Protective effect of copper against cadmium cytotoxicity on cultured vascular endothelial cells.
We investigated the effect of copper on cadmium-induced cytotoxicity on vascular endothelial cells from bovine aorta in a culture system. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the [3H]adenine release assay and the histological observation. After a 24-h incubation, cadmium exhibited a significant cytotoxicity on confluent cultures of endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, while copper only slightly did after a 24-h incubation. It was found that copper (5 microM) significantly decreased cadmium (1 and 2 microM) cytotoxicity; histologically, formation of de-endothelialized areas in the cell layer caused by cadmium was reduced by copper. The accumulation of cadmium in the cell layer was significantly decreased by copper; however, that of copper was unaffected by cadmium. It was therefore suggested that copper significantly protects cadmium-induced cytotoxicity on cultured endothelial cells primarily through decreasing the cellular cadmium accumulation.
Kaji
T
T
Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Fujiwara
Y
Y
Koyanagi
E
E
Yamamoto
C
C
Mishima
A
A
Sakamoto
M
M
Kozuka
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper