Cadmium and cellular signaling cascades: To be or not to be?
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Stockumer Strasse 12, D-58453 Witten (Germany)
The cellular effects of the toxic metal cadmium (Cd) are manifold. A large proportion of the cellular reactions affected by ionic Cd{sup 2+} are mediated by cellular signaling cascades. The aim of this review is to provide a principal understanding of the known physiological signaling cascades, which are recruited by Cd{sup 2+}, and to highlight the fact that Cd{sup 2+}, similarly to other toxic metals, disrupts physiological signal transduction. In principle, second messengers are generated at the time of receptor activation, are short-lived, and act specifically in space and time through non-covalent binding on effectors to transiently alter their activity. Signaling dysregulation induced by Cd{sup 2+} is reflected by a permanent disruption of transducing modules, resulting in low and/or elevated and constant levels of second messengers, which overwhelm the control mechanisms of signaling. This disturbs physiological cellular functions, gene transcription and regulation and may result in cell death and/or stress-induced adaptation and survival as well as carcinogenesis. The impact of Cd{sup 2+} on Ca{sup 2+}-, cAMP-, NO-, ROS-, MAP-kinase-, PKB/Akt-, nuclear factor-kappa B-, and developmental signaling is critically discussed. The hierarchical as well as cooperative and integrative character of signaling cascades activated by Cd{sup 2+} is illustrated in the kidney proximal tubule, a major target of Cd{sup 2+} toxicity. This review also aspires to pinpoint new avenues of research that may contribute to a more differentiated view of the complex mechanisms underlying Cd{sup 2+} toxicity in target tissues and eventually lead to rationales and strategies for prevention and therapy of Cd{sup 2+} toxicity.
- OSTI ID:
- 21272610
- Journal Information:
- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 238, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2009.01.013; PII: S0041-008X(09)00033-7; Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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