Protective effect of pravastatin against mercury induced vascular cells damage: Erythrocytes as surrogate markers

In the present study we investigated the protective effect of pravastatin (PRV) against mercury-induced cellular damage. Human erythrocytes were incubated with PRV, HgCl2 and HgCl2 pretreated with PRV. Our results revealed that incubation of erythrocytes with HgCl2 induces a significant increase the ratios of superoxide dismutase/glutathione peroxidase (SOD/GPx), superoxide dismutase/catalase (SOD/CAT), oxidized/reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA) and protein carbonyl(PCO) by 60%, 50%, 333%, 400% and 208% respectively. Whereas, prior incubation of erythrocytes with PRV maintains these parameters at values similar to control cells. Furthermore, the level of nitrite in erythrocytes decreases significantly on treatment with HgCl2, whereas it remains similar to the control when pretreated with PRV. Also, there was an increase in erythrocytes hemolysis when treated with HgCl2, whereas it remained the like to the control when pretreated with PRV. In conclusion, PRV pretreatment maintained the erythrocytes oxidant/antioxidant balance and nitrite level during mercury exposure. Consequently, PRV pretreatment is worthy of further investigation in the reduction of the cardiovascular risk of mercury.

► We use erythrocytes as substitute markers for vascular cells to study the effect of mercury.
► We founded that mercury decrease erythrocytes antioxidants capacity and consequently increase their hemolysis.
► Pretreatment of erythrocytes with pravastatin maintains their native antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide level.
► Pravastatin preserve osmotic fragility of erythrocytes at normal range under the effect of mercury exposure.
► Pravastatin may be inhibiting the cardiovascular risk by mercury.