Regulation of ion channel localization and phosphorylation by neuronal activity

Voltage-dependent Kv2.1 K(+) channels, which mediate delayed rectifier Kv currents (I(K)), are expressed in large clusters on the somata and dendrites of principal pyramidal neurons, where they regulate neuronal excitability. Here we report activity-dependent changes in the localization and biophysical properties of Kv2.1. In the kainate model of continuous seizures in rat, we find a loss of Kv2.1 clustering in pyramidal neurons in vivo. Biochemical analysis of Kv2.1 in the brains of these rats shows a marked dephosphorylation of Kv2.1. In cultured rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons, glutamate stimulation rapidly causes dephosphorylation of Kv2.1, translocation of Kv2.1 from clusters to a more uniform localization, and a shift in the voltage-dependent activation of I(K). An influx of Ca(2+) leading to calcineurin activation is both necessary and sufficient for these effects. Our finding that neuronal activity modifies the phosphorylation state, localization and function of Kv2.1 suggests an important link between excitatory neurotransmission and the intrinsic excitability of pyramidal neurons.

Arsenic transport by the human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1). Evidence that a tri-glutathione conjugate is required

Inorganic arsenic is an established human carcinogen, but its metabolism is incompletely defined. The ATP binding cassette protein, multidrug resistance protein (MRP1/ABCC1), transports conjugated organic anions (e.g. leukotriene C(4)) and also co-transports certain unmodified xenobiotics (e.g. vincristine) with glutathione (GSH). MRP1 also confers resistance to arsenic in association with GSH; however, the mechanism and the species of arsenic transported are unknown. Using membrane vesicles prepared from the MRP1-overexpressing lung cancer cell line, H69AR, we found that MRP1 transports arsenite (As(III)) only in the presence of GSH but does not transport arsenate (As(V)) (with or without GSH). The non-reducing GSH analogs L-gamma-glutamyl-L-alpha-aminobutyryl glycine and S-methyl GSH did not support As(III) transport, indicating that the free thiol group of GSH is required. GSH-dependent transport of As(III) was 2-fold higher at pH 6.5-7 than at a more basic pH, consistent with the formation and transport of the acid-stable arsenic triglutathione (As(GS)(3)). Immunoblot analysis of H69AR vesicles revealed the unexpected membrane association of GSH S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1). Membrane vesicles from an MRP1-transfected HeLa cell line lacking membrane-associated GSTP1-1 did not transport As(III) even in the presence of GSH but did transport synthetic As(GS)(3). The addition of exogenous GSTP1-1 to HeLa-MRP1 vesicles resulted in GSH-dependent As(III) transport. The apparent K(m) of As(GS)(3) for MRP1 was 0.32 microM, suggesting a remarkably high relative affinity. As(GS)(3) transport by MRP1 was osmotically sensitive and was inhibited by several conjugated organic anions (MRP1 substrates) as well as the metalloid antimonite (K(i) 2.8 microM). As(GS)(3) transport experiments using MRP1 mutants with substrate specificities differing from wild-type MRP1 suggested a commonality in the substrate binding pockets of As(GS)(3) and leukotriene C(4). Finally, human MRP2 also transported As(GS)(3). In conclusion, MRP1 transports inorganic arsenic as a tri-GSH conjugate, and GSTP1-1 may have a synergistic role in this process.

[Influence of cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide on the content of phosphoinositides in isolated hepatocytes of rats]

Influence of cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide on the processes of lipid peroxidation and contents of polyphosphoinositides in isolated hepatocytes of rats was studied. It is shown that incubation of the cells with cadmium chloride or hydrogen peroxide already in 15 min results in the reinforcement of lipid peroxidation and increase of contents of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositoldiphosphate. Variations of the basal level of the latter, as is well known, plays an important messenger role. In case of more long incubation (60 min) one can observe the significant accumulation of intermediate and final products of lipid peroxidation, while the content of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositoldiphosphate did not differ from the control, but the content of phosphatidylinositolphosphate was increased. Changes in the content of separate fraction of polyphosphoinositides in the presence of cadmium chloride and hydrogen peroxide were similar. Allowing for all that it is, possible to draw a conclusion that the mechanism of cadmium influence on the content of polyphosphoinositides is based on its ability to cause development of the oxidative stress.

[Metallothionein content in tissue and neoplasms of mice under cadmium chloride administration and gamma irradiation. Increased radioresistance in mice with elevated level of metallothionein]

It was confirmed that the survival of gamma-exposed mice became higher after preliminarily subcutaneous injections of cadmium chloride. It is supposed that radioresistance of mice is connected with the induction of metallothionein proteins by cadmium chloride.

Vitamin C and vitamin E protect the rat testes from cadmium-induced reactive oxygen species

Cadmium is an environmental and industrial pollutant that affects the male reproductive system of humans and animals. However, the mechanism of its adverse effect on Leydig cell steroidogenesis remains unknown. The present study points to the possible involvement of oxidative stress in the suppression of steroidogenesis. Cadmium administration caused an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) by elevating testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreasing the activities of testicular antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. The mRNA of Steroid Acute Regulatory (StAR) protein was substantially reduced. The activities of testicular delta5-3beta and 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD) as well as serum testosterone level were also lowered, suggesting that cadmium-induced ROS inhibit testicular steroidogenesis. Supplementation with vitamin C (VC) and or vitamin E (VE) reduced testicular ROS and restored normal testicular function in Cd-exposed rats. We conclude that VC and VE prevent oxidative stress and play vital roles in co-regulating StAR gene expression and steroid production in cadmium-exposed rats.

Cadmium-induced apoptosis in C6 glioma cells: influence of oxidative stress

Cadmium has recently been shown to induce apoptosis in C6 glioma cells via disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequent caspase 9-activation. Here we show that both H2O2 and CdCl2 induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation in C6 cells. The employment of glutathione as an antioxidant prevented the induction of apoptotic DNA fragmentation by cadmium completely and catalase strongly reduced cadmium-induced DNA fragmentation suggesting that cadmium exerts its apoptotic effects at least partly via the production of H2O2. Apoptosis may be induced by cadmium indirectly through formation of oxidative stress, e.g., by inhibition of antioxidant enzymes. After incubation of C6 cells with cadmium for short times (up to 4 h), we analyzed the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and cellular lipid peroxidation. After 1 h of incubation with inreasing concentrations of CdCl2 (1-500 microM), no increase in dichlorofluorescein fluorescence was found. At variance, lipid peroxidation was slightly elevated after 2 h incubation with cadmium (50-100 microM). Furthermore, we analyzed the modulation of markers for oxidative stress after prolonged (24 h) exposure to cadmium. The intracellular glutathione content as measured using the fluorescent probe monobromobimane was decreased after incubation with CdCl2 (0.5-10 microM) for 24 h. Furthermore, we measured the effect of cadmium on the level of oxidized DNA lesions (predominantly 8-hydroxyguanine) using the bacterial Fpg-DNA-repair protein. After 24 h of incubation with 5 microM CdCl2 we found a sixfold increase in Fpg-sensitive DNA-lesions. We conclude that short time incubations with cadmium (up to 4 h) caused only slight or insignificant effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species (formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, fluorescence of dichlorofluorescein), whereas incubation with this heavy metal for 24 h lead to a decrease in intracellular glutathione concentration and an increase in oxidative DNA-lesions. Our data demonstrate that cadmium as similar to H2O2 is a potent inducer of apoptosis in C6 cells. Even if cadmium unlike Fenton-type metals can not produce reactive oxygen species directly, the apoptotic effects of cadmium at least in part are mediated via induction of oxidative stress. Because both apoptosis and oxidative stress are thought to play important roles in neurodegenerative diseases, low concentrations of cadmium that initiate programmed cell death may lead to a selective cell death in distinct brain regions via generation of oxidative stress.

Appearance of voltage-gated calcium channels following overexpression of ATPase II cDNA in neuronal HN2 cells

ATPase II (a Mg2+-ATPase) is also believed to harbor aminophospholipid translocase (APTL) activity, which is responsible for the translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) from the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane to the inner. To test this hypothesis we overexpressed the mouse ATPase II cDNA in the neuronal HN2 cells. In addition to a dramatic increase in APTL activity, we also made the unexpected observation that expression of the mouse ATPase II cDNA from the vector pCMV6 resulted in the appearance of calcium current. Although the hybrid cell line HN2 or a line (HN2V32) obtained by expressing a heterologous gene from the same expression vector showed no calcium current, both ATPase II-overexpressing clones (HN2A12 and HN2A22) showed significant barium conductance. This current was due to calcium channels because it was blocked almost completely by 100 microM CdCl2 and it had a significant N-type component since it was blocked by 38.5% in the presence of 5 microM omega-conotoxin (omega-CTX). Western blot analysis using an antibody against the N-type calcium-channel alpha1B subunit revealed a dramatic increase in expression of this protein in the HN2A12 and HN2A22 cell lines. Our results suggest that ATPase II also harbors APTL activity. In view of the prior knowledge that APTL activity is inhibited by an increase in calcium, our results also suggest that APTL expression exerts a negative feedback regulation on itself by inducing expression of channels that cause an influx of calcium ions. The mechanism of this regulation could reveal important information on a possible cross-regulation between these two families of proteins in neuronal cells.

Regulation of blood-testis barrier dynamics: an in vivo study

An in vivo model was used to investigate the regulation of tight junction (TJ) dynamics in the testis when adult rats were treated with CdCl(2). It was shown that the CdCl(2)-induced disruption of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) associated with a transient induction in testicular TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 (but not TGF-beta1) and the phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase, concomitant with a loss of occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) from the BTB site in the seminiferous epithelium. These results suggest that BTB dynamics in vivo are regulated by TGF-beta2/-beta3 via the p38 MAP kinase pathway. Indeed, SB202190, a specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, blocked the CdCl(2)-induced occludin and ZO-1 loss from the BTB. This result clearly illustrates that CdCl(2) mediates its BTB disruptive effects via the TGF-beta3/p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway. Besides, this CdCl(2)-induced occludin and ZO-1 loss from the BTB also associated with a significant loss of the cadherin/catenin and the nectin/afadin protein complexes at the site of cell-cell actin-based adherens junctions (AJs). An induction of alpha(2)-macroglobulin (a non-specific protease inhibitor) was also observed during BTB damage and when the seminiferous epithelium was being depleted of germ cells. These data illustrate that a primary disruption of the BTB can lead to a secondary loss of cell adhesion function at the site of AJs, concomitant with an induction in protease inhibitor, which apparently is used to protect the epithelium from unwanted proteolysis. alpha(2)-Macroglobulin was also shown to associate physically with TGF-beta3, afadin and nectin 3, but not occludin, E-cadherin or N-cadherin, indicating its possible role in junction restructuring in vivo. Additionally, the use of SB202190 to block the TGF-beta3/p-38 MAP kinase pathway also prevented the CdCl(2)-induced loss of cadherin/catenin and nectin/afadin protein complexes from the AJ sites, yet it had no apparent effect on alpha(2)-macroglobulin. These results demonstrate for the first time that the TGF-beta3/p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway is being used to regulate both TJ and AJ dynamics in the testis, mediated by the effects of TGF-beta3 on TJ- and AJ-integral membrane proteins and adaptors, but not protease inhibitors.

Contribution of spontaneous L-type Ca2+ channel activation to the genesis of Ca2+ sparks in resting cardiac myocytes

Ca2+ sparks are the elementary events of intracellular Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in cardiac myocytes. In order to investigate whether spontaneous L-type Ca2+ channel activation contributes to the genesis of spontaneous Ca2+ sparks, we used confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluo-4 to visualize local Ca2+ sparks in intact rat ventricular myocytes. In the presence of 0.2 mmol/L CdCl2 which inhibits spontaneous L-type Ca2+ channel activation, the rate of occurrence of spontaneous Ca2+ sparks was halved from 4.20 to 2.04 events/(100 microm x s), with temporal and spatial properties of individual Ca2+ sparks unchanged. Analysis of the Cd2+-sensitive spark production revealed an open probability of approximately 10(-5) for L-type channels at the rest membrane potentials (-80 mV). Thus, infrequent and stochastic openings of sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channels in resting heart cells contribute significantly to the production of spontaneous Ca2+ sparks.

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate May Both Potentiate and Decrease the Generation of Apoptosis by the Antileukemic Agent Arsenic Trioxide in Human Promonocytic Cells

Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) caused apoptosis in U-937 human promonocytic cells. This effect was potentiated by the simultaneous addition of the glutathione (GSH) synthesis inhibitor DL-buthionine-(R,S)-sulfoximine or the protein kinase C activators 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and bryostatin 1. In addition TPA decreased the intracellular GSH content, caused ERK activation, and potentiated the As(2)O(3)-provoked activation of p38 and JNK. The addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, the PKC inhibitor GF109203X, and the MEK/ERK inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 attenuated both apoptosis induction and GSH decrease, whereas the p38 inhibitor SB203580 and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 were ineffective. TPA also potentiated ERK activation and GSH depletion when added simultaneously to cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) and doxorubicin. However, TPA only enhanced apoptosis in the case of CdCl(2), which is a GSH-sensitive agent, whereas it reduced the toxicity of doxorubicin and other DNA-specific drugs. Finally, preincubation for 14-24 h with TPA did not potentiate but, instead, attenuated the As(2)O(3)- and CdCl(2)-provoked apoptosis. The same result was obtained by preincubation with bryostatin 1 and other differentiation inducers. It is concluded that TPA increases the apoptotic action of As(2)O(3), an effect mediated by ERK activation and GSH depletion. However, the increase in apoptosis is only effective in non-differentiated cells.

Effects of zinc and cadmium on HgCl2-δ-ALA-D inhibition and Hg levels in tissues of suckling rats

The effects of CdCl2 and ZnCl2 pretreatments on the inhibition of delta-ALA-D (delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase) activity and Hg contents in liver and kidneys of suckling rats intoxicated with HgCl2 were investigated. Zn-pretreatment prevented the effects of mercury at a higher magnitude than CdCl2. Hepatic and renal delta-ALA-D activities were significantly inhibited by HgCl2 and prior exposure to CdCl2 partially prevented the renal effect of mercury but not altered the mercury levels in both tissues. Pretreatment with ZnCl2 abolished mercury-induced delta-ALA-D-inhibition in kidneys and liver and induced an increase in renal (about three times) and a decrease in hepatic (to one-third) Hg contents when compared to the group injected only with mercury. In face of zinc effects to prevent Hg-delta-ALA-D inhibition and to alter Hg-deposition levels in kidney and liver, these results suggest that these effects may be partially due to the synthesis of metallothioneins (MT). In fact, liver MT content presented by animals pretreated with zinc was significantly greater than control and Hg-treated groups, but the increase showed by renal tissue (about 60%) was not significant. Although the MT is rich in cysteine (-SH) and consequently can form a great number of MT-Hg complex, other mechanisms should be also involved in zinc protection on mercury toxicity.

Facilitation of dopamine and acetylcholine release by intermittent hypoxia in PC12 cells: involvement of calcium and reactive oxygen species

We have investigated the effects of preconditioning pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells with intermittent hypoxia (IH) on transmitter release during acute hypoxia. Cell cultures were exposed to either alternating cycles of hypoxia (1% O(2) + 5% CO(2); 30 s/cycle) and normoxia (21% O(2) + 5% CO(2); 3 min/cycle) for 15 or 60 cycles or normoxia alone (control) for similar durations. Control and IH cells were challenged with either hyperoxia (basal release) or acute hypoxia (Po(2) of approximately 35 Torr) for 5 min, and the amounts of dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) released in the medium were determined by HPLC combined with electrochemical detection. Hypoxia augmented DA (approximately 80%) but not ACh release in naive cells, whereas, in IH-conditioned cells, it further enhanced DA release (ranging from 120 to approximately 145%) and facilitated ACh release (approximately 30%). Hypoxia-evoked augmentation of transmitter release was not seen in cells conditioned with sustained hypoxia. IH-induced increase in DA but not IH-induced ACh release during hypoxia was partially inhibited by cadmium chloride (100 microM), a voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel blocker. By contrast, 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate (75 microM), a blocker of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (300 microM), a potent scavenger of reactive oxygen species, either attenuated or abolished IH-evoked augmentation of transmitter release during hypoxia. Together, the above results demonstrate that IH conditioning increases hypoxia-evoked neurotransmitter release from PC12 cells via mechanisms involving mobilization of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores through activation of IP(3) receptors. Our findings also suggest that oxidative stress plays a central role in IH-induced augmentation of transmitter release from PC12 cells during acute hypoxia.

MHC class II loading of high or low affinity peptides directed by Ii/peptide fusion constructs: implications for T cell activation

CD4(+) T cells recognize peptides presented on the cell surface of antigen presenting cells in the MHC class II context. The biosynthesis and transport of MHC class II molecules depend on the type II transmembrane invariant chain (Ii) and are tightly regulated processes. Ii is known to bind to the MHC class II peptide-binding groove via its class II-associated Ii peptide (CLIP) region early in the biosynthetic pathway to prevent premature peptide binding. In this study we have genetically exchanged CLIP with peptides of either high or low affinity for the class II peptide binding groove and utilized the properties of Ii to manipulate MHC class II loading. An inducible promoter controlled expression of the Ii/peptide fusion constructs, and presentation at different expression levels was studied. Both peptides were excised from Ii and presented on MHC class II molecules as shown by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, but the high affinity peptide was presented more efficiently than the low affinity peptide. Both peptides were efficient in eliciting T cell responses at high Ii/peptide concentration independent of the duration of T cell stimulation. The peptides were also able to elicit an IL-2 response at low expression levels; however, the kinetic differed as the T cells required longer duration of T cell contact to reach a significant T cell response. This probably reflects the number of class II/peptide complexes at the cell surface and is discussed.

Effect of metal-based anticancer drugs on wild type and metallothionein null cell lines

Metallothioneins (MT) are ubiquitous low-molecular-weight metal-binding intracellular proteins. We used wild type mouse embryo fibroblasts, GKA1, and its MT-null variant, named GKA2, in order to correlate the presence of MT to the response to a number of different antitumor drugs with different mechanisms of action. We studied sensitivity of GKA1 and GKA2 cells to metal-based compounds having alkylating property, or able to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS); as well as to drugs acting with different mechanisms. The absence of MT in GKA2 cells was correlated to higher sensitivity to the metal-based drugs compared to that of GKA1. No marked differences in sensitivity of two cell lines against gemcitabine, taxol, and vinblastine were observed. No significant change in sensitivity of either GKA1 or GKA2 cells to these non-alkylating drugs was seen after heavy metal pretreatments. In GKA1 cells, MT biosynthesis was induced by copper and cadmium but not by zinc treatment under the conditions of these experiments. Induction of MT was directly proportional to decrease in sensitivity of GKA1 cells to the compounds used in this experiment. In contrast to GKA1 cells, the MT-null cells (GKA2) expressed no detectable metallothionein either constitutively or after treatment with zinc, copper, or cadmium. Nonetheless, heavy metal pretreatment of GKA2 cells did not cause any change in their sensitivity.

Differential patterns of human cytomegalovirus gene expression in various T-cell lines carrying human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus type I: role of Tax-activated cellular transcription factors

Replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was investigated in various T-cell lines expressing the tax gene product of human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I). Differential patterns of HCMV replication were found in HTLV-I-carrying cell lines. HCMV gene expression was restricted to the immediate-early genes in MT-2 and MT-4 cells, whereas full replication cycle of the virus was observed in C8166-45 cells. Productive HCMV infection induced a cytopathic effect resulting in the lysis of infected cells. The results of electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed high levels of NF-kappaB-, CREB/ATF-1-, and SRF-specific DNA binding activity in all Tax-positive cell lines. In contrast, SP1 activity could be detected only in C8166-45 cells. Using an inducible system (Jurkat cell line JPX-9), a dramatic increase in NF-kappaB, CREB/ATF-1, SRF, and SP1 binding activity, as well as productive HCMV infection, were observed upon Tax expression. Overexpression of SP1 in MT-2 and MT-4 cells converted HCMV infection from an abortive to a productive one. These data suggest that the stimulatory effect of Tax protein on HCMV in T cells is accomplished through at least five host-related transcription factor pathways. The results of this study provide possible mechanisms whereby HCMV infections might imply suppression of adult T-cell leukemia.

Cadmium inhibits repair of UV-, methyl methanesulfonate- and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced DNA damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells

The co-genotoxic effects of cadmium are well recognized and it is assumed that most of these effects are due to the inhibition of DNA repair. We used the comet assay to analyze the effect of low, non-toxic concentrations of CdCl2 on DNA damage and repair-induced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by UV-radiation, by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). The UV-induced DNA lesions revealed by the comet assay are single-strand breaks which are the intermediates formed during nucleotide excision repair (NER). In cells exposed to UV-irradiation alone the formation of DNA strand breaks was rapid, followed by a fast rejoining phase during the first 60 min after irradiation. In UV-irradiated cells pre-exposed to CdCl2, the formation of DNA strand breaks was significantly slower, indicating that cadmium inhibited DNA damage recognition and/or excision. Methyl methanesulfonate and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea directly alkylate nitrogen and oxygen atoms of DNA bases. The lesions revealed by the comet assay are mainly breaks at apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites and breaks formed as intermediates during base excision repair (BER). In MMS treated cells the initial level of DNA strand breaks did not change during the first hour of recovery; thereafter repair was detected. In cells pre-exposed to CdCl2 the MMS-induced DNA strand breaks accumulated during the first 2h of recovery, indicating that AP sites and/or DNA strand breaks were formed but that further steps of BER were blocked. In MNU treated cells the maximal level of DNA strand breaks was detected immediately after the treatment and the breaks were repaired rapidly. In CdCl2 pre-treated cells the formation of MNU-induced DNA single-strand breaks was not affected, while the repair was slower, indicating inhibition of polymerization and/or the ligation step of BER. Cadmium thus affects the repair of UV-, MMS- and MNU-induced DNA damage, providing further evidence, that inhibition of DNA repair is an important mechanism of cadmium induced mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.

Response of soil microbiological activities to cadmium, lead, and zinc salt amendments

Heavy metal pollution of soil has been recognized as a major factor impeding soil microbial processes. From this perspective, we studied responses of the soil biological activities to metal stress simulated by soil amendment with Zn, Pb, and Cd chlorides. The amounts of heavy metal salts added to five metal-polluted soils and four nonpolluted soils were selected to match the total metal concentrations typically found in polluted soils of the Silesia region of Poland. From the perspective of soil quality, metal mobility in amended soils could not be described by simple functions of pH or organic matter. Reaction of Pb with the soil caused strong immobilization with less than 1% of the Pb amendment recovered by 0.01 M CaCl2 extractions. Immobilization of Cd was also significant, whereas immobilization of the Zn amendment was much weaker than that of Cd or Pb. The Zn amendment had substantial inhibitory effect on soil dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, urease, and nitrification potential. Generally, Cd and Pb had limited or stimulatory effect on most of these biological activities, with an exception of Pb strongly inhibiting soil urease. The effect of the metal amendments on biological activities could not be satisfactorily accounted for by metal toxicity because no strong relationship was observed between extractable metal content and the degree of inhibition. The Zn amendment had a significant effect on soil pH, resulting in confounding effects of pH and Zn toxicity on activities. Metal amendment experiments seem to be of limited utility for meaningful assessment of metal contamination effects on soil quality.

Cadmium induces impaired glucose tolerance in rat by down-regulating GLUT4 expression in adipocytes

Cadmium (Cd) has been known to cause hyperglycemia with diabetes-related complications in experimental animals; however, the molecular basis underlying this Cd-induced hyperglycemia is not known. Here, we report the novel finding that the impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in rats induced by CdCl(2) is accompanied by a drastic (by as much as 90%) and dose-dependent reduction in GLUT4 protein and GLUT4 mRNA levels in adipocytes. The effect was specific to GLUT4; neither GLUT1 nor insulin-responsive aminopeptidase in adipocytes was affected. GLUT2 in hepatocytes was also not affected. Interestingly, the effect on GLUT4 was also specific to adipocytes; the muscle tissues of the Cd-treated rats showed only a slight (<25%) reduction in GLUT4 protein level with no change in GLUT4 message level, and again with no change in GLUT1 protein and its message levels. Although the insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes was not affected by the Cd treatment, the 3-O-methy-D-glucose flux in insulin-stimulated adipocytes of Cd-treated rat was drastically reduced. Together these findings clearly demonstrate that Cd induces IGT in rats by selectively down-regulating GLUT4 expression in adipocytes.

TGF-beta3 regulates the blood-testis barrier dynamics via the p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway: an in vivo study

Recent studies using Sertoli cells cultured in vitro to permit tight junction (TJ) assembly have shown that TJ dynamics are regulated, at least in part, by TGF-beta3 via the p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. This in turn regulates the production of occludin, a TJ-integral membrane protein, by Sertoli cells. Yet it is not known if this pathways is used by Sertoli cells to regulate the blood-testis barrier (BTB) function in vivo. Using an in vivo model for studying BTB dynamics, we report herein the CdCl(2)-induced BTB damage in rats was associated with a significant reduction in testicular occludin along with a loss of immunoreactive occludin in the seminiferous epithelium at the site of the BTB. Also, this CdCl(2)-induced occludin loss from the BTB coincided with a surge in testicular TGF-beta3, as well as p-p38 MAP kinase (the phosphorylated/activated form of p38), but not p38 MAP kinase and neither extracellular signal-regulated kinase nor its phosphorylated form (ERK/p-ERK), consistent with results of in vitro studies. More important, intratesticular administration of SB202190, a specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, could block the CdCl(2)-induced occludin loss from the BTB. These results illustrate that BTB dynamics in vivo are regulated by the TGF-beta3/p38 MAP kinase pathway, which in turn determines the level of occludin at the site of Sertoli cells TJs.

Chronic hyperosmolarity mediates constitutive expression of molecular chaperones and resistance to injury

Renal medullary cells are exposed to elevated and variable osmolarities and low oxygen tension. Despite the harsh environment, these cells are resistant to the effects of many harmful events. To test the hypothesis that this resistance is a consequence of these cells developing a stress tolerance phenotype to survive in this milieu, we created osmotically tolerant cells [hypertonic (HT) cells] by gradually adapting murine inner medullary collecting duct 3 cells to hyperosmotic medium containing NaCl and urea. HT cells have a reduced DNA synthesis rate, with the majority of cells arrested in the G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell cycle, and show constitutive expression of heat shock protein 70 that is proportional to the degree of hyperosmolarity. Unlike acute hyperosmolarity, chronic hyperosmolarity failed to activate MAPKs. Moreover, HT cells acquired protein translational tolerance to further stress treatment, suggesting that HT cells have an osmotolerant phenotype that is analogous to thermotolerance but is a permanent condition. In addition to osmotic shock, HT cells were more resistant to heat, H(2)O(2), cyclosporin, and apoptotic inducers, compared with isotonic murine inner medullary duct 3 cells, but less resistant to amphotericin B and cadmium. HT cells demonstrate that in renal medullary cells, hyperosmotic stress activates biological processes that confer cross-tolerance to other stressful conditions.

Effect of cadmium on lymphocyte subsets distribution in thymus and spleen

This work was designed to analyze the possible dose dependent effects of cadmium on the distribution of lymphocyte subsets within the thymus and spleen. Cadmium accumulation was also evaluated in these tissues. For this purpose, adult male rats were exposed for one month to 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 ppm of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in the drinking water. In both spleen and thymus, the B lymphocytes increased with the doses of 5 and 10 ppm of CdCl2, and decreased with the doses of 25-100 ppm. In spleen, the doses of 25 and 50 ppm decreased CD4+ cells and the doses of 5 and 10 ppm increased CD8+ cells, while the percentage of thymus T, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4(+)-CD8+ cells was not modified by cadmium treatment at any dose used in this study. After cadmium exposure, the metal was accumulated in the spleen only from the dose of 50 ppm on, and in the thymus, from the dose of 10 ppm on. In conclusion, although the accumulation of the metal is higher in thymus than in spleen, the metal affected CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes at the spleen but not at the thymus.

[Activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase in rat liver during degradation of cytochrome P-450 caused by administration of cadmium chloride]

The 5-aminolevulinate synthase, tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase activities and cytochrome P-450 content in the rat liver was studied in different terms after CdCl2 administration and after administration of metal salt against a background of 2-hours action of alpha-tocopherol. The lowering of activity of 5-aminolevulinate synthase in 2 h with the consequent increase of the enzyme activity in 6 h and 24 h was detected. The holoenzyme activity and heme saturation of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase increased 6 h after CdCl2 administration. The holoenzyme activity and the total activity of tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase rised in 24 h. The level of cytochrome P-450 lowered. Preliminary administration of alpha-tocopherol prevented changes of studied parameters 24 h after CdCl2 administration. The relationship between decrease of cytochrome P-450 level and 5-aminolevulinate synthase activation are discussed.

Metallothionein 2A induction by zinc protects HEPG2 cells against CYP2E1-dependent toxicity

Zinc has been shown to have antioxidant actions, which may be due, in part, to induction of metallothionein (MT). Such induction can protect tissues against various forms of oxidative injury because MT can function as an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate if zinc or MT induction by zinc could afford protection against CYP2E1-dependent toxicity. HepG2 cells overexpressing CYP2E1 (E47cells) were treated with 60 microM arachidonic acid (AA), which is known to be toxic to these cells by a mechanism dependent on CYP2E1, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation. E47 cells were preincubated overnight in the absence or presence of metals such as zinc or cadmium that can induce MT. The culture medium containing the metals was removed, AA was added, and cell viability determined after 24 h incubation. Preincubation overnight with 150 microM zinc sulfate or 5 microM cadmium chloride induced a 20- to 30-fold increase of MT2A mRNA; high levels of MT2A mRNA were maintained during the subsequent challenge period with AA, even after the zinc was removed. MT protein levels were increased about 4- to 5-fold during the overnight preincubation with zinc and a 20- to 30-fold increase was observed 24 h after zinc removal during the AA challenge. The treatment with zinc was associated with significant protection against the loss of cell viability caused by AA in E47 cells. The zinc pretreatment protected about 50% against the DNA fragmentation, cell necrosis, the enhanced lipid peroxidation and increased generation of reactive oxygen species, and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential induced by AA treatment in E47 cells. CYP2E1 catalytic activity and components of the cell antioxidant defense system such as glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase, Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), and MnSOD were not altered under these conditions. Zinc preincubation also protected the E47 cells against BSO-dependent toxicity. When E47 cells were coincubated with zinc plus AA for 24 h (i.e., zinc was not removed, nor was there a preincubation period prior to challenge with AA), AA toxicity was increased. Thus, zinc had a direct pro-oxidant effect in this model and an indirect antioxidant effect, perhaps via induction of MT. MT may have potential clinical utility for the prevention or improvement of liver injury produced by agents known to be metabolized by CYP2E1 to reactive intermediates and to cause oxidative stress.

Ultrustructural and enzymatic studies of rat liver after acute cadmium exposure

The aim of the study was to examine morphological and enzymatic changes in the rat liver following single i.v. administration of CdCl2 (5 and 10 mumol/kg b.w.). In the rats given 5 and 10 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w., a correlation was found between the dose and the intensity of changes in the liver both in pathomorphological, ultrastructural and enzymatic analyses. Pathomorphological and ultrastructural investigations showed that a single dose of 10 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w. caused vacuolar degeneration, and fatty degeneration in single hepatocytes. Structural changes were accompanied by an increase in the activity of indicatory enzymes of the liver-AST and ALT. At the same time, stimulation and activation of B-K cells were observed. However, a single 5 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w. dose induced only blurring of cell structure in single hepatocytes within the peripheral zone of the lobules, which looked as if they had been filled with pinkish "mush".

Jejunal transfer rates of 109cadmium chloride increase in rats in vitro and in vivo after oral pretreatment with cadmium or zinc chloride

An increased body retention of Cd in rats orally pretreated with Cd or Zn is explained by induction of hepatic and renal metallothionein. Whether intestinal absorption of Cd increases after such treatments is not clear yet. To approach this problem we measured jejunal transfer rates of 109Cd in vitro and in vivo in pretreated rats (0.44 mmol Cd/l or 4.6 mmol Zn/l in the drinking water for 10 days) and compared them with those of untreated controls. Isolated jejunal segments were used for in vitro perfusion. In vivo perfusion was performed in anaesthetized rats with blood collected from mesenteric venules substituting corresponding losses by reinfusion of rat blood. Water and glucose transfer did not differ between controls and pretreated rats. At a luminal concentration of 5 micromol 109CdCl2/l, Cd and Zn pretreatment significantly increased the transfer rate of 109Cd in vitro and in vivo similarly. The 109Cd transfer rates in controls in the final perfusion intervals (80-120 min) were 0.06 (pmol/cm/min) in vivo and 0.05 in vitro; the corresponding rates in Cd or Zn pretreated rats were significantly higher (P<0.05) and amounted to 0.11 and 0.18 or 0.15 and 0.23, respectively. Mucosal concentrations of 109Cd measured at the end of the perfusion period tended to be lower in the pretreated animals than in the controls. This suggests that pretreatment with Cd or Zn reduces the amount of 109Cd bound to the tissue leaving more 109Cd for the transfer step. As compared to a level of mucosal metallothionein of 8 microg/g wet weight in controls, increased amounts of 67 or 52 microg/g wet weight in the Cd or Zn pretreated rats, respectively, thus did not decrease but increased transfer rates of 109Cd. Therefore, increased small intestinal transfer rates of Cd can contribute to increase the body retention of Cd seen after oral pretreatment with Cd or Zn.