Mercury and methylmercury differentially modulate hepatic cytochrome P450 1A1 and 1A2 in vivo and in vitro.

The cytochrome P450 1 A (CYP1A) subfamily enzymes are involved in the metabolic activation of several xenobiotics to toxic metabolites and reactive intermediates, resulting ultimately in carcinogenesis. Mercury and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs), typified by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), are persistent environmental pollutants involved in the modulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) gene battery, including cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes. We previously investigated the effect of coexposure to either inorganic or organic mercury (Hg and MeHg) with TCDD on CYP1A1 in vitro. Thus, we examined the impact of coexposure to Hg or MeHg and TCDD on AHR-regulated genes (Cyp1a1/1a2) in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, male C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with MeHg or Hg (2.5 mg/kg) in the absence and presence of TCDD (15 μg/kg) for 6 or 24 h. The concentration-dependent effect of MeHg was examined in murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. In vivo, both MeHg and Hg inhibited the TCDD-mediated induction of Cyp1a1/1a2 mRNA levels. However, Only Hg was able to inhibit the TCDD-mediated induction at posttranscriptional levels of CYP1A1/1A2 protein and catalytic activity, suggesting differential modulation effects by Hg and MeHg. In addition, the inhibitory role of HO-1 (Heme oxygenase-1) on CYP1A activity induced by TCDD was investigated using a HO-1 competitive inhibitor, tin-mesoporphyrin, that partially restored the MeHg-mediated decrease in CYP1A1 activity. This study demonstrates that MeHg, alongside Hg , can differentially modulate the TCDD-induced AHR-regulated genes (Cyp1a1/1a2) at different expression levels in C57BL/6 mice liver and Hepa1c1c7 cells.