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EFFECT OF METHYL MERCURY CHLORIDE EXPOSURE ON PC12 CELL INTEGRIN EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION.
Citation:
Royland, J E. EFFECT OF METHYL MERCURY CHLORIDE EXPOSURE ON PC12 CELL INTEGRIN EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION. Presented at Society of Toxicology, San Francisco, CA, March 25-29, 2001.
Description:
Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane cell adhesion proteins composed of a and b protein subunits. They are important during brain development in a number of critical functions, including cell migration (Georges-Labouesse, et al., 1998), axonal elongation (Murase and Hayashi, 1998) and myelination (Malek-Hedayat and Rome, 1994). As such they have the potential to act as markers of effect for developmental neurotoxicants. Using the Nerve Growth Factor differentiated PC12 cell line as a model for neuronal development, we are examining the effect on integrin levels and function of the known developmental neurotoxicant, methyl mercury chloride (MeHg). Integrin a1 and b1 subunit protein expression is measured by Western Blot analysis in undifferentiated, differentiating and differentiated PC12 cells at intervals (0 - 48 hr) after exposure to MeHg (0-300 nM). Protein levels are correlated with neurite outgrowth and cell adhesion functional endpoints and possible developmental consequences are discussed. This abstract does not necessarily reflect US EPA policy .