Activation of liver X receptors inhibits cadmium-induced apoptosis of human renal proximal tubular cells

Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated by ROS participates in cadmium exposure-induced MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis

Cadmium (Cd), as one of the seventh most toxic heavy metal pollutants, widely persisted in the environment, leading to osteoblast dysfunction and ultimately Cd-related skeletal disease. However, the damaging effects of Cd on cellular functions and the potential pathogenic mechanisms are still unclear. In our study, Cd is believed to induce mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in a dose-dependent manner, thereby leading to apoptosis, as evident by elevated Drp1, Fis1, GRP78, CHOP, ATF4, P-EIF2α, P-PERK, BAX, cleaved caspase 3 proteins expression and ROS levels, and decreased the levels of Mfn2, OPA1, Bcl2, and intracellular Collagen I, B-ALP, RUNX2, and BGP genes. Additionally, when the exogenous addition of NAC and 4-PBA was added, it was found that NAC and 4-PBA had a positive moderating effect on Cd-induced cell dysfunction. Mechanistically, Cd-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by upregulating the PERK-EIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway and inhibiting the Nrf2/NQO1 pathway. In conclusion, we found that Cd was involved in mitochondrial dysfunction, ERS, and apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells, While NAC and 4-PBA relieved ERS and attenuated cell apoptosis.

Metabolic effects of long-term cadmium exposure: an overview

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic non-essential heavy metal. Chronic low Cd exposure (CLCE) has been associated with distinct pathologies in many organ systems, including liver and kidney damage, osteoporosis, carcinogenicity, or reproductive toxicity. Currently, about 10% of the global population is at risk of CLCE. It is urgent to find robust and effective biomarkers for early diagnosis of Cd exposure and treatment. Metabolomics is a high-throughput method based on mass spectrometry to study the dynamic changes in a series of endogenous small molecular metabolites (typically < 1000 Da) of tissues, cells, or biofluids. It can reflect the rich and complex biochemical changes in the body after exposure to heavy metals, which may be useful in screening biomarkers to monitor exposure to environmental pollutants and/or predict disease risk. Therefore, this review focuses on the changes in metabolic profiles of humans and rodents under long-term Cd exposure from the perspective of metabolomics. Furthermore, the relationship between the disturbance of metabolic pathways and the toxic mechanism of Cd is discussed. All these information will facilitate the development of reliable metabolic biomarkers for early detection and diagnosis of Cd-related diseases.

Aqueous-alcoholic Ferulla extract reduces memory impairments in rats exposed to cadmium chloride

INTRODUCTION

Cadmium (Cd) is the most dangerous heavy metal that is becoming more widespread in nature as a result of industrial activities. One of the toxic effects of Cd on the body is its neurological effect. The mechanism of these effects has been attributed to the induction of oxidative stress. Ferulla plant has antioxidant properties. In the present study, the aim was to reduce the toxic effects of Cd on memory impairment in rats by through the consumption of Ferulla extract.

MATERIALS & METHOD

Rats were randomly divided into five groups of six: (1) control group, (2) 300 μM cadmium exposure group, and three treatment groups with doses of (3) 100, (4) 300, and (5) 600 mg/kg.BW of F. Ferulla extract after Cd exposure. To induce neurotoxicity, Cd was daily injected peritoneally at a concentration of 300 μM in 1 ml of normal saline for a week. Next, for 3 weeks, the Cd group received 1 ml of normal peritoneal saline, and the treatment groups received F. Ferulla extract at concentrations of 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg.BW in 1 ml of normal saline daily for a week. At the end of the treatment period, a water maze was used to assess memory disorders. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione concentration (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in nerve tissue were also measured. Morris water maze was also performed after intervention.

RESULTS

Cd-induced neurotoxicity was shown in Cd groups. MDA, GSH, and GPX have a significant difference in comparison between the Cd and 300, 600 treated groups. MDA has a significant increase (p < 0.05), and GSH and GPX have a significant decrease (p < 0.05). The results of the Morris water maze showed that the Cd group spent either 300 or 600 more distances and time to find a place to escape, which was significant (p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Cd exposure can induce neurotoxicity and disrupt learning and memory. On the other hand, Ferulla extract can improve learning and memory in Cd-induced neurotoxicity model via induced antioxidant defense system.

Effect of cell cycle synchronization on cadmium-induced apoptosis and necrosis in NRK-52E cells

Heavy metal pollution is a problem that cannot be ignored. Due to the prevalence of cadmium in the environment and its harmful effects on humans, cadmium pollution has become a research hotspot recently. The mechanism of cadmium-induced toxicity has also drawn much attention and most studies have been conducted using whole cells, but the toxicological mechanism of cadmium remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to obtain NRK-52E cells at different growth stages by various methods and analyze the differences in cadmium toxicity. The results show that the cadmium sensitivity of cells in each phase was different and the late apoptotic rate was increased significantly after 5 µM Cd treatment. In addition, cadmium easily induces apoptosis of G0- and S-phase cells, as well as necrosis of S- and M-phase cells, but has no significant effect on G1-phase cells. Overall, we first explored the differences in the effects of cadmium on NRK-52E cells at various growth phases. Besides, the findings of this study might provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of the toxicological mechanism of cadmium.Abbreviations Cd: cadmium; CDK: cyclin-dependent kinases; DAPI 2-(4-amidinophenyl)-1H-indole-6-carboxamidine; TBST: Tris-buffered saline with Tween-20; PI: propidium iodide; DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium; BCA: bicinchoninic acid.

Calcimimetic compound NPS R-467 protects against chronic cadmium-induced mouse kidney injury by restoring autophagy process

In the kidney, disturbance of calcium homeostasis can cause renal hemodynamic changes, leading to glomerulonephritis, tubular damage and renal vascular disease, and thus promotes the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metals proved to induce disturbances of calcium homeostasis and nephrotoxicity. Calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is abundantly expressed in the kidney and plays an important role in maintaining body calcium homeostasis. Our previous study suggested that the activation of CaSR could act as a protective pathway to reduce Cd-induced cytotoxicity in renal proximal tubular cells. However, its application in animal models, its treatment efficacy and underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, an in vivo animal model (ICR male mouse, n = 5) subjected to Cd-induced nephrotoxicity was used in this study. In the present study, the results indicated that long-term (4 weeks) but not short-term (7 days) Cd exposure induced kidney injury, including induced glomerular atrophy, renal proximal tubule damage, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level, elevated urine protein quantity, and upregulated kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1). It was further observed that chronic Cd exposure induced inhibition of autophagy flux, which triggered kidney apoptosis and injury. However, NPS R-467 restored Cd-inhibited autophagy flux and reduced Cd-induced kidney apoptosis and injury. Finding from this study indicated that activation of CaSR in prevention from nephrotoxicity and kidney injury caused by Cd, which might be helpful for the treatment of clinical CKD.

Effects of quercetin on cadmium-induced toxicity in rat urine using metabonomics techniques

This study aimed to analyse the protective effects of quercetin on the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) using metabonomics techniques. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10): control group (C), low-dose quercetin-treated group (Q1; 10 mg/kg bw/day), high-dose quercetin-treated group (Q2; 50 mg/kg bw/day), Cd-treated group (D; 4.89 mg/kg bw/day), low-dose quercetin plus Cd-treated group (DQ1) and high-dose quercetin plus Cd-treated group (DQ2). The rats continuously received quercetin and Cd via gavage and drinking water for 12 weeks, respectively. The rat urine samples were collected for metabonomics analysis. Finally, 10 metabolites were identified via the metabonomics profiles of the rat urine samples. Compared with the control group, the intensities of taurine, phosphocreatine, l-carnitine and uric acid were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) and those of LysoPC (18: 2 (9Z, 12Z)), guanidinosuccinic acid, dopamine, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman and allantoic acid were significantly increased (p < 0.01) in the Cd-treated group. However, the intensities of the aforementioned metabolites had restorative changes in the high-dose quercetin plus Cd-treated groups unlike those in Cd-treated group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Results indicated that quercetin exerts protective effects on Cd-induced toxicity by regulating energy and lipid metabolism, enhancing the antioxidant defence system and protecting liver and kidney function and so on.

TO901317 inhibits the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by LXRα/Glut1 decreasing glycometabolism

This study was conducted to observe the effect and possible mechanism of TO901317 in vivo and in vitro to provide a new basis for the targeted therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expressions of liver X receptor (LXR)-α, glucose transporter (Glut)-1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were analyzed from HCC public database (NCBI PubMed database). The result showed that LXRα was downregulated, whereas Glut1, PCNA, and MMP9 were upregulated in human HCC compared with normal liver. Furthermore, LXRα mRNA was negatively correlated with Glut1 mRNA. At the same time, HCC cells were cultivated in vitro and axillary injected in nude mice to establish the xenograft model. The xenograft in the TO901317-treated group was slower and smaller than the control group. The protein expression of LXRα, Glut1, and MMP9 could be detected by Western blot and glucose level. As a result, TO901317 could inhibit the cell proliferation of HCC in a dose-dependent manner by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. With the increase of TO901317 concentration, the cellular glucose concentration and ATP level were gradually decreased. Western blot results showed TO901317 could upregulate LXRα expression but downregulate MMP9 and Glut1 expression. Transwell and wound-healing analysis confirmed that, by increasing the concentration of TO901317, the cell invasion and migration were both decreased. LXRα small-interfering RNA (siRNA) could relieve the suppression effect of TO901317 on the cell invasion and migration and the expression of LXRα, Glut1, and MMP9. The glucose concentration was also raised. TO901317 could repress the progress of HCC cells by reducing the glucose concentration, upregulating LXRα expression, but downregulating the expression of Glut1 and MMP9. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This subject confirmed that TO901317, a specific liver X receptor agonist, could inhibit the progression of liver cancer through upregulating liver X receptor-α, downregulating the expression of glucose transporter-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9, and decreasing the glucose content in SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells.

Cadmium level in brain correlates with memory impairment in F1 and F2 generation mice: improvement with quercetin

The increased exposure to cadmium (Cd) through environmental pollutants, food and cigarette smoke is a concern worldwide. The association of Cd with impaired learning disabilities led us to hypothesise that cadmium levels in brain tissue could be dose-dependently related to the extent of memory impairment and oxidative stress. In this study, we proposed to study whether cadmium exposure to dams could alter the brain Cd levels, memory parameters, antioxidant enzymes in brain and their gene expression in the F1-F2 generation mice and whether quercetin could modulate this effect. Animals were administered Cd alone and in combination with quercetin for 7 days during their gestation period. Their newborn pups (F1 and F2 mice) were reared until adulthood and were tested for memory using Morris water maze and step-down latency test. The brain tissue of F1 mice was collected. Cd levels were estimated using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. G-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activity were measured and fold increase in their respective gene expression was observed using the RT-PCR method. Cd levels were significantly increased in the brain tissue of animals exposed to Cd but cotreatment with quercetin showed decreased levels in both generations. Memory impairment was observed in animals of F1 generation exposed to Cd and cotreatment with quercetin (100 mg/kg) reversed this effect. Cd exposure significantly enhanced both activity and expression of GST and CAT in the brain tissue of F1 generation mice and quercetin attenuated this effect. In F2 generation, results were variable. GST activity and expression increased with Cd and decreased with quercetin cotreatment. However, CAT activity showed no significant change despite a decrease in gene expression. Quercetin cotreatment enhanced activity as well gene expression in F2 generation. Our study insinuates that Cd levels could act as a predictor of memory impairment and altered enzyme activity and gene expression in brain tissue. Quercetin helped to reduce Cd levels in brain tissue of F1 and F2 generation and modulated the antioxidant system of the cell by affecting expression of antioxidant enzymes at the transcription level.

Transient increase in cellular dehydrogenase activity after cadmium treatment precedes enhanced production of reactive oxygen species in human proximal tubular kidney cells

Cadmium is a heavy metal causing toxicity especially in kidney cells. The toxicity is linked also with enhanced oxidative stress leading to cell death. On the other hand, our recent experiments have shown that an increase of total intracellular dehydrogenases activity can also occur in kidney cells before declining until cell death. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate this transient enhancement in cell viability after cadmium treatment. The human kidney HK-2 cell line was treated with CdCl(2) at concentrations 0-200 microM for 2-24 h and intracellular dehydrogenase activity was tested. In addition, we measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glutathione levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and C-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. We found that significantly increased dehydrogenase activity could occur in cells treated with 25, 100, and 200 microM CdCl(2). Moreover, the results showed an increase in ROS production linked with JNK activation following the enhancement of dehydrogenase activity. Other tests detected no relationship with the increased in intracellular dehydrogenase activity. Hence, the transient increase in dehydrogenase activity in HK-2 cells preceded the enhancement of ROS production and our finding provides new evidence in cadmium kidney toxicity.

Role of Liver X Receptor in Mastitis Therapy and Regulation of Milk Fat Synthesis

Mastitis is important disease that causes huge economic losses in the dairy industry. In recent years, antibiotic therapy has become the primary treatment for mastitis, however, due to drug residue in milk and food safety factors, we lack safe and effective drugs for treating mastitis. Therefore, new targets and drugs are urgently needed to control mastitis. LXRα, one of the main members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is reported to play important roles in metabolism, infection and immunity. Activation of LXRα could inhibit LPS-induced mastitis. Furthermore, LXRα is reported to enhance milk fat production, thus, LXRα may serve as a new target for mastitis therapy and regulation of milk fat synthesis. This review summarizes the effects of LXRα in regulating milk fat synthesis and treatment of mastitis and highlights the potential agonists involved in both issues.

Liver X receptor activation inhibits SGLT2-mediated glucose transport in human renal proximal tubular cells

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? The liver X receptor (LXR) has been reported to regulate several membrane transporters. It is imperative to investigate whether LXR activation regulates SGLT2-mediated glucose transport in human renal proximal tubular cells. What is the main finding and its importance? Liver X receptor activation inhibits SGLT2 transport function in normal and high-glucose conditions via reduction of SGLT2 protein expression. Liver X receptors (LXRs) are members of a nuclear receptor family consisting of two isoforms, LXRα and LXRβ. They play a major role in energy metabolism, including lipid and glucose metabolism. Recent studies reported that LXRs regulate plasma glucose, although the mechanism is still uncertain. The present study investigated whether LXR activation regulates sodium glucose cotransporter2 (SGLT2) in human renal proximal tubular cells. LXR agonists, T0901317 and GW3965, inhibited SGLT2-mediated glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of T0901317 and GW3965 was attenuated by a LXR antagonist, fenofibrate. Activation of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist, bexarotene, potentiates the inhibitory effect of these ligands. Thus, the inhibitory effect of LXR agonists on SGLT2 was mediated and facilitated by LXR and RXR activation, respectively. In addition, the inhibitory effect of LXR agonists was not mediated by cytotoxicity. Exposing HK-2 cells, a renal proximal tubular cell line, to LXR agonists significantly reduced the maximal transport rate of SGLT2 without any effect on transporter affinity. Western blot analysis revealed that LXR activation significantly decreased protein expression of SGLT2 with no change in mRNA level. In addition, LXR activation inhibited canagliflozin-sensitive short-circuit current, which represents SGLT2-mediated glucose transport in a polarized human renal proximal tubular cell monolayer. Furthermore, LXR activation inhibited the transport function of SGLT2 in hyperglycaemic conditions. As such, this study represents evidence for the inhibitory effect of LXR activation on glucose transport in human renal proximal tubular cells.

Liver X receptor α is targeted by microRNA-1 to inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined as ventricular dysfunction occurring independently of a recognized cause such as hypertension or coronary artery disease. Liver X receptor α (LXRα), a subtype of ligand-activated transcription factors LXRs, has been considered as a potential pharmacological target in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, the potential mechanism of how LXRα is regulated in cardiomyocytes is still unclear. This study investigated the effect of activating LXRα with GW3965 on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and its upstream regulator in glucose-induced H9C2 cells. Our data indicated that GW3965 up-regulated the expression of LXRα, inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and altered the apoptosis-related proteins in glucose-induced H9C2 cells. In addition, GW3965 restored the mitochondrial membrane potential level and decreased the ROS production induced by glucose. Moreover, LXRα was confirmed as a direct target of microRNA-1 (miR-1) that was involved in cardiomyocyte apoptosis of DCM, and overexpression of miR-1 abrogated the inhibiting effect of GW3965 on glucose-induced apoptosis in H9C2 cells. This study highlights an important role of LXRα in the development of DCM and brings new insights into the complex mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DCM.