Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in polychlorinated biphenyl mediated neurotoxicity.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread persistent environmental pollutants. Chronic human and animal exposure to PCBs results in various harmful effects including neurotoxicity. This study investigates the effects of the PCB mixture Aroclor 1254 (A1254) and two PCB congeners (coplanar, non-ortho PCB 126, and non coplanar PCB 99) on the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and the subsequent toxic effects using a human SHS5-SY neuroblastoma cell line. NMDAR was measured using a radiolabeled phencyclidine receptor ligand [(3)H]-MK801, apoptosis was quantified using fluorogenic substrates specific for caspase-3 (DEVD-AFC) and cell death using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. After treatment, a positive dose-response relationship of increasing NMDARS, increasing caspase-3 activity and cell death was observed in all PCB compounds. The non-coplanar PCB compounds were found to be significantly more toxic than the coplanar congener and the PCB mixture A1254. PCB-mediated cell death was attenuated with 10microM NMDAR antagonists: 1-amino-3,5-dimethyladamantane hydrochloride (memantine) and (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-debenzocyclhepten-5,10-imine maleate ((+)-MK-801), thus demonstrating the importance of NMDAR in PCB neurotoxicity. Intracellular calcium [Ca(2+)](i) chelator BAPTA-AM (1microM) partially attenuated the neurotoxic effect of the PCBs suggesting a role of calcium homeostasis disruption in the neurotoxicity of PCBs. These results suggest that the neurotoxicity of PCBs can be mediated through activation of NMDARs.

Methylmercury increases N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on human SH-SY 5Y neuroblastoma cells leading to neurotoxicity.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a known neurotoxin, yet the mechanism for low dose chronic toxicity is still not clear. While N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) were found to be induced after exposure to MeHg in a mink model, its role on neurotoxicity is not known. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression and the functional roles of NMDARs on the induction of cell death in the human SH-SY 5Y neuroblastoma cell line after exposure to MeHg. NMDARs were measured using a radiolabeled phencyclidine receptor ligand [(3)H] (MK801) and cell death was quantified using fluorogenic substrates specific for caspase-3 (DEVD-AFC) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. We found a significant increase in NMDARs followed by increased caspase-3 activity after 4 h of exposure to MeHg (0.25-1 microM). Necrotic cell death was found after 4 and 24 h of exposure to MeHg (0.25-5 microM). The NMDAR antagonists dizocilpine ((+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cyclohepten-5,10-iminemaleate [(+)-MK801]) and Memantine (1-amino-3,5-dimethyl-adamantane) (10 microM) completely attenuated MeHg-mediated cell death by blocking NMDARs, thus demonstrating the importance of NMDARs in mercury neurotoxicity. Intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM (1 microM) partially attenuated the neurotoxicity effect of 1 microM MeHg. These results suggest that MeHg toxicity can be mediated through the binding and increase of NMDARs.