Selenite or selenomethionine interaction with methylmercury on uptake and toxicity showing a weak selenite protection: studies on cultured K-562 cells.

Selenium and methylmercuric chloride (MMC) interactions regarding cellular uptake and selenium protection on MMC toxicity have been studied. Human K-562 cells were pretreated or simultaneously treated with either selenite (5 or 50 microM) or selenomethionine (10 or 50 microM) together with (3.5 or 5 microM) MMC. Cells simultaneously treated with selenite or selenomethionine and 3.5 microM MMC showed a decreased mercury concentration with increased selenium dose especially seen in the selenite combinations. The simultaneous selenite and MMC 3.5 microM combinations showed growth curves with an increasing number of viable cells with increased selenite dose. All combinations with 5 microM MMC were toxic to the cells. Interactions between selenite or selenomethionine and MMC regarding cellular uptake of mercury and selenium were observed and indications of selenite protection against MMC toxicity in human K-562 cells were noticed.