EFFECT OF MERCURY ON REDUCED GLUTATHIONE OF HUMAN T AND B LYMPHOCYTES: A COMPARISON OF INORGANIC AND ORGANIC MERCURY

Background: Environmental pollution of transition metals especially of mercury is of great concern to the researchers in medical field since long. Mercury causes oxidative stress in all the cells including lymphocytes of the human immune system. Effect of inorganic compound of mercury was compare with our own report of effect of organic compound of mercury on T and B lymphocytes in human blood. Material & Methods: The present experimental work was design to analyze the concentration and time dependent effect of mercuric chloride on the chemical modulation of T and B-lymphocytes GSH of human blood. Terasaki technique for lymphocytes isolation and then subsequently separation of T and B-cells was used. Quantification of thiol in T and B-cells was done by Ellman’s method. Results: The lowest used concentration of mercuric chloride depleted T and B-cells GSH level 2.115 μM (27.34%) and 2.019 μM (32.41%) respectively which was significant (p<0.001) decrease in both T and B-cells GSH level. This effect of mercury was dose and time dependent. Conclusion: This study suggests that depletion of GSH due to inorganic mercury in T and B-lymphocytes is more severe as compared to its organic form.