Glutathione S-transferase in the midgut tissue of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) caterpillars exposed to dietary cadmium

Activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in midgut of gypsy moth caterpillars exposed to 10 and 30 μg Cd/g dry food was examined. Based on the enzyme reaction through conjugation with glutathione, overall activity remained unaltered after acute and chronic treatment. No-observed-effect-concentration (10 μg Cd/g dry food) significantly increased activity only after 3-day recovery following cadmium administration. Almost all comparisons of the indices of phenotypic plasticity revealed statistically significant differences. Despite the facts that GST has important role in xenobiotic biotransformation, our results indicate that this enzyme in insect midgut does not represent the key factor in cadmium detoxification.     

Assessment of heavy metals by ICP-OES and their impact on insulin stimulating hormone and carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes

Arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) have recently emerged as major health concerns owing to their strong association with diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to investigate the heavy metals exposure towards incidence of DM at various enzymatic and hormonal levels. Additionally, association of As and Cd with Zinc (Zn, essential metal) was also evaluated. Spot urine samples were collected to assess As, Cd and Zn through ICP-OES. Serum was analyzed by assay method for fasting blood glucose, liver and renal function biomarkers. ELISA was performed to investigate the impact of heavy metals on HbA1c, α-amylase, DPP-IV, IGF-1, leptin, GSH, MDA, SOD, HDL, FFA, TG and interleukin (IL)-6. Association of heavy metals with DM was measured by odds ratio (OR) and level of significance was assessed by Chi-squared test. Unpaired student's t-test was used to compare DM-associated risk factors in heavy metals-exposed and unexposed participants. As and Cd were detectable in 75.4% and 83% participants with mean concentration of 75.5 ppb and 54.5 ppb, respectively. For As exposure, OR in the third quartile was maximum ie 1.34 (95% CI, 0.80 to 2.23), however the result was not statistically significant (P > .05). For Cd exposure, OR in the fourth quartile was considerably high, 1.62 (95% CI, 1.00 to 2.61), with a significant probability value (P < .05). Urinary Cd was negatively associated with Zn. As and Cd exposure increases the incidence of DM in the general population. Impaired hormonal and enzymatic levels in diabetic and non-diabetic exposed participants reflect the multiple organ damage by heavy metal exposure.     

经口摄入高硒镉对大鼠肝,肾组织中镉,锌,铜含量影响的研究

选用4周龄SD大鼠,经口染毒高硒(5.68mg/kg)、富硒(0.73mg/kg)和(或)高镉(33.3mg/kg)12周,并分别在实验的第3、6、9、12周末各处死一批大鼠,研究经口摄入高硒高镉对大鼠肝、肾组织中镉、锌、铜含量的影响。结果表明:同时摄入高硒高镉组大鼠体内镉蓄积明显低于单纯摄入高镉组;对单独摄入高硒、高镉所诱导的大鼠肝脏锌含量增加表现为拮抗作用;对单独摄入高硒所致大鼠肾脏锌含量降低的影响表现为拮抗作用;对单独摄入高硒、高镉所致大鼠肾脏铜含量增加的影响表现为协同作用。     

Inhibition of the expression of lysyl oxidase and its substrates in cadmium-resistant rat fetal lung fibroblasts.

Copper (Cu)-dependent lysyl oxidase (LO) catalyzes crosslinking of collagen and elastin stabilizing the extracellular matrix (ECM). Chronic inhalation of cadmium (Cd), a toxic metal, induces emphysema. To probe mechanisms of Cd injury to the lung, we developed Cd-resistant (CdR) cells from rat fetal lung fibroblasts (RFL6) by chronic exposure to CdCl(2) from 1 to 40 microM and further examined their expressions of LO, LO substrates, and Cu-scavenging thiols. Levels of cellular thiols, metallothionein, and glutathione in CdR cells were elevated to 13.0- and 3.2-fold of parental controls, respectively, whereas LO mRNA and protein levels were markedly reduced in these cells, with catalytic activity declining to only 16% of the parental control. A conspicuous 52 kDa species rather then the normal 50 kDa proenzyme appeared in the CdR cell extract but not in the conditioned medium, which was codistributed with the endoplasmic reticulum marker [DiOC5(3)] within the cell, implying the Cd-induced 52 kDa species as a product of an abnormal LO-processing defect in secretion. Addition of Cu into CdR cell cultures enhanced the expression of LO mRNA, protein and catalytic activities reflecting limitation of Cu bioavailability for LO in these cells. With inhibition of LO, CdR cells also displayed downregulation of collagen and elastin, substrates of LO. Restoration of collagen synthesis by exposure of CdR cells to purified LO or Cu suggests that inhibition of LO and limitation of Cu cofactor by Cd, as key phenotype changes, accelerated collagen and elastin damage, a critical event pertinent to emphysema pathogenesis.     

Immune modulation by cadmium and lead in the acute reporter antigen-popliteal lymph node assay.

Immune modulation by heavy metals may cause serious adverse health effects in humans, although the mechanisms involved are not well understood. Both cadmium and lead are important environmental and occupational toxins. Therefore, in the current study, the costimulatory/adjuvant effects and the T-cell-activating potential of these metals (i.e., CdCl2 and PbCl2), are examined. These immune-modulating properties are critical in the development of conditions such as allergy, hypersensitivity, and autoimmunity. Using the direct popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) and reporter antigen-popliteal lymph node assay (RA-PLNA) both metals were examined individually for immunotoxicity. Mercury (i.e., HgCl2) was included for comparative purposes as its effects in the RA-PLNA are well documented. Seven days following a single footpad injection containing metal and/or RA (trinitrophenyl-ovalbumin [TNP-OVA] or TNP-Ficoll), BALB/c mice were sacrificed and the popliteal lymph nodes (PLNs) removed. PLN cellularity, TNP-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), and lymphocyte subsets were assessed. All three metals strongly stimulated T- and B-cell proliferation and ASC production following coinjection with the RA TNP-OVA. In each case, ASC production was skewed towards the IgG1 isotype. In addition, all three metals induced IgG production to TNP-Ficoll (although relatively weakly in the case of Cd). These results show that each of these metals can provide adjuvant signals to promote lymphocyte proliferation and enhance adaptive immune responses to unrelated antigens. Skewing of immune responses towards T helper type 2 responses suggests that each of these metals can enhance allergic and hypersensitivity reactions to environmental antigens. Furthermore, the induction of IgG responses to TNP-Ficoll, a T-cell-independent antigen, indicates that each of these metals can activate neoantigen-specific T cells. T-cell activation by metals can lead to metal hypersensitivity and has been implicated in the development of autoimmunity. This is the first report of immune modulation by CdCl2 and PbCl2 in the RA-PLNA.     

预富集-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定药食两用中药浸泡液中痕量镉

提供了预富集-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定药食两用中药浸泡液中的痕量镉的新方法。采用吡咯烷二硫代氨基甲酸铵(APDC)作配位剂,在pH 5.0-8.0的条件下,用固体硅胶捕集、抽滤分离Cd-APDC配合物,然后用1 moL/L盐酸从膜滤纸上洗下硅胶,得到能够直接用石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定的镉悬浊液。该法简便快速,富集100倍时的特征质量为2.8×10-14g。用此方法测定4药食两用中药浸泡液中的痕量镉,当n=5时,标准偏差为0.002 5-0.005 8,RSD为:0.012-0.052,样品的加标回收率为91.8%和111.1%,结果较为满意。     

Sulphhydryl-modifying Reagents Alter Ototoxin Block of Muscarinic Receptor-linked Phosphoinositide Turnover in the Cochlea

In the 12-day-old rat cochlea, the synthesis of inositol phosphates (IPs) can be activated via M3 cholinoceptors. This stimulation is blocked by ototoxins (mercury, ethacrynate, cisplatin, neomycin), drugs with side effects that lead to damage of hair cells and strial cells. As these toxic effects can be reversed in vivo by thiol molecules, we investigated whether modifications of thiol compounds could be involved in ototoxin-induced inhibition of the IP turnover in the cochlea. For this purpose, we assessed whether the sulphhydryl-modifying reagents N -ethylmaleimide and cadmium modify the carbachol-stimulated formation of IPs in the 12-day-old rat cochlea. Both molecules inhibit the carbachol effect on a dose-dependent way without altering the basal metabolism of IPs. As cadmium may block some calcium channels, the effect of verapamil, another calcium channel antagonist, was tested. Verapamil (1 –50 μM) does not alter carbachol-evoked IP formation, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of cadmium is not due to a calcium influx block. Binding experiments with the muscarinic ligand quinuclidinyl benzylate (QNB) showed that the sulphhydryl-modifying reagents do not displace QNB from binding sites. Combining ototoxins and reagents shows that N -ethylmaleimide acts synergistically with all ototoxins but ethacrynate while cadmium does so only with mercury. Both N -ethylmaleimide and cadmium have additive effects with ethacrynate. As a supplement, disulphide bond-modifying agents do not alter the carbachol-enhanced metabolism of IPs. These results suggest that molecules having thiol-modifying properties inhibit the carbachol-induced turnover of IPs without acting at the muscarinic sites. Since thiol modifiers and ethacrynate share similar features in both QNB binding and IP response it is hypothesized that they strike common targets, possibly G proteins.     

氯化镉对小鼠免疫细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

[目的]观察镉在体内染毒条件下 ,对小鼠免疫细胞的功能和凋亡的影响。[方法]采用一次腹腔注射氯化镉0.34、1.38和5.50mg/kg后8h处死和一次腹腔注射氯化镉5.50mg/kg后4、8、12h处死动物以及连续灌胃0.3、0.6和1.2mg/(kg·d)氯化镉14d后处死动物 ,利用MTT颜色反应法观察淋巴细胞转化、用DNA凝胶电泳法和流式细胞仪法检测细胞凋亡。[结果]小鼠经一次腹腔注射CdCl25.50mg/kg后4或8h可见胸腺细胞凋亡率为24.91 %和32.45 % ,脾细胞凋亡率分别为22.64 %和16.67 % ,均高于对照组 ;注射后12h胸腺细胞凋亡仍高于对照组。同时注射氯化镉5.50mg/kg4h后 ,ConA刺激的淋巴细胞转化功能明显低于对照组 ,抑制率接近50 % ;而在注射8h后 ,除了T细胞在ConA刺激下的转化功能受到抑制外 ,未受刺激的脾细胞增殖转化功能也受到抑制 ,抑制率为47 %。连续14d灌胃给氯化镉对小鼠脾脏细胞和胸腺细胞凋亡及淋巴细胞转化均未见明显的影响。[结论]小鼠经一次腹腔注射CdCl25.50mg/kg ,在胸腺细胞和脾细胞凋亡增加 ,同时T淋巴细胞转化功能也受到抑制。连续14d灌胃0.3、0.6和1.2mg/(kg·d)氯化镉未见对小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞转化和脾脏细胞、胸腺细胞的细胞凋亡有所影响     

镉对大鼠肾脏和睾丸毒性的比较

大鼠饮水中给镉12wk后,检测了尿低分子蛋白(LMWP)排出量。尿碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性,血清睾酮水平,睾丸乳酸脱氢酶同功酶(LDH-X)活性,精子计数和形态,雄鼠生育力,肾,睾丸和附睾组织镉含量,并在光镜和电镜下观察上述组织的病理变化,从生化,形态和功能改变三方面比较了大鼠肾脏和睾丸对镉的敏感性,发现尿LMWP和ALP仅在高剂量组显著增加,而血清睾酮和睾丸LDH-X在中剂量纽和低剂量纽已明显降低,说明镉对睾丸的有害作用可出现在肾脏之前。     

Occupational exposure to lead and blood pressure: a study in 105 workers

A group of workers, occupationally exposed to lead and cadmium compounds (n = 53), was compared to a group of workers not exposed to these metals (n = 52). The average values of systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure were found to be higher in the exposed group (p less than 0.05). In contrast with the correlation between CdU and blood pressure, the correlation between PbB and systolic and mean blood pressure remained statistically significant after controlling for age and pulse rate (r = 0.22, p less than 0.05). The prevalence of potential hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg and/or under treatment for hypertension) was higher in the exposed group, but the observed relative risk was not statistically significant: relative risk = 1.91 (95% confidence limits, 0.90-4.05). Furthermore, a significant correlation between PbB and Hgb (r = -0.28, p = 0.004) was observed. Differences in kidney function, as assessed in this study, were not detected.