Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of the transcription factor TCF3 enhances sensitivity to methylmercury in mouse neural stem cells

Abstract

We have reported that four transcription factors (PAX4, PAX6, TCF3, and HMGA1) were markedly activated in the cerebellum of mice treated with methylmercury. In this study, to clarify the relationship between these transcription factors and methylmercury toxicity, siRNA targeting each of the four transcription factors were introduced individually into C17.2 mouse neural stem cells, and the sensitivity of the cells to methylmercury was investigated. Among the four transcription factors, knockdown of the gene for TCF3 increased the methylmercury sensitivity of C17.2 cells. Therefore, we suggest that TCF3 may have a protective effect against methylmercury toxicity.