Human neuroblastoma cells transfected with tyrosine hydroxylase gain increased resistance to methylmercury-induced cell death

In a previous study we demonstrated that human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells transfected with human tyrosine hydroxylase isoform 1 (SH + TH cells) were substantially more resistant to cell death induced by pro-oxidants than wild type SH-SY5Y cells (SH cells). In the present communication we used methylmercury as a model of cell stress in order to test whether SH + TH cells would behave in a similar manner in response to this stressor. Incubation with methylmercury (0.1–3 μM) for 24 h caused a significant reduction in cell viability and increased apoptotic markers in both cell types. However, the effects were significantly reduced in the SH + TH cells when compared to the SH cells. Activation of p38MAPK was also reduced in the SH + TH compared to the SH cells after methylmercury exposure. Since p38MAPK is known to participate in signal transduction pathways during cell stress, our data suggest that SH + TH cells develop an increased resistance to environmental stress caused by neurotoxins such as methylmercury. In conclusion our results show that insertion of the human TH gene in cells that originally do not express this protein leads to alterations in cell homeostasis and triggers defense mechanisms against pro-oxidative insults.