EN
The methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl) is known to cause developmental neurotoxicity in humans. This neurotoxic reagent can induce cell death due to several cellular mechanisms including phosphorylation dependent pathways and disruption of microtubule assembly. The non transformed neural stem cell line obtained from human cord blood (HUCB-NSC) has been previously shown to be susceptible to MeHgCl in developmentally dependent manner. In this report we are trying to find out whether developmental sensitivity of HUCBNSC to MeHgCl depends upon the type of adhesive biomolecules in functional domains. Cell growth platforms microspotted with fibronectin, vitronectin and poly-L-lysine have been used to compare differentiation potential of HUCB-NSC into neuronal or astrocytic cells at various MeHgCl concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 1 μM. Developmental decisions of HUCB-NSC whether to differentiate into neuronal or glial lineage were observed at non cytotoxic concentrations of MeHgCl and were dependent on the type of bioactive domain. Generally, adhesive domains protected HUCB-NSC from cytotoxic effect of MeHgCl, since on plastic surface even the lowest concentration of toxicant (0.05 μM) significantly diminish the cell number after 48 h of incubation time as shown by Alamar Blue assay. The same tendency was observed in the proliferation response as shown by Ki67 presence or BrdU incorporation. Supported by MSHE grant No. 2211/B/ P01/2010/38 and No. 5978/B/P01/2010/38, and European Commission Joint Research Centre NanoBioscience Action.