Effect of methylmercuric chloride on gene expression in neuroblastoma and glioma cells after acute and chronic treatments

To understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms ofmethylmercuric chloride (CH₃HgCl)-induced damage to nerve tissue, monolayer cultures of glioma cells (C-6) and of neuroblastoma cells (NBP2) were used in this study. Chronic (6–8 weeks) and acute (5 days) treatment of glioma cells with low concentrations (0.05 to 0.1 μM) of CH₃HgCl produced marked increases and decreases in the amounts and net phosphorylation profiles of specific proteins. Chronic treatment of neuroblastoma cells (0.1 and 0.2 μM) did not produce any significant alterations in the amounts of specific proteins, but it caused marked changes in the phosphorylation levels of cellular proteins. The morphology and doubling time of chronically treated glioma and neuroblastoma cells did not change. Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-stimulating agents produced morphological changes in chronically treated glioma and neuroblastoma cells similar to those produced in untreated cells.