Mercury exposure induces proinflammatory enzymes in vascular fibroblasts.

Introduction: Previous studies show that mercury exposure increases cardiovascular risk, although the underlying cellular mechanisms have still not been fully studied. The aim of this project is to study, in vascular fibroblasts (VF), the effect of HgCl exposure on the expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis of prostanoids and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These molecules have been shown to participate in the inflammatory response associated with cardiovascular diseases.