Bismuth induces metallothionein but does not protect against cadmium cytotoxicity in cultured vasular endothelial cells

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s001289900091· OSTI ID:241242

Kaji, T; Mishima, A; Yamamoto, C ^[1]

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1. Hokuriku Univ., Kanazawa (Japan); and others

Cadmium has been shown to be an inducer of cardiovascular lesions such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. The relationship between cadmium exposure and vascular diseases was shown by epidemiological data. We found that cadmium destroys the monolayer of cultured vascular endothelial cells. This suggested that damage of vascular endothelial cells may be an important event of cadmium-induced vascular disorders. Metallothionein induction is postulated to be in general the most important mechanism for protection against cadmium toxicity. However, zinc protects vascular endothelial cells from cadmium cytotoxicity without metallothionein induction; zinc was not an effective inducer of the protein. Recently, we found that bismuth strongly induces metallothionein selectively in vascular endothelial cells. Although zinc protection against cadmium cytotoxicity in vascular endothelial cells mainly resulted from a decrease in the accumulation of intracellular cadmium, it was likely that bismuth reduces the cytotoxicity of cadmium by the metallothionein-dependent mechanism in the cells. In the present study, the effect of bismuth on the cytotoxicity of cadmium in cultured vascular endothelial cells was investigated. Bismuth alone induces metallothionein but does not protect against cadmium cytotoxicity in the cells. 14 refs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 241242
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 56; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BISMUTH
CADMIUM
EPITHELIUM
METALLOTHIONEIN
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
TOXICITY