Background: Mercury is a common environmental contaminant and it is also harmful to human health. Among reported toxicities, its harmful effect on hypertension is poorly documented. In Kazakhstan, Temirtau city has been reported to have a high level of mercury contamination from an acetaldehyde production factory. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between serum profile of cytokines and the development of hypertension among the exposed citizens. Methods: We selected 81 individuals for study, out of them, 41 exposed ones suffered hypertension and 40 – unexposed healthy controls in villages Chkalovo, Samarkand, Gagarinskoye, Tegiszhol, Rostovka in 2016. Mercury content in urine was studied by inversion voltammetry. Cytokine levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were determined by ELISA. Results: Mercury-exposed citizens, especially those with hypertension, had significantly higher concentrations of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 as compared to the unexposed population. The dependence of the mercury level in urine on IL-2 content was also detected. Therefore, chronic low doses of exposure to mercury were associated with an increase in serum levels of immune markers and with the increased risk of hypertension. Conclusion: The presence of mercury in the body probably affected the expression of interleukin-2, one of the main cytokines that coordinate immune response.

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哈萨克斯坦中部铁米尔套地区汞暴露居民的细胞因子谱与高血压的关系

背景：汞是一种常见的环境污染物，对人体健康也有害。在报告的毒性中，其对高血压的有害影响鲜有记载。据报道，在哈萨克斯坦，铁米尔套市的一家乙醛生产厂的汞污染程度很高。因此，我们旨在调查血清细胞因子谱与暴露公民中高血压发展之间的关联。方法：我们在 2016 年在 Chkalovo、Samarkand、Gagarinskoye、Tegiszhol、Rostovka 村选择了 81 名个体进行研究，其中 41 名暴露者患有高血压，40 名未暴露的健康对照者。通过反相伏安法研究尿液中的汞含量。通过ELISA测定IL-2、IL-6、IL-10和TNF-α的细胞因子水平。结果：暴露于汞的公民，与未暴露人群相比，尤其是患有高血压的人群，其炎症细胞因子 TNF-α、IL-2、IL-6 和抗炎细胞因子 IL-10 的浓度显着升高。还检测了尿液中汞含量对 IL-2 含量的依赖性。因此，长期低剂量接触汞与血清免疫标志物水平升高和高血压风险增加有关。结论：体内汞的存在可能影响了白介素2的表达，白介素2是协调免疫反应的主要细胞因子之一。还检测了尿液中汞含量对 IL-2 含量的依赖性。因此，长期低剂量接触汞与血清免疫标志物水平升高和高血压风险增加有关。结论：体内汞的存在可能影响了白介素2的表达，白介素2是协调免疫反应的主要细胞因子之一。还检测了尿液中汞含量对 IL-2 含量的依赖性。因此，长期低剂量接触汞与血清免疫标志物水平升高和高血压风险增加有关。结论：体内汞的存在可能影响了白介素2的表达，白介素2是协调免疫反应的主要细胞因子之一。