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Ke T, Rajoo A, Tinkov AA, Skalny AV, Tizabi Y, Rocha JBT, Bowman AB, Aschner M. Intestinal microbiota protects against methylmercury-induced neurotoxicity. Biometals 2024; 37:561-576. [PMID: 37973679 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-023-00554-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) remains a global public health issue because of its frequent presence in human food sources obtained from the water. The excretion of MeHg in humans occurs slowly with a biological half-time of 32-47 days. Short-term MeHg exposure may cause long-lasting neurotoxicity. The excretion through feces is a major route in the demethylation of MeHg. Accumulating evidence suggests that the intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the demethylation of MeHg, thereby protecting the host from neurotoxic effects. Here, we discuss recent developments on the role of intestinal microbiota in MeHg metabolism, based on in vitro cell culture experiments, experimental animal studies and human investigations. Demethylation by intestinal bacteria is the rate-limiting step in MeHg metabolism and elimination. The identity of bacteria strains responsible for this biotransformation is currently unknown; however, the non-homogenous distribution of intestinal microbiota may lead to different demethylation rates in the intestinal tract. The maintenance of intestinal barrier function by intestinal microbiota may afford protection against MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, which warrant future investigations. We also discuss studies investigating the effects of MeHg exposure on the population structural stability of intestinal microbiota in several host species. Although this is an emerging area in metal toxicity, current research suggests that a change in certain phyla in the intestinal microbiota may indicate MeHg overexposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - André Rajoo
- Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia, 119991
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia, 150003
- Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia, 460000
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia, 119991
- Department of Medical Elementology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia, 117198
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, 20059, USA
| | - Joao B T Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, 97105900, RS, Brazil
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2051, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue Forchheimer Building, Room 209, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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Doroudian M, Pourzadi N, Gautam A, Gailer J. Translational toxicology of metal(loid) species: linking their bioinorganic chemistry in the bloodstream to organ damage onset. Biometals 2024; 37:739-753. [PMID: 37815752 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-023-00537-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
The quantification of arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead in the human bloodstream is routinely used today to assess exposure to these toxic metal(loid)s, but the interpretation of the obtained data in terms of their cumulative health relevance remains problematic. Seemingly unrelated to this, epidemiological studies strongly suggest that the simultaneous chronic exposure to these environmental pollutants is associated with the etiology of autism, type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel disease and other diseases. This from a public health point of view undesirable situation urgently requires research initiatives to establish functional connections between human exposure to multiple toxic metal(loid) species and adverse health effects. One way to establish causal exposure-response relationships is a molecular toxicology approach, which requires one to unravel the biomolecular mechanisms that unfold after individual toxic metal(loid)s enter the bloodstream/organ nexus as these interactions ultimately determine which metabolites impinge on target organs and thus provide mechanistic links to diseases of unknown etiology. In an attempt to underscore the importance of the toxicological chemistry of metal(loid)s in the bloodstream, this review summarizes recent progress into relevant bioinorganic processes that are implicated in the etiology of adverse organ-based health effects and possibly diseases. A better understanding of these bioinorganic processes will not only help to improve the regulatory framework to better protect humans from the adverse effects of toxic metal(loid) species, but also represents an important starting point for the development of treatments to ameliorate pollution-induced adverse health effects on human populations, including pregnant women, the fetus and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Doroudian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Negar Pourzadi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Astha Gautam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jürgen Gailer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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Barbosa NV, Aschner M, Tinkov AA, Farina M, da Rocha JBT. Should ebselen be considered for the treatment of mercury intoxication? A minireview. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024; 34:1-12. [PMID: 37731353 PMCID: PMC10841883 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2258958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and can be found in inorganic (Hg0, Hg+ and Hg2+) and organic forms (chiefly CH3Hg+ or MeHg+). The main route of human, mammals and bird exposure occurs via predatory fish ingestion. Occupational exposure to Hg0 (and Hg2+) can also occur; furthermore, in gold mining areas the exposure to inorganic Hg can also be high. The toxicity of electrophilic forms of Hg (E+Hg) is mediated by disruption of thiol (-SH)- or selenol (-SeH)-containing proteins. The therapeutic approaches to treat methylmercury (MeHg+), Hg0 and Hg2+ are limited. Here we discuss the potential use of ebselen as a potential therapeutic agent to lower the body burden of Hg in man. Ebselen is a safe drug for humans and has been tested in clinical trials (for instance, brain ischemia, noise-induce hearing loss, diabetes complications, bipolar disorders) at doses varying from 400 to 3600 mg per day. Two clinical trials with ebselen in moderate and severe COVID are also approved. Ebselen can be metabolized to an intermediate with -SeH (selenol) functional group, which has a greater affinity to electrophilic Hg (E+Hg) forms than the available thiol-containing therapeutic agents. Accordingly, as observed in vitro and rodent models in vivo, Ebselen exhibited protective effects against MeHg+, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent to treat MeHg+ overexposure. The combined use of ebselen with thiol-containing molecules (e.g. N-acetylcysteine and enaramide)) is also commented, because they can have synergistic protective effects against MeHg+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilda V. Barbosa
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Alexey A. Tinkov
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Marcelo Farina
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - João Batista Teixeira da Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Weng M, Dolgova NV, Vogt LI, Qureshi M, Sokaras D, Kroll T, Saitō H, O'Donoghue JL, Watson GE, Myers GJ, Sekikawa T, Pickering IJ, George GN. Synchrotron speciation of umbilical cord mercury and selenium after environmental exposure in Niigata. Neurotoxicology 2024; 100:117-123. [PMID: 38128735 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The insidious and deadly nature of mercury's organometallic compounds is informed by two large scale poisonings due to industrial mercury pollution that occurred decades ago in Minamata and Niigata, Japan. The present study examined chemical speciation for both mercury and selenium in a historic umbilical cord sample from a child born to a mother who lived near the Agano River in Niigata. The mother had experienced mercury exposure leading to more than 50 ppm mercury measured in her hair and was symptomatic 9 years prior to the birth. We sought to determine the mercury and selenium speciation in the child's cord using Hg Lα1 and Se Kα1 high-energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the chemical speciation of mercury was found to be predominantly organometallic and coordinated to a thiolate. The selenium was found to be primarily in an organic form and at levels higher than those of mercury, with no evidence of mercury-selenium chemical species. Our results are consistent with mercury exposure at Niigata being due to exposure to organometallic mercury species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Weng
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Natalia V Dolgova
- Calibr - California Institute for Biomedical Research, Scripps Research, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Linda I Vogt
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Muhammad Qureshi
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Dimosthenis Sokaras
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Thomas Kroll
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | | | - John L O'Donoghue
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Gene E Watson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; Eastman Institute for Oral Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Gary J Myers
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Tomoko Sekikawa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nuttari Clinic, 6-4-12 Nuttarihigasi, Chuo-ku, Niigata 950-0075, Japan
| | - Ingrid J Pickering
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Graham N George
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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5
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James AK, Popescu BF, Weng M, Myers GJ, O'Donoghue JL, Watson GE, Pickering IJ, George GN. Synchrotron X-ray methods in the study of mercury neurotoxicology. Neurotoxicology 2023; 99:129-138. [PMID: 37802190 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
In situ methods are valuable in all fields of research. In toxicology, the importance of dose is well known, elevating the need for in situ techniques to measure levels of toxicants and their byproducts in precise anatomically identifiable locations. More recently, additional emphasis has been placed on the value of techniques which can detect chemical form or speciation, which is equally important in the toxicology of a chemical compound. Many important but conventional methods risk losing valuable information due to extractions, digestions, or the general reliance on mobile phases. Few analytical tools possess the power and diversity of X-ray methods as in-situ methods. Here we present an overview, intended for toxicologists and pathologists, of a variety of synchrotron X-ray methods for determining in situ chemical form and distribution of heavier elements. The versatility and range of these synchrotron techniques, which are both established and emerging, is demonstrated in the context of the study of neurotoxicology of mercury, a global pollutant with the ability to harm both human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley K James
- Cameco MS Neuroscience Research Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon City Hospital, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0M7, Canada; Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada.
| | - Bogdan F Popescu
- Cameco MS Neuroscience Research Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon City Hospital, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0M7, Canada
| | - Monica Weng
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Gary J Myers
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - John L O'Donoghue
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Gene E Watson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Eastman Institute for Oral Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Ingrid J Pickering
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - Graham N George
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada; Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, Canada.
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6
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Doroudian M, Thibault ME, Gailer J. N-Acetylcysteine Displaces Glutathionyl-Moieties from Hg 2+ and MeHg + to Form More Hydrophobic Complexes at Near-Physiological Conditions. Molecules 2023; 28:6762. [PMID: 37836605 PMCID: PMC10574133 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28196762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The anthropogenic release of Hg is associated with an increased human exposure risk. Since Hg2+ and MeHg+ have a high affinity for thiols, their interaction with L-glutathione (GSH) within mammalian cells is fundamentally involved in their toxicological chemistry and excretion. To gain insight into the interaction of these mercurials with multiple small molecular weight thiols, we have investigated their competitive interactions with GSH and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) at near-physiological conditions, using a liquid chromatographic approach. This approach involved the injection of each mercurial onto a reversed-phase (RP)-HPLC column (37 °C) using a PBS buffer mobile phase containing 5.0 mM GSH to simulate cytosolic conditions with Hg being detected in the column effluent by an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). When the 5.0 mM GSH mobile phase was amended with up to 10 mM NAC, gradually increasing retention times of both mercurials were observed. To explain this behavior, the experiment with 5.0 mM NAC and 5.0 mM GSH was replicated using 50 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4), and the Hg-containing fractions were analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The results revealed the presence of Hg(GS)(NAC) and Hg(NAC)2 for Hg2+ and MeHg(GS) and MeHg(NAC) for MeHg+, which suggests that the coordination/displacement of GS-moieties from each mercurial by the more hydrophobic NAC can explain their retention behavior. Since the biotransformations of both mercurials were observed at near-physiological conditions, they are of toxicological relevance as they provide a biomolecular explanation for some results that were obtained when animals were administered with each mercurial and NAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jürgen Gailer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; (M.D.); (M.E.T.)
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Smieska L, Guerinot ML, Olson Hoal K, Reid M, Vatamaniuk O. Synchrotron science for sustainability: life cycle of metals in the environment. Metallomics 2023; 15:mfad041. [PMID: 37370221 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The movement of metals through the environment links together a wide range of scientific fields: from earth sciences and geology as weathering releases minerals; to environmental sciences as metals are mobilized and transformed, cycling through soil and water; to biology as living things take up metals from their surroundings. Studies of these fundamental processes all require quantitative analysis of metal concentrations, locations, and chemical states. Synchrotron X-ray tools can address these requirements with high sensitivity, high spatial resolution, and minimal sample preparation. This perspective describes the state of fundamental scientific questions in the lifecycle of metals, from rocks to ecosystems, from soils to plants, and from environment to animals. Key X-ray capabilities and facility infrastructure for future synchrotron-based analytical resources serving these areas are summarized, and potential opportunities for future experiments are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa Smieska
- Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Mary Lou Guerinot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Karin Olson Hoal
- Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Matthew Reid
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Olena Vatamaniuk
- School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
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Gautam A, Gailer J. More Effective Mobilization of Hg 2+ from Human Serum Albumin Compared to Cd 2+ by L-Cysteine at Near-Physiological Conditions. TOXICS 2023; 11:599. [PMID: 37505565 PMCID: PMC10383730 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11070599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Although chronic low-level exposure to Hg2+ and Cd2+ causes human nephrotoxicity, the bioinorganic processes that deliver them to their target organs are poorly understood. Since the plasma protein human serum albumin (HSA) has distinct binding sites for these metal ions, we wanted to gain insight into these translocation processes and have employed size-exclusion chromatography coupled on-line to an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer using phosphate-buffered saline mobile phases. When HSA 'labeled' with Hg2+ and Cd2+ (1:0.1:0.1) using 300 μM of L-methionine was analyzed, the co-elution of a single C, S, Cd, and Hg peak was observed, which implied the intact bis-metalated HSA complex. Since human plasma contains small molecular weight thiols and sulfur-containing metabolites, we analyzed the bis-metalated HSA complex with mobile phases containing 50-200 µM of L-cysteine (Cys), D,L-homocysteine (hCys), or glutathione (GSH), which provided insight into the comparative mobilization of each metal from their respective binding sites on HSA. Interestingly, 50 µM Cys, hCys, or GSH mobilized Hg2+ from its HSA binding site but only partially mobilized Cd2+ from its binding site. Since these findings were obtained at conditions simulating near-physiological conditions of plasma, they provide a feasible explanation for the higher 'mobility' of Hg2+ and its concomitant interaction with mammalian target organs compared to Cd2+. Furthermore, 50 µM Cys resulted in the co-elution of similar-sized Hg and Cd species, which provides a biomolecular explanation for the nephrotoxicity of Hg2+ and Cd2+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astha Gautam
- Department of Chemistry, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jürgen Gailer
- Department of Chemistry, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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Ye M, Xiang Y, Gong J, Wang X, Mao Z, Liu Z. Monitoring Hg 2+ and MeHg + poisoning in living body with an activatable near-infrared II fluorescence probe. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130612. [PMID: 37056002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Noninvasively imaging mercury poisoning in living organisms is critical to understanding its toxicity and treatments. Especially, simultaneous fluorescence imaging of Hg2+ and MeHg+in vivo is helpful to disclose the mysteries of mercury poisoning. The key limitation for mercury imaging in vivo is the low imaging signal-to-background ratio (SBR) and limited imaging depth, which may result in unreliable detection results. Here, we designed and prepared a near-infrared II (NIR II) emissive probe, NIR-Rh-MS, leveraging the "spirolactam ring-open" tactic of xanthene dyes for in situ visualization of mercury toxicity in mice. The probe produces a marked fluorescence signal at 1015 nm and displays good linear responses to Hg2+ and MeHg+ with excellent sensitivity, respectively. The penetration experiments elucidate that the activated NIR-II fluorescence signal of the probe penetrates to a depth of up to 7 mm in simulated tissues. Impressively, the probe can monitor the toxicity of Hg2+ in mouse livers and the accumulation of MeHg+ in mouse brains via intravital NIR-II imaging for the first time. Thus, we believe that detecting Hg2+ and MeHg+ in different organs with a single NIR-II fluorescence probe in mice would assuredly advance the toxicologic study of mercury poisoning in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miantai Ye
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yunhui Xiang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jiankang Gong
- College of Health Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- College of Health Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Zhiqiang Mao
- College of Health Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Zhihong Liu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; College of Health Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
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