The role of cholesterol hydroxylase against methylmercury-induced neurotoxic effects

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K16133
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Risk sciences of radiation and chemicals
• Research Institution: National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Principal Investigator: Iwai-Shimada Miyuki 国立研究開発法人国立環境研究所, 環境リスク・健康研究センター, 研究員 (80723957)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: メチル水銀 / コレステロール

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Methylmercury is an environmental contaminant with a selective toxicity for the central nervous system. However, the mechanism of toxicity selective to the nervous system is not well understood. The mRNA expression of CH25H was specifically increased in the brain by administration of methylmercury. On the double staining of immunostaining and in situ hybridaztion, CH25H mRNA expression was observed in GFAP positive cell on the mouse brain. Moreover, we found that the knockdown of CH25H increased the toxicity of methylmercury in C17.2 cells,　BV2 cells and C8-D1A cells. These results are suggesting that the CH25H plays a key role in the defense mechanism against toxicity of methylmercury.

Free Research Field

衛生薬学