An in vitro investigation of methylmercury exposure on lymphocytes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An in vitro study to determine the effect of mercury and n-3 fatty acids on markers of inflammation in systemic lupus erythematosus.
IRAS ID
163141
Contact name
Emeir McSorley
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
15/NI/0062, HSCRECB
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system is dysregulated leading to the production of autoantibodies which cause inflammation. It is proposed to result from interplay between genetic predisposition and an environmental factor or a combination of factors that stimulate its development. Dietary factors, in particular n-3 fatty acids have been suggested to improve SLE. Fish are the main dietary source of n-3 fatty acids however, fish also contain small amounts of mercury. Mercury has recently been suggested to have adverse effects on the immune system with some research suggesting it may have a role to play in the development autoimmune disease. Research into the potential adverse effects of mercury on brain development has suggested that the beneficial effects of the anti-inflammatory n-3 fatty acids outweigh any adverse effects of the mercury we receive from fish consumption.
Research to date on the adverse effects of mercury on the immune system has not taken into account the beneficial effects of n-3. Therefore, this study will expose cells from individuals with SLE to mercury with and without n-3 fatty acids and measure the production of markers of inflammation. The experiment will also be carried out using cells from healthy individual’s blood and the results compared. As SLE participants are predisposed to inflammation it is hypothesised that a greater immune response to mercury will be observed in the SLE participants when compared to the healthy controls. It is hypothesised that the concentration of inflammatory markers will be less in the presence of n-3 fatty acids.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
15/NI/0062
Date of REC Opinion
20 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion