Universal mechanisms of mercury toxicity
Mercury is the one of the most toxic inorganic pollutants. Despite the presence of multiple pathologic states associated with mercury exposure, their pathogenesis involves universal mechanisms of mercury toxicity. The existing scholarly data indicate a significant role of oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation in mercury toxicity. The present review summarizes current data on prooxindant effect of mercury, its influence on certain enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The development of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation in response to mercury exposure is also reviewed. The existing data indicate a significant therapeutic potential of modulation of these processes in treatment of mercury intoxication