Cadmium down-regulates expression of XIAP at the post-transcriptional level in prostate cancer cells through an NF-kappaB-independent, proteasome-mediated mechanism

Synergistic activation of P and orbital coupling effect for ultra-sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of Cd(II) over Fe-doped CoP

Despite significant advancements in the detection of cadmium (Cd(II)) based on nanomaterial adsorbability, limited research has been conducted on ultra-sensitive and selective detection mechanisms, resulting in a lack of guidance for designing efficient interface materials to detect Cd(II). Herein, reductive Fe doping on CoP facilitates an efficient Fe-Co-P electron transfer path, which renders P the electron-rich site and subsequently splits a new orbital peak that matches with that of Cd(II) for excellent electrochemical performance. The sensitivity of Cd(II) was remarkably up to 109.75 μA μM-1 on the Fe-CoP modified electrode with excellent stability and repeatability, surpassing previously reported findings. Meanwhile, the electrode exhibits exceptional selectivity towards Cd(II) ions compared to some bivalent heavy metal ions (HMIs). Moreover, X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis reveals the interaction between P and Cd(II), which is further verified via density functional theory (DFT) calculation with the new hybrid peaks resulting from the splitting peak of P atoms coupled with the orbital energy level of Cd(II). Generally, doping engineering for specific active sites and regulation of orbital electrons not only provides valuable insights for the subsequent regulation of electronic configuration but also lays the foundation for customizing highly sensitive and selectivity sensors.

Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies Induced by Environmental Pollutants: Heat Shock Proteins and Proteasome as Promising Therapeutic Tools

Environmental pollutants' (EPs) amount and diversity have increased in recent years due to anthropogenic activity. Several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are theorized to be related to EPs, as their incidence has increased in a similar way to human EPs exposure and they reproduce the main ND hallmarks. EPs induce several neurotoxic effects, including accumulation and gradual deposition of misfolded toxic proteins, producing neuronal malfunction and cell death. Cells possess different mechanisms to eliminate these toxic proteins, including heat shock proteins (HSPs) and the proteasome system. The accumulation and deleterious effects of toxic proteins are induced through HSPs and disruption of proteasome proteins' homeostatic function by exposure to EPs. A therapeutic approach has been proposed to reduce accumulation of toxic proteins through treatment with recombinant HSPs/proteasome or the use of compounds that increase their expression or activity. Our aim is to review the current literature on NDs related to EP exposure and their relationship with the disruption of the proteasome system and HSPs, as well as to discuss the toxic effects of dysfunction of HSPs and proteasome and the contradictory effects described in the literature. Lastly, we cover the therapeutic use of developed drugs and recombinant proteasome/HSPs to eliminate toxic proteins and prevent/treat EP-induced neurodegeneration.

LncRNA DUXAP10 Upregulation and the Hedgehog Pathway Activation Are Critically Involved in Chronic Cadmium Exposure-Induced Cancer Stem Cell-Like Property

Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known lung carcinogen. However, the mechanism of Cd carcinogenesis remains to be clearly defined. Cd has been shown to act as a weak mutagen, suggesting that it may exert tumorigenic effect through nongenotoxic ways, such as epigenetic mechanisms. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) refer to RNA molecules that are longer than 200 nucleotides in length but lack protein-coding capacities. Regulation of gene expressions by lncRNAs is considered as one of important epigenetic mechanisms. The goal of this study is to investigate the mechanism of Cd carcinogenesis focusing on the role of lncRNA dysregulations. Cd-induced malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelia BEAS-2B cells was accomplished by a 9-month low-dose Cd (CdCl2, 2.5 µM) exposure. The Cd-exposed cells formed significantly more colonies in soft agar, displayed cancer stem cell (CSC)-like property, and formed tumors in nude mice. Mechanistically, chronic low-dose Cd exposure did not cause significant genotoxic effects but dysregulated lncRNA expressions. Further Q-PCR analysis confirmed the significant upregulation of the oncogenic lncRNA DUXAP10 in Cd-transformed cells. DUXAP10 knockdown in Cd-transformed cells significantly reduced their CSC-like property. Further mechanistic studies showed that the Hedgehog pathway is activated in Cd-transformed cells and inhibition of this pathway reduces Cd-induced CSC-like property. DUXAP10 knockdown caused the Hedgehog pathway inactivation in Cd-transformed cells. Furthermore, Pax6 expression was upregulated in Cd-transformed cells and Pax6 knockdown significantly reduced their DUXAP10 levels and CSC-like property. In summary, these findings suggest that the lncRNA DUXAP10 upregulation may play an important role in Cd carcinogenesis.

Cadmium induced cerebral toxicity via modulating MTF1-MTs regulatory axis

Metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF1) participates in redox homeostasis and heavy metals detoxification via regulating the expression of metal responsive genes. However, the exact role of MTF1 in Cd-induced cerebral toxicity remains unclear. Herein, we explored the mechanism of Cd-elicited cerebral toxicity through modulating MTF1/MTs pathway in chicken cerebrum exposed to different concentrations of Cd (35 mg, 70 mg, and 140 mg/kg CdCl₂) via diet. Notably, cerebral tissues showed varying degrees of microstructural changes under Cd exposure. Cd exposure significantly up-regulated the expression of metal transporters (DMT1, ZIP8, and ZIP10) with concomitant elevated Cd level, as determined by ICP-MS. Cd significantly altered other cerebral biometals concentrations (particularly, Zn, Fe, Se, Cr, Mo, and Pb) and redox balance, resulting in increased cerebral oxidative stress. More importantly, Cd exposure suppressed MTF1 mRNA and nuclear protein levels and its target metal-responsive genes, notably metallothioneins (MT1 and MT2), and Fe and Cu transporter genes (FPN1, ATOX1, and XIAP). Moreover, Cd disrupted the regulation of expression of selenoproteome (particularly, GPxs and SelW), and cerebral Se level. Overall, our data revealed that molecular mechanisms associated with Cd-induced cerebral damage might include over-expression of DMT1, ZIP8 and ZIP10, and suppression of MTF1 and its main target metal-responsive genes as well as several selenoproteins.

Cadmium induces mitochondrial ROS inactivation of XIAP pathway leading to apoptosis in neuronal cells

Cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal pollutant, contributes to neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, we have demonstrated that Cd induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes apoptosis in neuronal cells. Whether X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is involved in Cd-induced ROS-dependent neuronal apoptosis remains unclear. Here, we show that Cd-induced ROS reduced the expression of XIAP, which resulted in up-regulation of murine double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) and down-regulation of p53, leading to apoptosis in PC12 cells and primary neurons. Inhibition of MDM2 with Nutlin-3a reversed Cd-induced reduction of p53 and substantially rescued cells from excess ROS-dependent death. Overexpression of XIAP protected against Cd induction of ROS-dependent neuronal apoptosis. Inhibition of XIAP by Embelin strengthened Cd-induced ROS and apoptosis in the cells. Furthermore, we found that Cd inactivation of XIAP pathway was attributed to Cd induction of mitochondrial ROS, as evidenced by using a mitochondrial superoxide indicator MitoSOX and a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant Mito-TEMPO. Taken together, these results indicate that Cd induces mitochondrial ROS inactivation of XIAP-MDM2-p53 pathway leading to apoptosis in neuronal cells. Our findings suggest that activators of XIAP or modulation of XIAP-MDM2-p53 pathway by antioxidants may be exploited for the prevention of Cd-induced oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases.

Tan IIA inhibits H1299 cell viability through the MDM4‑IAP3 signaling pathway

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), as a bioactive compound extracted from the dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (also known as Danshen), is known to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the function of Tan IIA in cancer cell apoptosis remain to be elucidated The aim of the present study was to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of Tan IIA in p53-deficient H1299 cells. Tan IIA was demonstrated to suppress murine double minute 4 (MDM4) expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner through the inhibition of MDM4 mRNA synthesis. Tan IIA-induced downregulation of MDM4 resulted in an increase of P73α and a decrease of inhibitor of apoptosis 3 (IAP3). However, P73α was not activated as two P73α target genes, BCL2 binding component 3 and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1, were not significantly induced. Tan IIA-induced inhibition of IAP3 expression may be involved in Tan IIA-induced apoptosis and inhibition of H1299 cell viability. Notably, a combination of Tan IIA and doxorubicin (DOX) exposure resulted in further MDM4 overexpression in H1299 cells, indicating that Tan IIA sensitized p53-deficient and MDM4-overexpressing H1299 cells to DOX-induced apoptosis.

Induction of Plac8 promotes pro-survival function of autophagy in cadmium-induced prostate carcinogenesis

Chronic exposure to cadmium is known to be a risk factor for human prostate cancer. Despite over-whelming evidence of cadmium causing carcinogenicity in humans, the specific underlying molecular mechanisms that govern metal-induced cellular transformation remain unclear. Acute exposure (up to 72 h) to cadmium induces apoptosis in normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1), while chronic exposure (>1 year) transforms these cells to a malignant phenotype (cadmium-transformed prostate epithelial cells; CTPE). Increased expression of autophagy-regulated genes; Plac8, LC3B and Lamp-1; in CTPE cells was associated with cadmium-induced transformation. Increased expression of Plac8, a regulator of autophagosome/autolysosome fusion, facilitates the pro-survival function of autophagy and upregulation of pAKT^(ser473) and NF-κβ, to allow CTPE to proliferate. Likewise, inhibition of Plac8 suppresses CTPE cell growth. Additionally, overexpression of Plac8 in RWPE-1 cells induces resistance to cadmium toxicity. Pharmacological inhibitors and an inducer of autophagy failed to affect Plac8 expression and CTPE cell viability, suggesting a unique role for Plac8 in cadmium-induced prostate epithelial cell transformation. These results support a role for Plac8 as an essential component in the cadmium-induced transformation of normal prostate epithelial cells to a cancerous state.

Identification of XAF1-MT2A mutual antagonism as a molecular switch in cell-fate decisions under stressful conditions

XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1) is a tumor suppressor that is commonly inactivated in multiple human neoplasms. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its proapoptotic function remains largely undefined. Here, we report that XAF1 induction by heavy metals triggers an apoptotic switch of stress response by destabilizing metallothionein 2A (MT2A). XAF1 directly interacts with MT2A and facilitates its lysosomal degradation, resulting in the elevation of the free intercellular zinc level and subsequent activation of p53 and inactivation of XIAP. Intriguingly, XAF1 is activated as a unique transcription target of metal-regulatory transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) in signaling apoptosis, and its protein is destabilized via the lysosomal pathway by MTF-1-induced MT2A under cytostatic stress conditions, indicating the presence of mutual antagonism between XAF1 and MT2A. The antagonistic interplay between XAF1 and MT2A acts as a key molecular switch in MTF-1-mediated cell-fate decisions and also plays an important role in cell response to various apoptotic and survival factors. Wild-type (WT) XAF1 but not MT2A binding-deficient mutant XAF1 increases the free intracellular zinc level and accelerates WT folding of p53 and degradation of XIAP. Consistently, XAF1 evokes a more drastic apoptotic effect in p53+/+ versus isogenic p53-/- cells. Clinically, expression levels of XAF1 and MT2A are inversely correlated in primary colon tumors and multiple cancer cell lines. XAF1-depleted xenograft tumors display an increased growth rate and a decreased apoptotic response to cytotoxic heavy metals with strong MT2A expression. Collectively, this study uncovers an important role for XAF1-MT2A antagonism as a linchpin to govern cell fate under various stressful conditions including heavy metal exposure.

The different roles of selective autophagic protein degradation in mammalian cells

Autophagy is an intracellular pathway for bulk protein degradation and the removal of damaged organelles by lysosomes. Autophagy was previously thought to be unselective; however, studies have increasingly confirmed that autophagy-mediated protein degradation is highly regulated. Abnormal autophagic protein degradation has been associated with multiple human diseases such as cancer, neurological disability and cardiovascular disease; therefore, further elucidation of protein degradation by autophagy may be beneficial for protein-based clinical therapies. Macroautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) can both participate in selective protein degradation in mammalian cells, but the process is quite different in each case. Here, we summarize the various types of macroautophagy and CMA involved in determining protein degradation. For this summary, we divide the autophagic protein degradation pathways into four categories: the post-translational modification dependent and independent CMA pathways and the ubiquitin dependent and independent macroautophagy pathways, and describe how some non-canonical pathways and modifications such as phosphorylation, acetylation and arginylation can influence protein degradation by the autophagy lysosome system (ALS). Finally, we comment on why autophagy can serve as either diagnostics or therapeutic targets in different human diseases.

High Cadmium Levels in Cured Meat Products Marketed in Nigeria - Implications for Public Health

Heavy metals are known to disrupt important physiological processes in living cells, and have been responsible for various pathological conditions with possible contributions to cancer development. Food contamination have been identified as one of the ways humans are exposed to heavy metals. In developing countries like Nigeria, the regulatory framework for enforcing compliance with globally acceptable exposure to deleterious contaminants is poor. In the current study, thirteen samples of cured meat products of diverse origin marketed in South-west Nigeria were evaluated for lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel contents using the atomic absorption spectroscopy technique. All the samples analysed contained cadmium between 0.35 and 1.20 ppm, levels considered higher than acceptable limits in consumable products. Lead, chromium and nickel were not detected in any of the samples. As known cumulative poisons, there is the need for stringent regulatory control of these heavy metals in cured meat products imported into or produced indigenously in the country in order to minimize the risks to public health.

Discovery of Sanggenon G as a natural cell-permeable small-molecular weight inhibitor of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP)

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Discovery of a novel XIAP-inhibitory natural compound from Morus root bark (Sanggenon G).

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Sanggenon G binds specific to the BIR3 domain of XIAP in a low μM range.

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Sanggenon G interferes with XIAP-BIR3-substrate binding in living cells.

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Sanggenon G acts as chemosensitizer in tumor cell lines with high XIAP expression.

Defects in the regulation of apoptosis are one main cause of cancer development and may result from overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins such as the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). XIAP is frequently overexpressed in human leukemia and prostate and breast tumors. Inhibition of apoptosis by XIAP is mainly coordinated through direct binding to the initiator caspase-9 via its baculovirus-IAP-repeat-3 (BIR3) domain. XIAP inhibits caspases directly making it to an attractive target for anti-cancer therapy. In the search for novel, non-peptidic XIAP inhibitors in this study we focused on the chemical constituents of sāng bái pí (mulberry root bark). Most promising candidates of this plant were tested biochemically in vitro by a fluorescence polarization (FP) assay and in vivo via protein fragment complementation analysis (PCA). We identified the Diels Alder adduct Sanggenon G (SG1) as a novel, small-molecular weight inhibitor of XIAP. As shown by FP and PCA analyses, SG1 binds specifically to the BIR3 domain of XIAP with a binding affinity of 34.26 μM. Treatment of the transgenic leukemia cell line Molt3/XIAP with SG1 enhances caspase-8, -3 and -9 cleavage, displaces caspase-9 from XIAP as determined by immunoprecipitation experiments and sensitizes these cells to etoposide-induced apoptosis. SG1 not only sensitizes the XIAP-overexpressing leukemia cell line Molt3/XIAP to etoposide treatment but also different neuroblastoma cell lines endogenously expressing high XIAP levels. Taken together, Sanggenon G (SG1) is a novel, natural, non-peptidic, small-molecular inhibitor of XIAP that can serve as a starting point to develop a new class of improved XIAP inhibitors.

Synthesis, characterization and anti-proliferative activity of Cd(II) complexes with NNN type pyrazole-based ligand and pseudohalide ligands as coligand

Cd(II) complexes of tridentate nitrogen donor ligand, 2,6-bis(3,4,5-trimethylpyrazolyl)pyridine (btmpp), Cd(btmpp)X2 (X:Cl, ONO or N(CN)2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectral (FT-IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, UV-Vis) analyses, differential thermal analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The molecular structure of reported complex 1, revealed distorted square-pyramidal geometry around Cadmium. Complexes 1-3 and corresponding ligand were tested for cytotoxic activity against the human carcinoma cell lines HEP3B (hepatocellular carcinoma), PC3 (prostate adenocarcinoma), MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma) and Saos2 (osteosarcoma). The results show that, complexes are more cytotoxic than the free ligand and complex 2 is the most cytotoxic complex for PC3.

Organic cadmium complexes as proteasome inhibitors and apoptosis inducers in human breast cancer cells

Although cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental contaminant and human carcinogen, our studies indicate an organic Cd complex to be a potent inhibitor of proteasomal chymotrypsin-like (CT-like) activity, further capable of inducing apoptosis in a cancer cell-specific manner. It has been reported that the ligands indole-3-butyric acid (L1) and indole-3-propionic acid (L2) have cancer-fighting effects when tested in a rat carcinoma model. In addition, 3, 5-diaminobenzoic acid o-vanillin Schiff bases (L3) have high antimicrobial activity and a large number of Schiff base complexes have been reported to have proteasome-inhibitory activity. We therefore hypothesized that synthetic forms of Cd in combination with L1, L2 and L3 may have proteasome-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing activities, which would be cancer cell-specific. To test this hypothesis, we have synthesized three novel Cd-containing complexes: [Cd2(C12H12O2N)4(H2O)2]·2H2O (Cd1), [Cd2(C11H10O2N)4(H2O)2]·2H2O (Cd2) and [Cd(C7H4N2O2)(C8H6O2)2]·2H2O (Cd3), by using these three ligands. We sought out to characterize and assess the proteasome-inhibitory and anti-proliferative properties of these three Cd complexes in human breast cancer cells. Cd1, Cd2 and Cd3 were found to effectively inhibit the chymotrypsin-like activity of purified 20S proteasome with IC50 values of 2.6, 3.0 and 3.3 μΜ, respectively. Moreover, inhibition of cancer cell proliferation also correlated with this effect. As a result of proteasomal shutdown, the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and the proteasome target IκB-α protein as well as induction of apoptosis were observed. To account for the cancer specificity of this effect, immortalized, non-tumorigenic breast MCF10A cells were used under the same experimental conditions. Our results indicate that MCF10A cells are much less sensitive to the Cd1, Cd2 and Cd3 complexes when compared to MDA MB 231 breast cancer cells. Therefore, our study suggests that these Cd organic complexes are capable of inhibiting tumor cellular proteasome activity and consequently induce cancer cell-specific apoptotic death.

Mechanisms of cisplatin-induced cell death in malignant mesothelioma cells: role of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) and caspases

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive and highly chemoresistant tumour. Although cisplatin is used in frontline therapy of this disease treatment remains palliative at best. The biochemical pathways activated by cisplatin and the mechanisms of resistance in mesothelioma cells are poorly understood. Overexpression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) has been described in clinical mesothelioma tumours and proposed as therapeutic targets. In this study, we examined cisplatin-induced cell death pathways and IAPs in three mesothelioma-derived cell lines. Cisplatin induced cell death in mesothelioma cell lines was characterised by biochemical mechanisms classically associated with apoptosis including: mitochondrial depolarisation, phosphatidylserine translocation and caspase activation. Surprisingly mRNA expression of IAPs in mesothelioma was not upregulated relative to primary mesothelial cells except for survivin which was higher in the most resistant cell line. In contrast, protein expression of both XIAP and survivin was upregulated in all mesothelioma cells, consistent with post-translational regulation. Knockdown of either XIAP or survivin by RNAi did not affect the sensitivity to cisplatin in any of the cell lines. Survivin RNAi did, however, inhibit proliferation in the highest expressing cell line, ONE58. The pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD and the more selective caspase 3/7 inhibitor z-DEVD had no effect upon the sensitivity of any of the cell lines to cisplatin indicating that caspase-independent pathways predominate. The findings of the present study provide insights into cisplatin-induced mechanisms in mesothelioma cells and show that alternative pathways are operating which may provide new options for targeting this extremely resistant tumour.

Association of Pb, Cd, and Se concentrations and oxidative damage-related markers in different grades of prostate carcinoma

Prostate cancer is known to be affected by the heavy metal levels and oxidative damage of the body, yet there are very few studies which look into the way it occurs. The aim of this study was to determine whether blood and tissue lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and selenium (Se) levels are associated with oxidative damage in the context of prostate cancer progression and development. Seventy-nine patients comprising 25 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), 23 patients with malignant prostatic carcinoma (malign Ca), 16 patients with low-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (LGPIN), and 15 patients with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) diagnosed on the basis of their clinical profile, transrectal ultrasonography, and histopathology were included in this study. Cd and Pb levels in whole blood were found to be increased in patients with HGPIN compared with the BPH group; also, the levels of Cd in whole blood and tissue were found to be increasing in patients with malign Ca, unlike BPH patients. Moreover, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma and tissue were significantly increased in malign Ca, LGPIN, and HGPIN than those in BPH. However, the levels of tissue Pb were found to be decreasing in BPH, unlike the malign Ca and HGPIN patients, and the levels of tissue protein carbonyls in malign Ca were significantly lower than those in HGPIN. The levels of tissue reduced glutathione (GSH) in malign Ca were significantly lower than those in BPH. Additionally, the levels of Se in serum and tissue in LGPIN were significantly lower than those in BPH. The serum Se levels in HGPIN were also significantly lower than those in BPH and malign Ca groups. Furthermore, the concentrations of serum Se in LGPIN were significantly lower than those in malign Ca. From the Pearson correlation analysis, there were significant positive correlations between tissue Cd and MDA levels in malign Ca, LGPIN, and HGPIN and between the tissue Pb and tissue MDA and protein carbonyl levels in malign Ca. Blood Pb and tissue Pb were also significantly positively correlated with plasma MDA and protein carbonyl levels in malign Ca. In addition, blood Pb was significantly positively correlated with tissue MDA and protein carbonyl levels in malign Ca, and a significant positive correlation was also found between blood Cd and plasma protein carbonyls and tissue MDA in LGPIN. We observed that altered prooxidant-antioxidant balance and heavy metal levels may lead to an increase in oxidative damage and may consequently play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis. These findings indicate that changes in the levels of Pb, Cd, Se, MDA, protein carbonyls, and GSH in the blood and/or tissue are related to the prostatic carcinoma development and progression, although triggering one of the mentioned changes is unknown; therefore, further study is required to determine the exact steps of the process and clarify the roles of different substances in order to obtain a more detailed explanation of the phenomenon.

Clioquinol induces cytoplasmic clearance of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP): therapeutic indication for prostate cancer

Clioquinol (5-chloro-7-iodo-8-quinolinol) is a copper ionophore that was used primarily during the 1950-1970s as an oral antimicrobial agent. It has been established that clioquinol displays toxicity towards malignant cells, inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis. In the present study we therefore investigated the effect of clioquinol on the XIAP [X-linked IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein)], as one of its primary functions is to hinder caspase activity and suppress apoptotic cell death. Clioquinol treatment caused cytoplasmic XIAP to rapidly relocate to the nucleus in multiple human transformed (hyperplasic and carcinoma) prostate lines. Clioquinol also caused the cytoplasmic clearance of other IAP family members (cIAP1 and cIAP2). Copper, and no other relevant bivalent metal (e.g. zinc or iron), was exclusively required for clioquinol to elicit an effect on XIAP. We further demonstrated that clioquinol selectively targets and rapidly destroys transformed prostate lines without harming primary prostate epithelial cells. The toxicity of clioquinol was copper-dependent, positively correlated with the level of extracellular copper and could be abrogated by using the copper chelator TTM (tetrathiomolybdate). Clioquinol forced the profound accumulation of intracellular copper with ensuing toxicity influenced by key regulators of cellular copper homoeostasis. Taken together, our results provide significant insight into clioquinol toxicity and reveal an exciting therapeutic approach for the treatment of prostate cancer.

A current global view of environmental and occupational cancers

This review is focused on current information of avoidable environmental pollution and occupational exposure as causes of cancer. Approximately 2% to 8% of all cancers are thought to be due to occupation. In addition, occupational and environmental cancers have their own characteristics, e.g., specific chemicals and cancers, multiple factors, multiple causation and interaction, or latency period. Concerning carcinogens, asbestos/silica/wood dust, soot/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [benzo(a) pyrene], heavy metals (arsenic, chromium, nickel), aromatic amines (4-aminobiphenyl, benzidine), organic solvents (benzene or vinyl chloride), radiation/radon, or indoor pollutants (formaldehyde, tobacco smoking) are mentioned with their specific cancers, e.g., lung, skin, and bladder cancers, mesothelioma or leukemia, and exposure routes, rubber or pigment manufacturing, textile, painting, insulation, mining, and so on. In addition, nanoparticles, electromagnetic waves, and climate changes are suspected as future carcinogenic sources. Moreover, the aspects of environmental and occupational cancers are quite different between developing and developed countries. The recent follow-up of occupational cancers in Nordic countries shows a good example for developed countries. On the other hand, newly industrializing countries face an increased burden of occupational and environmental cancers. Developing countries are particularly suffering from preventable cancers in mining, agriculture, or industries without proper implication of safety regulations. Therefore, industrialized countries are expected to educate and provide support for developing countries. In addition, citizens can encounter new environmental and occupational carcinogen nominators such as nanomaterials, electromagnetic wave, and climate exchanges. As their carcinogenicity or involvement in carcinogenesis is not clearly unknown, proper consideration for them should be taken into account. For these purposes, new technologies with a balance of environment and gene are required. Currently, various approaches with advanced technologies--genomics, exposomics, etc.--have accelerated development of new biomarkers for biological monitoring of occupational and environmental carcinogens. These advanced approaches are promising to improve quality of life and to prevent occupational and environmental cancers.