eIF3 regulates migration, invasion and apoptosis in cadmium transformed 16HBE cells and is a novel biomarker of cadmium exposure in a rat model and in workers

A Tripeptide (Ser-Arg-Pro, SRP) from Sipunculus nudus L. Improves Cadmium-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Targeting the MAPK, Inflammatory, and Apoptosis Pathways in Mice

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that causes nephrosis, including acute kidney injury. To prevent and treat acute kidney injury (AKI) following Cd exposure, a tripeptide, Ser-Arg-Pro (SRP), from Sipunculus nudus L. was employed, and its potential efficacy in AKI was assessed. Oral administration of SRP significantly alleviated Cd-induced kidney damage, leading to improved renal function and the attenuation of structural abnormalities. A network pharmacology analysis revealed the potential of SRP in renal protection by targeting various pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, inflammatory response, and apoptosis pathways. Mechanistic studies indicated that SRP achieves renal protection by inhibiting the activation of MAPK pathways (phosphorylation of p38, p56, ERK, and JNK) in the oxidative stress cascade, suppressing inflammatory responses (iNOS, Arg1, Cox2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), and restoring altered apoptosis factors (caspase-9, caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2). Hence, SRP has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of Cd-induced nephrotoxicity.

The dynamic face of cadmium-induced Carcinogenesis: Mechanisms, emerging trends, and future directions

Cadmium (Cd) is a malleable element with odorless, tasteless characteristics that occurs naturally in the earth's crust, underground water, and soil. The most common reasons for the anthropological release of Cd to the environment include industrial metal mining, smelting, battery manufacturing, fertilizer production, and cigarette smoking. Cadmium-containing products may enter the environment as soluble salts, vapor, or particle forms that accumulate in food, soil, water, and air. Several epidemiological studies have highlighted the association between Cd exposure and adverse health outcomes, especially renal toxicity, and the impact of Cd exposure on the development and progression of carcinogenesis. Also highlighted is the evidence for early-life and even maternal exposure to Cd leading to devastating health outcomes, especially the risk of cancer development in adulthood. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how Cd mediates carcinogenic transformation, including epigenetic alteration, DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modification, dysregulated non-coding RNA, DNA damage in the form of DNA mutation, strand breaks, and chromosomal abnormalities with double-strand break representing the most common DNA form of damage. Cd induces an indirect genotoxic effect by reducing p53's DNA binding activity, eventually impairing DNA repair, inducing downregulation in the expression of DNA repair genes, which might result in carcinogenic transformation, enhancing lipid peroxidation or evasion of antioxidant interference such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione. Moreover, Cd mediates apoptosis evasion, autophagy activation, and survival mechanisms. In this review, we decipher the role of Cd mediating carcinogenic transformation in different models and highlight the interaction between various mechanisms. We also discuss diagnostic markers, therapeutic interventions, and future perspectives.

Cadmium Highlights Common and Specific Responses of Two Freshwater Sentinel Species, Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis

Zebra mussel (ZM), Dreissena polymorpha, commonly used as a sentinel species in freshwater biomonitoring, is now in competition for habitat with quagga mussel (QM), Dreissena rostriformis bugensis. This raises the question of the quagga mussel's use in environmental survey. To better characterise QM response to stress compared with ZM, both species were exposed to cadmium (100 µg·L-1), a classic pollutant, for 7 days under controlled conditions. The gill proteomes were analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry. For ZM, 81 out of 88 proteoforms of variable abundance were identified using mass spectrometry, and for QM, 105 out of 134. Interestingly, the proteomic response amplitude varied drastically, with 5.6% of proteoforms of variable abundance (DAPs) in ZM versus 9.4% in QM. QM also exhibited greater cadmium accumulation. Only 12 common DAPs were observed. Several short proteoforms were detected, suggesting proteolysis. Functional analysis is consistent with the pleiotropic effects of the toxic metal ion cadmium, with alterations in sulphur and glutathione metabolisms, cellular calcium signalling, cytoskeletal dynamics, energy production, chaperone activation, and membrane events with numerous proteins involved in trafficking and endocytosis/exocytosis processes. Beyond common responses, the sister species display distinct reactions, with cellular response to stress being the main category involved in ZM as opposed to calcium and cytoskeleton alterations in QM. Moreover, QM exhibited greater evidence of proteolysis and cell death. Overall, these results suggest that QM has a weaker stress response capacity than ZM.

The protective effects of chrysin on cadmium-induced pulmonary toxicity; a multi-biomarker approach

This study aimed to determine the potential protective effects of chrysin (CHR) on experimental cadmium (Cd)-induced lung toxicity in rats. To this end, rats were divided into five groups; Control, CHR, Cd, Cd + CHR25, Cd + CHR50. In the study, rats were treated with CHR (oral gavage, 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) 30 min after giving Cd (oral gavage, 25 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. The effects of Cd and CHR treatments on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, ER stress, apoptosis and tissue damage in rat lung tissues were determined by biochemical and histological methods. Our results revealed that CHR therapy for Cd-administered rats could significantly reduce MDA levels in lung tissue while significantly increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and GSH levels. CHR agent exerted antiinflammatory effect by lowering elevated levels of NF-κB, IL-1β IL-6, TNF-α, RAGE and NRLP3 in Cd-induced lung tissue. Moreover CHR down-regulated Cd-induced ER stress markers (PERK, IRE1, ATF6, CHOP, and GRP78) and apoptosis markers (Caspase-3, Bax) lung tissue. CHR up-regulated the Bcl-2 gene, an anti-apoptotic marker. Besides, CHR attenuated the side effects caused by Cd by modulating histopathological changes such as hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, thickening of the alveolar wall and collagen increase. Immunohistochemically, NF-κB and Caspase-3 expressions were intense in the Cd group, while these expressions were decreased in the Cd + CHR groups. These results suggest that CHR exhibits protective effects against Cd-induced lung toxicity in rats by ameliorating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress and histological changes.