Sensitivity of neural stem cells viability, proliferation and differentiation upon exposure to methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl) was investigated on different types of biofunctional surfaces. Patterns of biodomains created by microprinting/microspotting of poly-l-lysine or extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin and vitronectin) allowed for non-specific electrostatic or specific, receptor mediated interactions, respectively, between stem cells and the surface. The neural stem cell line HUCB-NSC has been previously shown to be susceptible to MeHgCl in developmentally dependent manner. Here we demonstrated that developmental sensitivity of HUCB-NSC to MeHgCl depends upon the type of adhesive biomolecules and the geometry of biodomains. Proliferation of HUCB-NSC was diminished in time and MeHgCl concentration dependent manner. In addition, the response to MeHgCl was found to be cell-type dependent. Undifferentiated cells were the most sensitive independently of the type of bioactive domain. Significant decrease of GFAP+ cells was detected among cells growing on poly-l-lysine, while on fibronectin and vitronectin, this effect was observed only in the highest (1μM) concentration of MeHgCl. β-Tubulin III expressing cells were most sensitive on fibronectin domains. In addition, limited bioactive domains to μm in size, as compared to non-patterned larger area of the same adhesive substrate, exerted protective role. Thus, the surface area and type of cell/biofunctional surface interaction exerted significant influence on developmental stage and cell-type specific response of HUCB-NSC to MeHgCl.
Keywords: Bioactive domains; Developmental neurotoxicity; MeHgCl sensitivity; Neural stem cells.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.