. and Eneström, S., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 1992, vol. 113, no. 2, p. 199.
Johansson, U., Hansson-Georgiadis, H., and Hultman, P., Intern. Arch. Allergy Immunol., 1997, vol. 113, no. 4, p. 432.
Leffel, E.K., Wolf, C., Poklis, A., and White, K.L.Jr., Toxicology, 2003, vol. 188, no. 2–3, p. 233.
Tabata, M., Kumar Sarker, A. and Nyarko, E., J. Inorg. Biochem., 2003, vol. 94, no. 1–2, p,. 50.
Krasil’cshikova, M.S. and Zatsepina, O.V., Nauchnopraktich. revmatologiya, 2007, no. 3, p,. 54.
Roman-Franco, A.A., Turiello, M., Albini, B., Ossi, E., Milgrom, F., and Andres, G.A., Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol., 1978, vol. 9 no. 4, p. 464.
Kosuda, L.L., Hannigan, M.O., Bigazzi, P.E., Leif, J.H., and Greiner, D.L., Autoimmunity, 1996, vol. 23, no. 2, p. 77.
Kosuda, L.L., Whalen, B., Greiner, D.L., and Bigazzi, P.E., Toxicology, 1998, vol. 125, no. 2–3, p. 215.
Bagenstose, L.M., Class, R., Salgame, P., and Monestier, M., Clin. Exp. Immunol., 2002, vol. 127, no. 1, p. 12.
Kubicka-Muranyi, M., Kremer, J., Lubben, B., Albers, R., Bloksma, N., Luhrmann, R., and Gleichmann, E., Intern. Arch. Allergy Immunol., 1996, vol. 109, no. 1, p. 11.
Pollard, K.M. and Hultmanm P., Met. Ions Biol. Syst., 1997, no. 34, p. 421.
Lorenz, H.-M., Herrmann, M., Winkler, T., Gaipl, U., and Kalden, J.R., Apoptosis, 2000, no. 5, p. 443.
Hildeman, D., Jorgensen, T., Kappler, J., and Marrack, P., Curr. Opin. Immunol., 2007, vol. 19, no. 5, p. 516.
Tanaka, M. and Miyake, Y., Curr. Med. Chem., 2007, vol. 14, no. 27, p. 2892.
Wallet, M.A., Sen, P., Flores, R.R., Wang, Y., Yi, Z., Huang, Y., Mathews, C.E., Earp, H.S., Matsushima, G., Wang, B., and Tisch, R., J. Exp. Med., 2008, vol. 205, no. 1, p. 219.
Kubicka-Muranyi, M., Griem, P., Lübben, B., Rottmann, N., Lührmann, R., and Gleichmann, E., Intern. Arch. Allergy Immunol., 1995, vol. 108, no. 1, p. 1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Original Russian Text © V.V. Barygina, A.S. Aref’eva, O.V. Zatsepina, 2009, published in Ekologicheskaya Khimiya, 2009, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 189–201.
Victoria Valerievna Barygina, PhD student, Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Scientific areas of focus: cell biology, confocal microscopy, mobile properties of nucleolar proteins in normal and stress conditions.
Alla Sergeevna Aref’eva, junior research scientist in Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences. Scientific areas of focus: cell biology, immunology, autoimmune diseases and processes, toxicology, ecology.
Olga Vladimirovna Zatsepina, Head of laboratory, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences. Scientific areas of focus: structure and functions of nucleolar proteins in normal and pathologic conditions; nucleolus as a sensor of stress exposure in human cells.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barygina, V.V., Aref’eva, A.S. & Zatsepina, O.V. The role of mercury in the processes of vital activity of the human and mammalian organisms. Russ J Gen Chem 80, 2694–2703 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1070363210130037
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1070363210130037