Trace element research-historical and future aspects

During the last 30 years the International Society for Trace Element Research and the Nordic Trace Element Society has been active . During this period the importance of these elements for human diseases has been increasingly recognized, including their contribution to the global burden of disease. New analytical methods allow biomonitoring data to be related to health outcome. Future research using modern chemical methods will focus more on elemental speciation and on measuring lower concentrations leading to further identifying adverse effects and critical organs. Extensive knowledge about essentiality and toxicity of trace elements in humans has emerged during the last two decades and at present the difficulties in defining a range of acceptable oral intakes for essential elements has largely been overcome. Biological monitoring of trace element concentrations in various media such as blood or urine is of great importance and an overview is given. As an example, a more detailed description of biological monitoring of cadmium is given, explaining biokinetics including the role of metallothionein in modifying kinetics and toxicity. Finally future challenges related to risk assessment of newly developed metallic nanomaterials and metal containing medical devices are discussed.

Oxidative stress biomarkers and metallothionein in Folsomia candida--responses to Cu and Cd

Folsomia candida (Collembola) is a standard soil ecotoxicological species; effect assessment includes survival and reproduction as endpoints. In the present study, and for the first time, a range of oxidative stress biomarkers measurement was optimized and validated. The antioxidant capacity was measured by the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and content of total glutathione (TG). The oxidative damage in the lipid membranes was estimated by lipid peroxidation (LPO) and metallothionein (MT) levels. The exposure included the essential and non-essential metals Cu and Cd, in LUFA 2.2 natural standard soil, using a series of sampling times along a 10 days period (0, 2, 4, 6 and 10 days). Exposure concentrations were selected based on their reproduction EC50 values, 60 and 1000 mg/kg soil DW, for Cd and Cu respectively. The protocols were optimized and results show that oxidative stress biomarkers can be successfully used in F. candida, this being highly relevant as complementary information to the mechanistic level. The selected sampling times gave a good indication of the markers dynamic and can be reduced/adapted in future testing. Results showed that both metals caused an increase in the MT levels after 6 days but Cd acted as a stronger oxidant agent compared to Cu, i.e. causing higher damage. In sum, Cd mobilized/activated more antioxidant enzymes, but the increased activities were not enough to prevent LPO. This study confirms that the oxidative stress caused by Cd is higher despite the use of same reproduction EC50 indicating that toxicity seems more reversible for Cu than for Cd. Among others, GST and MT would be a good selection of biomarkers for Cd effect.

Ecotoxicological study on sediments of Mai Po marshes, Hong Kong using organisms and biomarkers

Sediments from Mai Po Ramsar site, Hong Kong were in general shown to be highly toxic based on the results of four toxicity tests (Microtox solid-phase test, Daphnia mortality test, algal [Microcystis aeruginosa] growth inhibition test and ryegrass [Lolium perenne] seed germination/root elongation test). Sediment of the mudflat (which is open to Deep Bay, i.e., the pollution source) was the most toxic while sediment of gei wai 24g (an enclosed freshwater pond) was the least toxic. Results of biomarker studies (tilapia hepatic metallothionein; glutathione (GSH) and EROD activity using H4IIE rat hepatoma cell) were also concordant with those in the toxicity tests. Significant liner relationships (p<0.01) were found between GSH contents in the rat hepatoma cells and PAHs, OCPs contents in the sediment extracts. It is recommended that the present suite of bioassays is useful and is biologically relevant for future ecotoxicological studies focusing on similar wetlands.

Role of metallothioneins in superoxide radical generation during copper redox cycling: Defining the fundamental function of metallothioneins

In order to demonstrate the in vivo antioxidant properties of metallothioneins (MTs), the bacteria Escherichia coli was used as a cell reactor in which we compared the metal binding and antioxidative functions of MTs from different species, with different structures and polypeptide lengths. No protective effects of cytoplasmic MTs from cadmium (Cd) or zinc (Zn) contamination were observed in a wild-type E. coli strain, although these MTs can efficiently bind both Cd and Zn. To test their antioxidant properties, MTs were expressed within the cytoplasm of a sodA sodB deficient mutated strain (QC1726). However, a paradoxical MT toxicity was found when this strain was contaminated with Cd and Zn, suggesting that in a wild-type strain, superoxide dismutase counteracts MT toxicity. The most toxic MT was the one with the strongest Cd and Zn binding capacities. This toxic effect was linked to the generation of superoxide radicals, since a Cd-contaminated QC1726 strain expressing oyster MT isoforms produced 75-85% more O(2)*(-) than the control QC1726 strain. Conversely, under anaerobiosis or in the presence of a copper chelator, MTs protected QC1726 strain from Cd and Zn contamination. A model is proposed to explain the observed MT toxicity.

Knockdown of endosomal/lysosomal divalent metal transporter 1 by RNA interference prevents cadmium-metallothionein-1 cytotoxicity in renal proximal tubule cells

Chronic exposure to Cd2+ causes renal proximal tubular (PT) damage. Cd2+ reaches the PT mainly as cadmium-metallothionein 1 (CdMT-1) complexes that are filtered at the glomerulus and then internalized in part via endocytosis mediated by megalin and cubulin. Subsequently, Cd2+ is thought to be released in the cytosol to activate cell death pathways. The proton-coupled divalent metal transporter DMT1 also transports Cd2+ and is expressed exclusively in endosomes/lysosomes in rat PT cells. Using vector-based RNA interference with short-hairpin small-interfering RNAs (shRNAs) to downregulate DMT1 in the rat renal PT cell line WKPT-0293 Cl.2, we tested the hypothesis that endosomal/lysosomal DMT1 is involved in CdMT-1 nephrotoxicity. One out of 5 shRNAs tested (sh3) significantly reduced expression of DMT1 protein detected by immunoblotting and DMT1 mRNA as determined by RT-PCR by 45.1 +/- 9.6 and 36.9 +/- 14.4% (n = 5-6), respectively. Similarly, sh3 reduced perinuclear DMT1 immunostaining in transfected cells. Consistent with the assumed role of DMT1 in CdMT-1 cytotoxicity, sh3, but not the empty vector or sh5, significantly attenuated cell death induced by a 24-h exposure to 14.3 microM CdMT-1 by 35.6 +/- 4.2% (n = 13). In contrast, neither fluorescently labeled metallothionein-1 (MT-1) uptake nor free Cd2+ toxicity was altered by the effective DMT1 shRNA (sh3), indicating that cellular uptake of metal-MT-1 complexes and Cd2+-induced cell death signaling are not affected by DMT1 knockdown. Thus we conclude that endosomal/lysosomal DMT1 plays a role in renal PT CdMT-1 toxicity.

Localization of the induced metallothionein and DNA damage in rat kidney after gold injection

To clarify the relationships between DNA damage and Cu-MT and between DNA damage and Cu in kidneys of rats injected with Au, we examined the histochemical localization of DNA damage, metallothionein (MT), and the accumulated Cu in the kidneys of rats injected with Au, Cu, or Cu-MT. The immunoreactivity of MT was observed predominantly in the outer stripe of the outer medulla and the inner cortex of the Au-injected rat, and the signals of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) were observed in the cortex. Cu detected by Timm's method was mainly distributed in the cortex of the Au-injected rat. These results indicated that DNA damage could be caused by free Cu in the cortex but not by the Cu bound to MT in the outer stripe of the outer medulla. This consideration was supported by the data from rats injected with Cu and Cu-MT. Furthermore, we determined the Cu contents in three fractions (cytosol, organelle, and precipitate-containing nuclei) of the kidneys. Interestingly, most of the Cu content in the kidney of the rat injected with Au or Cu-MT was detected in the cytosol, whereas most of the Cu content in the kidney of the rat injected with Cu was detected in the nuclei-containing precipitate. These findings suggest that the DNA damage in the kidneys of rats injected with Au may be associated with Cu-binding proteins but not with Cu-MT.

Influence of age, sex and body condition on zinc, copper, cadmium and metallothioneins in common guillemots (Uria aalge) stranded at the Belgian coast

The common guillemots, Uria aalge, found stranded at the Belgian coast, display high levels of Cu in both liver and kidneys. The condition index of the animals, defined as the ratio of liver to kidneys mass (Wenzel & Adelung, 1996, The suitability of oiled Guillemots (Uria aalge) as monitoring organisms for geographical comparisons of trace element contaminants. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 31, 368-377), influences both the metal concentration and its binding to metallothioneins (MT): the lower the condition index, the more emaciated the animals, and the higher the total Cu concentration and the concentration of Cu bound to MT. In less robust individuals, our results suggest that Cu could displace Zn from MT, rendering the Zn ions available to induce a new MT synthesis. Sex-related effects also emerged as significantly higher hepatic MT as well as Cu- and Zn-MT concentrations were found in emaciated male guillemots compared to females. In both organs, Cd concentrations remained low and typically demonstrated an age-dependent renal accumulation, with no noticeable effect of the condition index. As a whole, these results suggest that, for guillemots found stranded at the Belgian coast. Cu binding to hepatic and renal MT could function as a protective mechanism, rendering the metal ions unavailable to exert any cytotoxic activity.

Renal cortical mitochondrial dysfunction upon cadmium metallothionein administration to Sprague-Dawley rats

A bolus dose of cadmium metallothionein (CdMT) produces renal proximal tubular dysfunction because it accumulates in the tubular epithelial cells and undergoes rapid degradation, releasing Cd. Morphologically, mitochondria appear to be the target organelle. The present study examined changes in renal cortical mitochondrial function following CdMT administration and investigated whether some of these effects could be ascribed to Cd2+ accumulation in the mitochondria. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected ip with 0.3 mg Cd as CdMT/kg and the animals were sacrificed after 6, 8, or 12 h. Two- to threefold increases in urinary protein excretion and LDH activity were evident at 8 h, with marked elevations (11- and 29-fold) thereafter. Renal cortical mitochondria were swollen and rounded at 12 h. The mitochondrial Cd level was 399 pmol/mg protein at 6 h and did not change significantly during the next 6 h; however, mitochondrial respiratory function declined with time. At 12 h, state 3 oxygen consumption, respiratory control ratio (RCR), and ADP:O (P/O) ratio were 48, 49, and 76% of control values, respectively, indicating inhibition of electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation. The direct effect of Cd on mitochondrial function was examined by incubating mitochondria from untreated rats with 0.1-2 microM CdCl2. Rapid uptake of Cd resulted in concentration-dependent effects on respiration. After 1 min of incubation with 2 microM Cd, the mitochondria contained 262 microgCd/mg protein and state 3 respiration and RCR values were 75 and 33% of control levels, respectively. Thus, renal proximal tubular cell damage following a bolus dose of CdMT involves perturbations in mitochondrial respiration, brought on by the accumulation of Cd.

Differential calcium transport disturbances in renal membrane vesicles after cadmium-metallothionein injection in rats

Cadmium-metallothionein (CdMT) induced calciuria may result from disturbed calcium (Ca) transport through the renal tubular epithelium. The present study aimed at defining time of onset and the degree of disturbed calcium transport. Kidneys were obtained from rats at 4, 12 and 24 h after a single injection of CdMT (dose 0.4 mg Cd/kg b.w.), and compared to saline injected controls. Rapid-filtration 45Ca-assays were performed on basolateral and luminal membrane vesicles, isolated from kidney cortex using a sequential ultracentrifugation procedure. Luminal 45Ca uptake was increased at 4 h and then declined to about 80% of controls, suggesting an early phase perturbation of Ca absorption. Basolateral 45Ca uptake was reduced to less than 50% of controls, starting already at 4 h while 45Ca binding was reduced at 8 h. This may reflect an inhibited basolateral Ca pump mechanism after the binding step. Since the Ca pump normally expels Ca from the cell, an accumulation of intracellular calcium was indicated. Metal analysis verified a four-fold increase of Ca in kidney cortex at 24 h. This suggests that Cd impact on tubular cells involves disturbances on cellular absorption as well as expulsion of Ca.

Toxicological aspects of metallothionein

Metallothionein (MT) is expressed to a certain extent in almost all mammalian tissues. The biological significance of MT is related to its various forms MT-1, MT-2, MT-3 and MT4. For MT-1 several isoforms of the protein exist and it is likely that these isoforms are related to various functions involved in developmental processes occurring at various stages of gestation. Toxicokinetics and biochemistry of essential and toxic metals such as cadmium, zinc, mercury and copper in organs e.g. kidney, CNS, are often related to metallothionein. It is debated whether there is a relation or not for other metals e.g. selenium and bismuth. For the toxicokinetics of cadmium, MT plays an important role. By expanding techniques from experimental toxicology and biochemistry to include molecular biology methods, more specific and relevant studies can be performed of the actual role and biological function of MT. The present paper on toxicological aspects of metallothionein, presents an overview and evaluation of present knowledge concerning differences among organs and within organs of the expression of MT and how this affects tissue sensitivity to toxicity.

Dependence of cadmium-metallothionein nephrotoxicity on glutathione

Acute cadmium-metallothionein (CdMT) injection is frequently used as a model to study the mechanism of chronic Cd-induced nephrotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between glutathione (GSH) status and the ability of CdMT, either administered as a bolus dose or infused over a 24-h period by an osmotic minipump, to cause nephrotoxicity. GSH levels were modulated by pretreatment with either buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or GSH. BSO enhanced while GSH suppressed acute CdMT nephrotoxicity. An infused dose of CdMT (150 microg Cd/kg) that was well tolerated when delivered over a 24-h period became nephrotoxic when GSH synthesis was inhibited by BSO. With depletion of GSH, as little as 0.4 microg Cd/g renal cortex was sufficient to cause nephrotoxicity after an acute dose of CdMT. While BSO had no effect on renal Cd accumulation, pretreatment with GSH reduced renal cortical Cd accumulation by 36%. CdMT nephrotoxicity was enhanced by depleting renal GSH, but without increasing renal Cd accumulation, which suggests that intracellular GSH is directly involved in protection against CdMT nephrotoxicity. Reduced Cd accumulation in the renal cortex following GSH pretreatment suggests an additional extracellular mechanism of GSH protection. It is concluded that GSH status is an important determinant of CdMT nephrotoxicity, with low GSH levels enhancing and high GSH levels reducing its toxicity, and that the mechanism appears to involve both intracellular and extracellular sites.

Acute CdMT injection is not a good model to study chronic Cd nephropathy: comparison of chronic CdCl2 and CdMT exposure with acute CdMT injection in rats

Kidney is the main target organ of Cd toxicity in humans. Cd-induced nephrotoxicity is thought to be caused by the Cd-metallothionein complex (CdMT) that "leaks" out of the liver and is taken up by the kidney. A single injection of CdMT has therefore been used as a model to study Cd nephropathy for the last 20 years. However, our recent studies reveal discrepancies between renal Cd concentration and nephrotoxic potencies of CdCl2 and CdMT. This study was further designed to critically evaluate whether a single injection of CdMT is an appropriate model to study the mechanism of chronic CdCl2 nephropathy. Age-matched rats were given multiple sc injections of either CdCl2 (0.8 and 1.2 mg Cd/kg) or CdMT (0.05 mg Cd/kg) daily, 6 days/week for 6 weeks, or a single injection of CdMT (0.2-0.6 mg Cd/kg i.p. for 24 h), and the nephrotoxicity was compared. Histologically, chronic CdCl2 or CdMT administration produced damage to the whole kidney, including tubular cell degeneration, apoptosis, and atrophy; interstitial inflammation; glomerular swelling; and sclerosis. In contrast, acute CdMT injection produced severe proximal tubule necrosis as the major feature of its toxicity. Biochemically, chronic exposure to Cd produced polyuria and calciuria, while proteinuria, glucosuria, and enzymuria were mild (2-5x). In contrast, acute CdMT nephrotoxicity was characterized by marked increases in urinary protein (13x), glucose (25x), N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (28x), lactate dehydrogenase (100x), and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (160x). Serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were unchanged following chronic Cd exposure but were markedly elevated (5x) after acute injection of CdMT. Chronic exposure to either CdCl2 or CdMT produced nephrotoxicity at renal Cd concentration of 85 to 110 micrograms/g kidney, while acute CdMT injection produced nephrotoxicity at only 5 to 7 micrograms/g kidney. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the features and mechanisms of renal injury from chronic Cd exposure are quite different from those produced by a single injection of CdMT. Therefore, it is proposed that acute CdMT injection is not an appropriate model for the study of chronic Cd-induced nephrotoxicity.

Nephrotoxicity of cadmium-metallothionein: protection by zinc and role of glutathione

Chronic cadmium (Cd) exposure can cause renal proximal tubular dysfunction resulting from the release of Cd metallothionein (CdMT) from the liver and its accumulation and degradation in the renal tubular epithelial cells. Pretreatment with zinc (Zn) can protect against acute CdMT nephrotoxicity. While induction of MT by Zn plays a part in Zn protection, other factors, such as glutathione (GSH), may also be involved because protection is offered even in MT-null mice. The present study was designed to investigate the involvement of GSH in Zn protection against acute CdMT nephrotoxicity. The study was carried out in MT-null mice to remove the induction of MT by Zn as a confounding variable. Three approaches were used to modulate renal cortex GSH levels: buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) was administered to inhibit GSH synthesis, and GSH and Zn were administered to increase the GSH levels. Both GSH and Zn were effective in protecting against CdMT nephrotoxicity. Elevation in renal cortex GSH levels, however, was not essential for Zn protection, as a low dose of Zn that caused no significant increase in renal GSH also protected against CdMT. On the other hand, maintenance of normal GSH status was essential for Zn protection, as inhibition of GSH synthesis abolished this protection. Both GSH and Zn reduced the accumulation of Cd as well as MT in the renal cortex, with Zn causing greater reduction in Cd accumulation than that of MT. The relative intracellular distribution of Cd was unaltered. These results suggest that in MT-null mice Zn protects against CdMT nephrotoxicity by possibly displacing some of the Cd from CdMT as well as reducing the uptake of CdMT, and that this protection requires the maintenance of normal GSH status.

A photo-activated, protein-based, NO/H2O2 generating system with tumoricidal activity composed of the nitric oxide derivative of apo-metallothionein (thionein-NO) and glucose oxidase

The S-nitroso derivative of apo-metallothionein (thionein) was prepared by transnitrosation with S-nitrosoglutathione. The thionein-NO thus formed has an absorption maximum at 334 nm. Light-induced NO release from thionein-NO was demonstrated by flash photolysis. This system produces peroxynitrite at neutral pH as evidenced by nitrotyrosine formation. The cytotoxic potential of this protein-based, light-activated NO/H2O2 generating system was demonstrated by exposing human colon adenocarcinoma cells (SW 948) in culture to thionein-NO and glucose oxidase in the presence and absence of light. The cell density of the samples, 72 h subsequent to receiving 1 h of light exposure, decreased by approximately 98%, relative to controls. In comparison, cell density of the samples that were incubated in the presence of catalase and did not receive light treatment, decreased by only approximately 22% after 72 h.

Renal accumulation of cadmium and nephropathy following long-term administration of cadmium-metallothionein

Cadmium-metallothionein (Cd-MT) is selectively distributed to the kidney, producing nephropathy similar to that seen following chronic exposure to Cd. The critical concentration of Cd after an injection of Cd-MT (about 10 micrograms/g) is much lower than that following chronic Cd exposure (130-200 micrograms/g). To investigate whether administration of Cd-MT at nonacute toxic dosages can induce chronic nephrotoxicity similar to inorganic Cd, i.e., renal accumulation of Cd and nephropathy, repeated injections of 109Cd-MT at two doses, 25 or 80 micrograms/kg/day, were given to rats. The concentration of 109Cd in kidney was 7-10 times higher than that in liver at each treatment level. Concentrations of 109Cd were highest in the kidney and reached a plateau following repeated injections of 109Cd-MT at both doses. The renal 109Cd levels found here (200 and 140 micrograms/g) were in the same range as the concentrations found at a plateau following repeated CdCl2 injection. Indications of nephrotoxicity following repeated injections of 109Cd-MT did not occur until renal Cd leveled off. The majority of intracellular Cd is sequestered by endogenous MT in the kidney. After renal Cd leveled off, the hepatic concentration of 109Cd did not markedly increase, but urinary excretion of 109Cd increased significantly. In addition both urinary protein and glucose also increased significantly, indicating that the appearance of nephrotoxicity is dependent on renal Cd saturation following long-term administration of Cd-MT. This is similar to what is seen following chronic inorganic cadmium exposure. These results support the suggestion that Cd-MT plays a major role in the initiation and development of Cd-induced renal damage.

Cadmium-metallothionein nephrotoxicity is increased in genetically diabetic as compared with normal Chinese hamsters

To investigate the extra susceptibility of diabetics to some nephrotoxic agents, adult normal and diabetic Chinese hamsters (6-7 animals in each group) were injected subcutaneously with different doses of cadmium-metallothionein (Cd-MT) equivalent to 0.0, 0.1 or 0.25 mg Cd/kg body weight and the first 24 hr urinary outputs were collected. Several days prior to exposure to the Cd-MT the diabetic hamsters were hyperglycaemic, and plasma insulin levels and body weights were elevated in some of the diabetics. The higher dose of Cd-MT caused significant spillage of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) activity and protein into the urine of both normal and diabetic animals. The higher dose of Cd-MT was more toxic to the diabetic kidneys because U-NAG levels were higher in the diabetics (2.5-fold higher than normal). U-Cd levels were proportional to the injected Cd-MT dose. U-Zn levels were not consistently affected by the injected Cd-MT although it had contained small amounts of Zn. Therefore, genetic diabetes in the Chinese hamster appears to increase susceptibility to acute cadmium-MT nephrotoxicity. The mechanisms underlying this need to be further investigated.

Nephrotoxic impact of multiple short-interval cadmium-metallothionein injections in the rat

The cadmium-metallothionein (CdMT) injection model was used to examine whether multiple short-interval injections of CdMT, instead of a single dose, could better reproduce the features of chronic exposure to inorganic cadmium. Male Wistar rats were given an initial CdMT dose and four subsequent doses subcutaneously at 2-h intervals. A control group, given saline, was compared with a low dose group (0.2 + 4 x 0.1 mg Cd/kg b.w.) and high dose group (0.4 + 4 x 0.1 mg Cd/kg b.w.). Nephrotoxic effects were seen at the high dose. A marked proteinuria began 6-12 h after the first injection and extended to day 9. A progressive, unreversed calciuria appeared at 6 h and reached its maximum at day 13. This was a marked increase in duration compared with the transient peaks of proteinuria and calciuria observed in previous single dose studies. The unreversed calciuria and the marked proteinuria are suggestive of residual tubular damage, which may be irreversible. In conclusion, the model with multiple short-interval CdMT injections more closely reproduces the situation in long-term exposure to inorganic cadmium, compared to the single dose models previously employed.

Further observations on the etiology of pre-eclampsia: mobilization of toxic cadmium-metallothionein into the serum during pregnancy

Cadmium-metallothionein, mobilized from the liver, might be the toxic serum factor associated with pre-eclampsia. We base this on four documented concepts. First, during pregnancy, maternal physiology adjusts to assure the fetus of the proper amounts of nutrients necessary for growth. Our focus is on zinc and progesterone. Second, because zinc and cadmium are similar, they compete for binding sites. Our focus is on the storage protein metallothionein. Third, the manifestations of cadmium toxicity closely mimic the manifestations of toxemia (i.e. hypertension, proteinuria, edema). Our focus is on cadmium-induced endovasculitis. Fourth is the concept that metallothionein-bound cadmium can be mobilized from the liver into the serum during pregnancy as it follows the mobilization of metallothionein-bound zinc. Our focus is on the extreme toxicity of extracellular cadmium-metallothionein. We correlate these four concepts into a rational theory on the etiology of toxemia, and we suggest a method of proof.

Nonprotective effects of extracellular metallothionein

Metallothionein (MT) is a small, cysteine-rich protein that is readily induced by exposure to heavy metal cations. In previous work, we have demonstrated that MT has several significant immunomodulatory properties. MT decreases antigen-specific humoral responses in vivo and inhibits the ability of T cells to proliferate in response to antigen presented in vitro. To further characterize the mechanism by which this protein inhibits responsiveness to antigen, we have examined the effects of MT on cell viability in an antigen-presentation assay. MT (20 microM) caused substantial death to both lymphocytes and monocytes after 3 days of culture. The observed toxicity cannot be attributed to either increased superoxide radical generation or to production of tumor necrosis factor by MT-treated macrophages. Fractionation of supernatants from MT-treated cells suggests that the agent responsible for causing cytotoxicity is a soluble factor of at least 30 kDa. These results counter the perception that metallothionein uniformly plays a protective role in metal-stressed individuals.

Aluminium accumulation in some tissues of rats with compromised kidney function induced by cadmium-metallothionein

Two experiments (I and II) were performed to study aluminium accumulation in brain as well as in several other tissues in male Wistar rats. A single intraperitoneal injection of cadmium-metallothionein (CdMT, 0.1-0.4 mg Cd/kg b.wt.) was used to compromise kidney function 12 hr before the final aluminium injection in both experiments. In experiment I, rats were maintained on diets deficient (0.01%, w/w) in calcium (-Ca) or providing adequate (+Ca) dietary calcium (0.9%) for 6 weeks. Among animals given a daily intraperitoneal dose of aluminium chloride (10.8 mg Al/kg per day) on 6 consecutive days there was a tendency towards higher aluminium level in brains of rats with compromised kidney function from CdMT (in -Ca rats: the geometric mean [G] = 288 versus 205 ng/g wet weight [w., wt.], P = 0.07, and in +Ca rats: G = 242 versus 164, P < 0.05) as compared to animals given no CdMT. The results from experiment II (all rats were given aluminium 5.6 mg Al/kg 2 and 12 hr after CdMT injection) demonstrated a higher level of aluminium (G: 41 ng/g w. wt., P < 0.05) in brains of rats with only slightly damaged kidney function (0.1 mg Cd/kg) than in those given no CdMT (G: 29 ng/g w. wt.). It was also observed that 1) calcium deficiency had a statistically significant effect (P < 0.05) in increasing kidney retention of intraperitoneal aluminium (G: 327 micrograms/g w. wt.) as compared to rats with a normal calcium supply in the diet (G: 54 micrograms/g w. wt.); 2) when aluminium concentration in kidney was at and above 54 micrograms/g wet tissue, kidney damage was observed. The above results indicate that compromised kidney function including tubular damage induced by a low-dose of CdMT may play a crucial role in the accumulation of aluminium in brain and other tissues. Since tubular function decreases with age in human populations, these findings in rats may be of considerable importance if a similar phenomenon would occur in humans. Therefore, the possibility of increased aluminium retention in persons with low calcium and high aluminium intakes may need to be further investigated.

Metallothionein-I-transgenic mice are not protected from acute cadmium-metallothionein-induced nephrotoxicity

Mice pretreated with Zn have increased renal metallothionein (MT) levels and are protected from CdMT nephrotoxicity. To determine whether MT is important in this Zn-induced protection against CdMT-induced nephrotoxicity, MT-transgenic mice that have high levels of MT in their kidneys (10-fold over control mice) have been studied to determine whether they are resistant to CdMT-induced nephrotoxicity. Mice were injected with CdMT (0.1-0.6 mg Cd/kg, iv) and kidney injury was evaluated 24 hr later. CdMT produced renal toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. At a nephrotoxic dose of CdMT (0.4 mg Cd/kg), urinary protein and glucose excretion were increased 30- and 60-fold, respectively, in control mice. However, similar increases in protein and glucose excretion were also observed in MT-transgenic mice. CdMT also induced a similar dose-dependent proximal tubular cell necrosis in both control and MT-transgenic mice in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of control mice with Zn (100 micromol/kg, sc x 2 days) increased renal MT to levels similar to those of untreated MT-transgenic mice and protected against CdMT-induced renal injury. Furthermore, when Zn (25-100 micromol/kg, sc) was given immediately before CdMT injection (i.e., without preinduction of MT), it was still effective in preventing CdMT nephrotoxicity. We conclude that Zn-induced protection against CdMT nephrotoxicity does not appear to be due to induction of renal MT.

Comparative effects of Cd2+ and Cd-metallothionein on cultured kidney tubule cells

The effects of Ca2(+) and Cd-metallothionein on two cultured cells with proximal tubule characteristics, mouse kidney cortical cells and pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells, have been compared. Cd2+ inhibits Na(+)-glucose cotransport in LLC-PK1 cells and in the process decreases the number of binding sites for [3H]phlorizin, a competitive inhibitor of glucose for the Na(+)-glucose cotransporter. During 24 hr incubation and over a range of concentrations in the two cell types, only Cd2+ inhibited Na(+)-glucose cotransport even when approximately equal concentrations of intracellular Cd resulted from these treatments. Indeed, at low concentrations of Cd-metallothionein in mouse cells, transporter activity was elevated. Extension of incubations to 72 hr in mouse cells led to increased Cd uptake and reduction in cell density with both sources of Cd but only a progressive decline in Na(+)-glucose cotransport activity with Cd2+. Zn-metallothionein was without effect under comparable conditions. Both forms of Cd were accumulated by these cells, with the large majority of the metal ion localizing in metallothionein as a Cd, Zn-protein in LLC-PK1 cells. Under equal exposure conditions, the net uptake of Cd from Cd-metallothionein in the two cell types. It is evident that the mechanisms of toxicity of Cd2+ and Cd-metallothionein as well as their modes of uptake differ in these two cell types.

Protection against cadmium-metallothionein nephrotoxicity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: role of increased metallothionein synthesis induced by streptozotocin

Protection against the development of nephrotoxicity following the administration of cadmium-metallothionein (CdMT) at a dose of 0.4 mg Cd per kg body weights was studied in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Six groups of Wistar male rats were used (Groups A and B, Groups A1 and C, and Groups A2 and D were injected intraperitoneally with STZ at doses of 0, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, and then 6 days later, Groups B, C and D were injected subcutaneously with CdMT). Proteinuria, albuminuria and transferrinuria were observed after the administration of CdMT, and a dose-related decrease following the increased STZ dose was seen in Groups B, C and D. The concentrations of metallothionein (MT) and zinc (Zn) in liver and kidney were dose-dependently increased in Groups B, C and D. Induction of increased MT synthesis in liver and kidney as the result of the STZ treatment was observed in this study. In particular, a remarkable increase in liver MT concentration was induced by STZ, and transport to the kidney of MT synthesized in liver may perhaps explain the protection against cadmium nephrotoxicity in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Constitutive expression of metallothionein-III (MT-III), but not MT-I, inhibits growth when cells become zinc deficient

BHK cells were stably transformed with plasmid constructs that allowed constitutive expression of either mouse metallothionein-I (MT-I) or MT-III to determine whether these isoforms have different physiological properties. Cells expressing equivalent amounts of MT-I or MT-III could grow in 60-fold more cadmium than nontransfected cells and they were 2- to 3-fold more resistant to zinc, copper, and cobalt. The results suggest that the two MT isoforms detoxify these metals similarly. MT-III reduced the amount of zinc available to activate a zinc-sensitive reporter gene; MT-I actually increased the expression of the reporter gene at low concentrations of zinc. Cells expressing MT-I or MT-III also responded differently to zinc deficiency. When cells expressing MT-I were deprived of zinc, the amount of MT-I protein declined to undetectable levels, even though MT-I mRNA was still abundant, and cell proliferation was unaffected. In contrast, when cells expressing the MT-III gene were deprived of zinc, cell proliferation was arrested and MT-III protein persisted. These results suggest that MT-I does not compete with essential zinc-requiring proteins and is degraded, whereas MT-III competes for zinc and exacerbates zinc deficiency.

Nephrotoxicities of aluminium and/or cadmium-metallothionein in rats: creatinine excretion and metabolism of selected essential metals

The effects of exposure to aluminium (Al) and cadmium (Cd) on urinary creatinine and protein excretion, and the concentrations of calcium, magnesium and copper in kidney and urine were studied in 32 male adult Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 8 groups, groups 1-4 given a calcium-deficient diet (0.01%, i.e. 0.01 g calcium/100 g diet weight) and groups 5-8 a calcium-adequate diet (0.9%) for 6 weeks. Single daily intraperitoneal injections of AlCl3 (10.8 mg Al/kg body weight, per day) were done on 6 consecutive days to groups 3, 4, 7 and 8 during the last week of the experiment. One single intraperitoneal injection of cadmium-metallothionein (Cd-MT, 0.4 mg Cd/kg) was administered 12 hr before the final Al dose to groups 2, 4, 6, and 8 and the rats were sacrificed 47 hr after the Cd-MT injection. The rate of creatinine clearance was significantly lower in rats injected intraperitoneally with either Cd-MT or Al, and the concentrations of magnesium and calcium in urine were lower in rats administered both Al and Cd-MT as compared to those in control groups. Histological examination showed that Al was toxic to the kidney tubule cells of rats, however, an adequate supply of calcium in food protected to some extent the renal tubules from Al toxicity as indicated by a higher creatinine clearance, and there was also less tubule damage as shown by histological examination. The copper concentrations in kidney tissue were lower in groups treated with either Al or Cd-MT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protection by zinc-metallothionein (ZnMT) against cadmium-metallothionein-induced nephrotoxicity

In contrast to inorganic Cd, acute iv administration of Cd bound to metallothionein (CdMT) concentrates in renal tissue. This uptake of CdMT produces functional and morphological changes in kidneys, similar to those observed after chronic exposure to inorganic Cd. In order to examine the importance of the metal component of MT in the renal uptake of MT, the renal concentration of 35S after administration of [35S]ZnMT and [35S]CdMT was compared. Renal uptake of 35S from both CdMT and ZnMT was very rapid, with peak concentrations observed 15-30 min after administration. 35S in kidneys increased in a dose-dependent manner after administration of various doses of [35S]ZnMT, up to 1.3 mumole MT/kg; however, higher doses did not further increase renal 35S concentrations. A similar saturation of 35S reabsorption was observed for the renal uptake of [35S]CdMT. CdMT produced renal injury with doses as low as 0.26 mumol MT/kg (0.2 mg Cd/kg). In contrast, with a dose of ZnMT as high as 5.12 mumol MT/kg (2 mg Zn/kg), no histopathological changes were observed. Therefore, ZnMT appears to be nontoxic even though ZnMT delivers more MT to the kidney than does CdMT. Because ZnMT and CdMT are apparently handled by the same renal transport mechanism, the effects of ZnMT on 109CdMT renal uptake and nephrotoxicity were determined. One group of mice was given a nephrotoxic dose of 109CdMT (0.51 mumol MT/kg containing 0.4 mg Cd/kg, i.v.), and the other group received an equimolar dose of unlabeled ZnMT 1 min before 109CdMT administration. Renal function was evaluated by measuring urinary glucose and protein excretion, as well as histopathology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Discrepancy between the nephrotoxic potencies of cadmium-metallothionein and cadmium chloride and the renal concentration of cadmium in the proximal convoluted tubules

Acute exposure to inorganic cadmium produces hepatotoxicity, but no renal injury. In contrast, chronic exposure to Cd produces nephrotoxic effects. However, a single injection of cadmium bound to metallothionein (CdMT) can produce nephrotoxicity similar to that seen with chronic exposure to Cd. It is generally thought that CdMT is nephrotoxic because more CdMT than CdCl2 distributes to the kidney. To test this hypothesis, the toxic effects and distribution of Cd were compared after iv injection of CdMT and CdCl2 to mice. CdMT increased urinary excretion of glucose, and protein indicating renal injury. This dysfunction occurred with dosages as low as 0.2 mg Cd/kg. In contrast, renal function was unaltered by CdCl2 administration, even at dosages as high as 3 mg Cd/kg. CdMT distributed almost exclusively to the kidney, whereas CdCl2 preferentially distributed to the liver. However, a high concentration of Cd was also found in the kidneys after CdCl2 administration. In fact, the renal Cd concentration after administration of a high but nonnephrotoxic dose of CdCl2 was equal to or higher than that obtained after injection of nephrotoxic doses of CdMT. Light microscopic autoradiography studies, using 0.3 mg Cd/kg as CdMT and 3 mg Cd/kg as CdCl2, indicated that Cd from CdMT preferentially distributed to the convoluted segments (S1 and S2) of the proximal tubules, whereas Cd from CdCl2 distributed equally to the various segments (convoluted and straight) of the proximal tubules. However, the concentration of Cd at the site of nephrotoxicity, the proximal convoluted tubules, was higher after CdCl2 than after CdMT administration. A higher Cd concentration in both apical and basal parts of the proximal cells was found after CdCl2 than after CdMT administration. Therefore, the reason why CdMT is nephrotoxic and CdCl2 is not nephrotoxic is not due to a higher concentration of Cd in the target cells after CdMT than after CdCl2 administration.

Comparison of renal toxicity after long-term oral administration of cadmium chloride and cadmium-metallothionein in rats

There is a clear lack of information on the toxicological risk of dietary intake of cadmium-metallothionein (CdMt). The present study aimed at establishing dose-dependent cadmium (Cd) disposition and to investigate differences in renal toxicity after long-term dietary exposure to CdMt or cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed diets containing 0.3, 3, 30, or 90 mg Cd/kg either as CdMt or as CdCl2 for 10 months. In rats fed 30 and 90 mg/kg Cd as CdCl2 the Cd concentrations in intestine, liver, and kidneys were all higher than in rats fed the same doses in the form of CdMt. The kidney/liver Cd concentration ratio was higher with CdMt than with CdCl2. At the lower Cd concentrations (0.3 and 3 mg/kg), no differences in Cd accumulation between CdMt and CdCl2 groups were observed and the kidney/liver Cd ratio was also similar. When based on the amount of CdMt per milligram Cd in the tissue, rats fed CdMt and those fed CdCl2 had a similar relative CdMt concentration in liver and kidney. First signs of renal injury, indicated by an increase of urinary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, were seen 4 months after exposure to 90 mg/kg Cd as CdCl2. After 8 and 10 months the renal effect of 90 mg/kg Cd as CdCl2 became more pronounced and urinary enzyme activities of LDH, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and alkaline phosphatase were all elevated. The only clinical effect of CdMt at the dose level of 90 mg/kg was a slight increase in urinary gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity at 8 and 10 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cadmium chloride and cadmium metallothionein-induced pulmonary injury and recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Pulmonary exposure of rats to either cadmium chloride (CdCl2) or cadmium metallothionein (CdMT) was previously reported to induce an influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to the airways, but only CdCl2 caused a significant increase in lung permeability, indicative of damage to the pulmonary epithelium. The purpose of this study was to investigate mechanisms of PMN recruitment following exposure to these forms of cadmium. Fischer 344 rats were intratracheally instilled with 10 micrograms cadmium in the form of CdCl2 or CdMT, and the time course of pulmonary inflammation and PMN migration activity was determined. PMN numbers, permeability, and PMN migration activity of lung lavage supernatant peaked 1 to 2 days after CdCl2 exposure. PMN migration activity was not detected 5 h after CdMT exposure, despite a peak of PMN numbers 10 h after exposure, but was increased by 1 day when permeability had increased to a small but significant degree. Elastase-modified forms of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI), with molecular weights of 80 and 51 kd, have been reported to be highly chemotactic for PMNs. Antiserum to alpha 1PI significantly inhibited PMN migration activity detected in supernatants 1 day after exposure to either CdCl2 or CdMT. The results suggest that both CdCl2 and CdMT induce the formation of high molecular weight modified forms of alpha 1PI in the airways; these factors may traverse damaged epithelium to recruit PMNs from the vasculature. Additional small or lipophilic factors, undetectable by the methods of this study, may be responsible for the early influx of PMNs following CdMT exposure in the absence of increased epithelial permeability.

Nephrotoxicity of CdCl2 and Cd-metallothionein in cultured rat kidney proximal tubules and LLC-PK1 cells

Nephrotoxicity is the major adverse effect produced by chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd). This injury is thought to be caused by the Cd-metallothionein complex (CdMT). In intact animals, CdMT is more efficiently taken up by the proximal tubules than CdCl2 and results in more renal damage. However, the mechanism(s) by which CdMT produces renal injury is not yet understood completely. Therefore, we used cultured renal proximal tubular cells to study the nephrotoxicity of CdMT and CdCl2. Rat kidney proximal tubules were isolated by collagenase perfusion, followed by percoll isopycnic centrifugation. 14C-alpha-methylglucose uptake and lactate dehydrogenase leakage were used as indices of nephrotoxicity. Surprisingly, CdMT was less toxic than CdCl2 to the cultured rat proximal tubule cells, as well as to cultured LLC-PK1 cells (a pig kidney proximal tubular cell line). Consistent with these observations on nephrotoxicity, 109CdMT uptake into these cultured renal cells was much less than that of 109CdCl2. Transwell cultures of LLC-PK1 cells were also used to examine the toxicity and uptake of CdCl2 and CdMT following basolateral and apical exposure. Uptake of both CdCl2 and CdMT from basolateral exposure was higher than that from apical exposure. Again, more 109CdCl2 was taken up and more cytotoxicity was observed in the CdCl2- than CdMT-exposed cells. In summary, CdCl2 is more toxic than CdMT to cultured rat kidney proximal tubules as well as LLC-PK1 cells. This is in contradiction to the greater in vivo nephrotoxic effects of CdMT than CdCl2. Therefore, cultured renal cells do not appear to be an appropriate model to study the nephrotoxicity of CdMT; transport of CdMT into proximal tubular cells in vivo does not appear to be maintained in vitro.

Evidence for radical species as intermediates in cadmium/zinc-metallothionein-dependent DNA damage in vitro

Toxicologic data on cadmium (Cd) indicate that intracellular metallothionein (MT) is protective for Cd exposure, whereas extracellular Cd-containing MT might be toxic. Moreover, Cd is suspected to be a carcinogen though the underlying mechanism is not known. Here we report on the genotoxic activity of cadmium/zinc-metallothionein (Cd/Zn-MT) in a cell-free test system: a concentration-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks was detected with increasing doses of Cd/Zn-MT, whereas no DNA strand breaks were observed in the presence of heat-denatured MT or Cd or Zn ions alone. Modifications of native Cd/Zn-MT by the metal ion-chelating agent EDTA or the sulfhydryl group alkylating agents N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide suggest that the various cysteine residues of MT, together with the attached heavy metal ions, may be involved in the DNA cleavage reaction. Furthermore, DNA strand breaks caused by Cd/Zn-MT seem more likely to be random than sequence- or base-specific. Results from experiments with radical scavengers and electron spin resonance spectroscopy point to radical species formed by Cd/Zn-MT as mediators of the DNA damage. Thus, the actual activity of Cd/Zn-MT--whether protective or damaging--appears to depend on various parameters governed by the extra- and intracellular environment.

Evidence for radical species as intermediates in cadmium/zinc-metallothionein-dependent DNA damage in vitro

Toxicologic data on cadmium (Cd) indicate that intracellular metallothionein (MT) is protective for Cd exposure, whereas extracellular Cd-containing MT might be toxic. Moreover, Cd is suspected to be a carcinogen though the underlying mechanism is not known. Here we report on the genotoxic activity of cadmium/zinc-metallothionein (Cd/Zn-MT) in a cell-free test system: a concentration-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks was detected with increasing doses of Cd/Zn-MT, whereas no DNA strand breaks were observed in the presence of heat-denatured MT or Cd or Zn ions alone. Modifications of native Cd/Zn-MT by the metal ion-chelating agent EDTA or the sulfhydryl group alkylating agents N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide suggest that the various cysteine residues of MT, together with the attached heavy metal ions, may be involved in the DNA cleavage reaction. Furthermore, DNA strand breaks caused by Cd/Zn-MT seem more likely to be random than sequence- or base-specific. Results from experiments with radical scavengers and electron spin resonance spectroscopy point to radical species formed by Cd/Zn-MT as mediators of the DNA damage. Thus, the actual activity of Cd/Zn-MT--whether protective or damaging--appears to depend on various parameters governed by the extra- and intracellular environment.

The nephrotoxicity of intravenously administered cadmium-metallothionein: effect of dose, mode of administration, and preexisting renal cadmium burden

Exogenously administered cadmium-metallothionein (Cd-MT) is highly nephrotoxic, producing renal damage similar to that seen following chronic Cd exposure. However, nephrotoxicity following Cd-MT administration occurs at a much lower renal Cd concentration than that following chronic Cd exposure. In the present study, the sensitivity of female rats to bolus and infused doses of Cd-MT was evaluated. The Cd-MT was administered via the jugular vein either as a bolus or infused over a 24-hr period via osmotic minipumps in naive rats and in rats which had been pretreated with 5 microM CdCl2/kg, sc, five times/week, for 9 weeks. Renal toxicity was evaluated by urinary lactate dehydrogenase, protein, and MT excretion. In naive rats, a bolus dose of 0.15 mg Cd/kg as Cd-MT was nephrotoxic. In comparison, a two-fold higher infused dose was required to cause nephrotoxicity. In Cd-pretreated rats, a bolus dose of 0.45 mg Cd/kg as Cd-MT was necessary to produce nephrotoxicity, presumably because Cd pretreatment yielded renal MT levels that were about 15 times higher than the levels in naive animals. Although a bolus dose of 3 mg Cd/kg as CdCl2 resulted in a renal Cd concentration about 1.5 times that found after administration of 0.15 mg Cd/kg as Cd-MT, it did not produce any nephro-toxicity. The results of this study suggest that a renal Cd concentration, which is nephrotoxic if the Cd-MT is administered as a bolus dose, is well tolerated if the Cd-MT is delivered at a sustained level over a 24-hr period. Furthermore, the preexisting renal Cd burden reduces the sensitivity to nephrotoxicity of Cd-MT, presumably due to elevated MT levels available for sequestration of incoming Cd. We conclude that mere accumulation of Cd in the kidney does not necessarily result in nephrotoxicity; instead, the circulating Cd-MT level, as well as the intracellular MT concentration, appear to be the more important determinants of nephrotoxicity.

Influence of zinc and copper administration on metal disposition in rats with cadmium-metallothionein-induced nephrotoxicity

Only a few studies have investigated the effects of the interaction between Cu, Zn, and Cd on the toxicity of Cd in vivo and the metabolism of these metals. The present study is concerned with these effects. Observations of the distribution of these metals in liver and renal cortex and of their excretion in urine were made. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 10 groups of six (a full factorial design complemented by a center point and a control group) and were administered Zn (0 or 25 mg/kg body mass), Cu (0 or 12.5 mg/kg), and CdMT (cadmium--metallothionein; 0.1 or 0.4 mg Cd/kg) by sc injection. The rats were given Zn and/or Cu 24 hr prior to the CdMT injection. The data were analyzed by linear multiple regression. After CdMT injection, the Cd retention level was markedly reduced in renal cortex and increased in liver by Cu pretreatment, while the urinary excretion of Cd was significantly lower in these rats. The levels of endogenous Zn in renal cortex and liver increased significantly in rats pretreated with Cu. The production of MT in liver and renal cortex was induced more efficiently by Cu than by Zn. The results obtained may be of importance in understanding the mechanism of CdMT toxicity and the potential influence of Zn and Cu on the chronic nephrotoxicity of cadmium.

The susceptibility of spontaneously diabetic mice to cadmium-metallothionein nephrotoxicity

Cadmium metallothionein (CdMT) was injected subcutaneously into obese hyperglycaemic Umeå ob/ob mice or their lean litter mates (normal mice) at doses of 0, 0.1 and 0.4 mg Cd/kg. Proteinuria and calciuria were induced in both types of mice, but in the ob/ob mice this condition developed at a lower dose of CdMT (0.1 mg Cd/kg) than in the normal mice (0.4 mg Cd/kg). These results show, therefore, that Umeå ob/ob mice are particularly susceptible to CdMT-induced nephrotoxicity. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon needs to be further investigated. After the administration of CdMT, a dose-related increase in glycosuria was observed in both types of mice, in spite of decreased levels of serum insulin and glucose. It is suggested that such glycosuria induced by CdMT could be one of the signs of cadmium nephrotoxicity. The results of the present study thus indicate that metabolic changes like those in diabetes may increase susceptibility to cadmium-induced renal tubular damage.

Clearance study for the estimation of glomerular filtration of Cd following the intravenous bolus of CdCl2 and Cd-saturated metallothionein-II in rats

A clearance study of Cd was carried out in rats that had received an intravenous bolus of CdCl2 or Cd-saturated metallothionein-II (Cd-MT-II) at 0.3 mg Cd/kg body weight. Urinary concentrations of Cd, and those corrected by the urine-plasma inulin ratio, were higher, by 2 or 3 orders of magnitude, for Cd-MT-II than for CdCl2. Fractional clearance of Cd was 0.0006 to 0.0029 for CdCl2, and 0.130 to 0.487 for Cd-MT-II. These findings denoted that the glomerular filtration of Cd was greater in the Cd-MT-II administration than in CdCl2 administration. This difference in the glomerular filtration of Cd gave a clear explanation for the greater nephrotoxic potential of Cd-MT-II. Also, our data revealed that when Cd was administered as Cd-MT-II, the concentration of Cd was 20 to 70 times higher at the end-point of the renal tubules than at its starting-point. This and the histopathological reports so far strongly suggest that the distally located tubules are highly resistant to intraluminal Cd.

Copper-metallothionein from the toxic milk mutant mouse enhances lipid peroxidation initiated by an organic hydroperoxide

The toxic milk mutation is an autosomal recessive mutation found in an inbred C57BL/6J strain of mice which results in an excessive hepatic accumulation of copper (Cu), mostly associated with metallothionein (MT). The possible toxicological significance of elevated levels of hepatic copper-metallothionein (Cu-MT) was assessed. The effects of Cu-MT on lipid peroxidation (LP) initiated by an organic peroxide were investigated in an in vitro rat liver microsomal incubation system. Addition of Cu-MT (3 microM) could significantly enhance (100%) LP induced by addition of tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP, 0.1 mM). Similar incubations of Cu-MT in the absence of t-BHP showed negligible LP. Addition of copper sulfate at high concentrations (100 microM) also increased t-BHP induced LP, but the enhancement was less pronounced than observed with Cu-MT addition. Chelation of copper with bovine serum albumin and triethylene-tetramine tetrahydrochloride eliminated the enhancement of LP by Cu-MT. Evidence is provided on degradation of MT and release of free Cu in the incubation system. Additions of deferoxamine were also found to prevent LP. Therefore, chelatable Cu, released from Cu-MT, may be responsible for the enhancement of the iron-dependent LP in this system but Cu-MT alone in the absence of iron cannot initiate LP. These in vitro results suggest that conditions resulting in high cellular levels of Cu-MT may exhibit a predisposition to oxidative stress.

Nephrotoxicity of repeated injections of cadmium-metallothionein in rats

Cadmium-metallothionein (Cd-MT) may have a role in the pathogenesis and irreversibility of Cd nephrotoxicity. In the present study, rats were injected with 0.3 mg Cd/kg body wt per week as Cd-MT for 5 consecutive weeks and a group of rats (n = 3) was killed 24 hr after each injection. A group of three rats was kept for an additional week after the 5 weeks of Cd-MT injection for recovery. After the first injection, urinary Cd and protein levels and kidney/body wt ratio were increased. The electrophoretic pattern of urinary protein showed increased excretion of low-molecular-weight proteins, especially after the first injection of Cd-MT. Tubular cell necrosis occurred after the first week with renal Cd levels of only 10 micrograms/g and gradually progressed to severe necrosis with inflammation in 3 weeks and then to interstitial fibrosis in 5 weeks. The levels of Cd and MT in kidney increased with repeated injection of Cd-MT, but renal Cd was about 40 micrograms/g after 5 weeks of injection. Urinary Cd and MT levels progressively increased during the Cd exposure period, but returned to pretreatment levels during the sixth week (recovery period). Renal cell necrosis and inflammation were absent at the sixth week, but interstitial fibrosis persisted. This study indicates that nephrotoxicity of Cd in this model is related to urinary excretion of Cd-MT and that renal cell injury may be independent of Cd in the renal cortex. Nephrotoxicity occurs at levels much lower than the proposed critical concentration for Cd (200 micrograms Cd/g) following long-term exposure to CdCl2. However, in the absence of continued Cd exposure from liver or circulation, the Cd-MT-induced renal damage is reversible.

Comparison of the cytotoxic effects of cadmium chloride and cadmium-metallothionein in LLC-PK1 cells

Recent studies have shown that ionic cadmium (Cd2+) can selectively damage the tight junctions between LLC-PK1 cells. The objective of the present studies was to determine if cadmium that is bound to metallothionein (Cd-Mt) can also damage the junctions between these cells. Cells on Falcon Cell Culture Inserts were exposed to Cd2+ or Cd-Mt from the apical and basolateral compartments. The integrity of cell junctions was assessed by monitoring the transepithelial electrical resistance, and cell viability was evaluated by monitoring the release of lactate dehydrogenase into the medium. Exposure to Cd2+ for 1-4 hours caused a pronounced decrease in the transepithelial resistance without affecting cell viability. By contrast, exposure to Cd-Mt had little effect on the electrical resistance until the cells began to die, which did not occur until 24-48 hours of exposure. Additional results showed that the cells accumulated Cd2+ more rapidly than Cd-Mt. These results indicate that Cd-Mt does not damage the junctions between LLC-PK1 cells, but that it can kill the cells after prolonged exposure.

Modulation of calciuria by cadmium pretreatment in rats with cadmium-metallothionein-induced nephrotoxicity

One group of male Wistar rats (Group B) was pretreated by a daily subcutaneous injection with CdCl2 during 5 days with increasing doses (0.5, 1, 1, 2 and 2 mg Cd/kg). Another group of rats (Group A) was daily given normal saline subcutaneously for 5 days. On the second day after the last injection, a single s.c. injection of 109Cd-metallothionein (CdMT, 0.4 mg Cd/kg) was given to each animal in both groups. Urinary calcium, protein, metallothionein (MT), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and gamma glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) were measured. In Group A, calciuria, proteinuria, metallothioneinuria and enzymuria was induced by CdMT. Calciuria reached a peak during 0-6 h after the administration of CdMT, thus appearing earlier than other effects. Enzymuria was displayed at 6-12 h for gamma-GT and 12-24 h for NAG. A prominent increase of proteinuria appeared at 24-48 h after the challenge of CdMT. In Group B, no significant increase of urinary calcium, protein, or NAG was observed after the CdMT injection and urinary gamma-GT was only slightly elevated, thus demonstrating the protective action of pretreatment. This study demonstrates for the first time that calciuria, one of the signs of cadmium nephrotoxicity, can be prevented by cadmium pretreatment. Urinary MT increased slightly during the 4-5 days of CdCl2 pretreatment. This is in accordance with previous observations that cadmium pretreatment induces new synthesis of MT which is likely to constitute the background for the resistance to the CdMT challenge to the kidney.

Accumulation and degradation of the protein moiety of cadmium-metallothionein (CdMT) in the mouse kidney

Of major concern in Cd toxicity is its ability to produce renal damage after chronic exposure in humans and experimental animals. Renal injury affects predominantly the proximal tubules and more specifically the first segments of these tubules. Similar toxic effects to the kidneys are observed after administration of cadmium bound to metallothionein (CdMT). Therefore, CdMT was used in this study as a model to understand the mechanism(s) of Cd nephrotoxicity. It has been recently demonstrated that Cd from CdMT was preferentially taken up by the proximal convoluted tubules. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine if the organic portion of the complex was also accumulated in these tubules. [35S]CdMT prepared from rat liver was administered intravenously to mice at a nonnephrotoxic dose (0.1 mg Cd/kg). The radioactivity in the kidney showed maximum level (80% of the dose) 15 min after the injection. This preferential renal uptake was also observed after administration of various doses of [35S]CdMT. In contrast to the earlier observed persistency of 109Cd in the kidney after 109CdMT administration, 35S disappeared rapidly (with a half-life of approximately 2 hr), and 24 hr after injection of [35S]CdMT, there was very little 35S left in the kidneys. These observations indicate that the protein portion of CdMT is rapidly degraded after renal uptake of CdMT and the released Cd is retained in the kidney. Within the kidney, 35S distributed mainly to the cortex. Light microscopic autoradiography showed that [35S]CdMT preferentially distributed to the proximal convoluted tubule (S1 and S2), which is the site of nephrotoxicity. Within the S1 and S2 segments, a greater distribution of 35S to the apical portion of the cells was observed after administration of both a nonnephrotoxic (0.1 mg Cd/kg) and a nephrotoxic (0.3 mg Cd/kg) dose. 109Cd administered as 109CdMT also distributed to the apical portion of the S1 and S2 cells. Therefore, both the organic (35S) and inorganic (109Cd) portions of CdMT are rapidly and efficiently taken up by the S1 and S2 cells of the proximal tubules, the site of nephrotoxicity. These observations support the concept that CdMT is readily taken up by the proximal tubular cells as a complex, and then its protein portion is rapidly degraded to release Cd that binds permanently to intracellular sites and produces nephrotoxicity.

Effects of CdCl2 and Cd-metallothionein on cultured mesangial cells

Cadmium is a potent nephrotoxin known to cause damage to the proximal tubular epithelium in vivo. The renal glomerulus is less frequently a target and is sensitive to Cd in vitro. We have previously presented evidence that the mesangial cell is a major target for Cd2+ toxicity in the isolated glomerulus (D. M. Templeton and N. Chaitu, Toxicology 61, 119-133, 1990). The present study was undertaken to investigate the sensitivity to Cd of rat mesangial cells grown in homogeneous culture. At a concentration of 1 microM, Cd2+ was a potent inducer of its binding protein metallothionein (MT). Cd2+ inhibited DNA synthesis in these cells with an EC50 of 5.4 +/- 0.4 microM, while preinduction of MT with Zn2+ was protective, raising the EC50 to 17.6 +/- 0.7 microM Cd2+. DNA synthesis in these cells is especially sensitive to Cd2+; only at concentrations of 20 microM Cd2+ and higher were significant effects on cell viability, attachment, and protein synthesis observed. Renal function depends in part on synthesis of specialized matrices by glomerular cells. Synthesis of both matrix and secreted proteoglycans was specifically affected by Cd2+ with an EC50 of about 10 microM for proteoglycan sulfation. We also investigated the effects of Cd-MT on these parameters. Contrary to observations that extracellular Cd-MT is a potent nephrotoxin in vivo, we were unable to demonstrate any effects of Cd-MT on DNA and protein synthesis at Cd concentrations below 60 microM in the cultured cells. Nor did Cd-MT at these concentrations affect DNA or protein synthesis in LLC-PK1 cells, a proximal tubule cell line. This was not due to failure of the cells to take up Cd because they accumulated comparable amounts of Cd whether it was provided as CdCl2 or Cd-MT. We conclude that ionic Cd2+ is the most toxic form of this metal to cultured mesangial cells. While these cells respond to micromolar concentrations of Cd2+ by increasing their content of metallothionein, presumably a protective response, only slightly higher levels may impair the regenerative capacity of mesangial cells, in addition to interfering with the specialized function of matrix synthesis.

A multivariate study of protective effects of Zn and Cu against nephrotoxicity induced by cadmium metallothionein in rats

Factorial experimental design was used to study the protective effects of Zn and Cu on cadmium-metallothionein(CdMT)-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. In the factorial design two levels of Zn (0 and 25 mg/kg body weight), two levels of Cu (0 and 12.5 mg/kg), and two levels of CdMT (0.1 and 0.4 mg of Cd/kg) were used as varied factors. The factorial design was complemented with a center point with all three variables at an intermediate setting, i.e., Zn at 12.5 mg/kg, Cu at 6.25 mg/kg, and CdMT at 0.25 mg Cd/kg. Each of the nine combinations of settings was administered to one of nine groups with six rats in each. Zn and Cu were injected sc 24 hr prior to the injection of CdMT. The concentrations of protein and Ca in urine and Ca in renal cortex were used as effects. The relationship between the experimental design settings and the effects were modeled with multiple regression. The multiple regression analysis revealed that for the high dose of CdMT (i) the enhanced values of protein in urine caused by CdMT injection could be more efficiently reduced by Zn than by Cu, and (ii) excessive Ca in urine and renal cortex could be more efficiently reduced by Cu than by Zn. No significant synergism or antagonism between Cu and Zn was found. These models can be used to estimate the dose levels of Zn and Cu which will reduce the toxic effects of CdMT. The treatment of 20.4 mg/kg Zn, for example, will reduce the effects of 0.4 mg Cd/kg as CdMT on protein in urine, and 2.8 mg/kg Cu will reduce the Ca in urine to the levels of those caused by 0.25 mg Cd/kg (no Zn and Cu). Similarly, the effect of 0.4 mg Cd/kg on Ca level in renal cortex can be reduced to that of 0.28 mg Cd/kg as CdMT by 7.98 mg Cu/kg, which is three times as efficient as Zn. The obtained results might be of importance in understanding the mechanism of cadmium toxicity and the potential risk to the health of the population exposed to cadmium occupationally or environmentally.

Thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis induced by single intravenous injections of cadmium-saturated metallothioneins-I and -II in rats

To comparably investigate hemotoxic potentials of CdCl2, cadmium-saturated metallothioneins-I (Cd-MT-I) and -II (Cd-MT-II), rats received single intravenous injections of one of those dissolved in saline with equivalent concentrations of Cd (0, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg Cd/kg body weight), and blood for hematological examinations was sampled at 1 and 5 days (Days 1 and 5) after the administrations. The counts of white blood cells showed dose-dependent increments in the 0.3 and 1.0 mg Cd/kg groups in Cd-MT-I and Cd-MT-II at Day 1, and returned to the normal levels at Day 5. The counts of platelets showed dose-dependent decrements in the three-doses groups of Cd-MT-I and Cd-MT-II at Day 1, and did a returning- and further increasing tendency at Day 5. The counts of red blood cells, values of hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, showed only slight and sporadic changes at Days 1 and 5. As to that thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis were dose-dependently brought by Cd-MTs and not by CdCl2, and as to that CdCl2 and Cd-MTs hardly affected erythrocytes regarding their counts, sizes, hemoglobin contents etc., etiological mechanism (s) remains to be explored. However, our findings should be clinically emphasized in relation to Itai-Itai disease and Cd-intoxication.

Cd-metallothionein nephrotoxicity in inbred strains of mice

Genetic differences in the acute hepatic and testicular toxicity of Cd occur among different strains of mice. However, it is not known whether genetic variation to the renal damage caused by Cd-metallothionein (CdMT) exists. Therefore, male mice of the C3H/HeJ, C57/Bl10, CBA/CA, and DBA/2J strains, previously shown to differ in hepatic and testicular injury due to Cd, were treated with CdMT at dosages of 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mg/kg (sc). For all strains of mice, tissue accumulation of Cd occurred predominantly in kidney, which had two to three times as much Cd as liver, while testes had no measurable amounts of Cd. Hepatic and renal metallothionein (MT) concentrations were increased with increasing dosage of CdMT, and no differences between strains were demonstrated. Urinary glucose was increased significantly at the three highest dosages of CdMT, with no differences between strains. At each dose level, light microscopic manifestations of CdMT nephropathy did not differ between strains. In summary, all CdMT-treated strains of mice responded similarly with respect to all measured renal parameters (accumulation of Cd and MT and nephrotoxicity). Unlike the strain differences in hepatic and testicular injury from Cd in these strains of mice, CdMT nephrotoxicity shows no such genetic variation.

Binding of cadmium to alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver before induction of metallothionein

The cadmium-binding protein (Cd-BP) with the highest affinity to Cd other than metallothionein (MT) is assumed to be the target molecule for the toxicity of Cd and one of the major zinc (Zn)-containing proteins in the liver supernatant of rats has been identified as the Cd-BP before induction of MT. In the present study the Zn-containing Cd-BP was assumed to be alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from the similarity in several characteristic properties such as molecular size, isoelectric point, Zn content and enzyme activity. Zn bound to non-active site in ADH was replaced with Cd both in vivo and in vitro. Cd bound to ADH to an extent more than the replacement in vitro and the enzyme activity was decreased in vitro by Cd. However, the ADH enzyme activity was not affected in vivo despite the replacement of Zn with Cd and binding of Cd to ADH. This difference was explained by the weaker affinity of Cd to the active site than the other binding sites for Cd in other high molecular weight proteins. The result also suggested that ADH sequesters Cd temporally before induction of MT and reduces the toxicity of Cd without being affected its enzyme activity and that the target molecules for the toxicity are other Cd-BPs.

Comparative renal toxicity of metallothioneins with different cadmium/zinc ratios in rats

The comparative renal toxicity of rats after injection of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn)-metallothioneins (MTs) with different Cd/Zn ratios at the same dose of 200 micrograms MT-bound Cd/kg was studied. From determination of the urinary excretion of protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glucose, which are indices of Cd-induced renal damage, the extent of the renal toxicity of the MTs used here was in the order (1 Cd/0Zn)-MT = (2Cd/1Zn)-MT greater than (1Cd/2Zn)-MT greater than (1Cd/6Zn)-MT. The characterization of Cd, Zn and Cu in the urine after injection of MTs was examined using a Sephadex G-75 column. (1Cd/0Zn)-MT injection showed that Cd was present mainly in lower-molecular-weight fractions, with only small amounts of Cd in the MT fraction. Upon injection of other MTs, Cd was present mainly in the MT fraction and increased with decreasing Cd/Zn ratio. Zn was present mainly in lower-molecular-weight fractions and Cu mainly in the MT fraction, indicating the replacement of MT-bound Zn by Cu. The cumulative urinary excretion of Cd during 12 days after injection of MTs decreased with increasing Cd/Zn ratio. The Cd content of the kidney and liver increased with increasing Cd/Zn ratio. The results of this study indicate that in rats injected with MTs with different Cd/Zn ratios, the renal uptake of Cd increases with increasing Cd/Zn ratio, resulting in more severe renal damage.

Cadmium/zinc-metallothionein induces DNA strand breaks in vitro

The in vitro DNA strand breaking activity of metallothionein (MT) containing Cd2+ and Zn2+ in a molar ratio of 5:2 is described. Studies with radical scavengers and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy indicate that the DNA damage might be caused by a radical species formed by the native protein (i.e., MT) charged with the heavy metal ions. No DNA strand breaks are detectable with the heat-denatured MT or with Cd2+ or Zn2+ alone. Inhibition studies using EDTA as a metal ion chelator or N-ethylmaleimide to alkylate sulfhydryl groups suggest that both the bound heavy metal ions as well as the SH groups of the various cysteine residues of MT may be involved in the MT-dependent DNA cleavage. Further characterization showed that the DNA cleavage is more likely random than sequence- or base-specific. These observations may provide a clue in the search for initial events in Cd-related carcinogenicity.