The effect of n-acetylcysteine on methylmercury treated breast cancer cells.

Abstract

In the absence of estrogen, metalloestrogens can activate the estrogen receptor and cause breast cancer proliferation in estrogen receptor-positive cells. Methylmercury (MeHg) is a metalloestrogen that is often consumed through fish in the diet and has been shown to lead to the proliferation of MCF-7 cells at a low concentration (1nM) and apoptosis at a high concentration (1uM). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant that has shown to help prevent neurotoxicity from mercury and increase the rate of excretion of mercury. Therefore, this case explored the effects of NAC on MeHg treated breast cancer cells. NAC ameliorated the proliferative effects caused by MeHg at 1nM.