Induction of metallothionein synthesis by bismuth in cultured vascular endothelial cells.
Metallothionein synthesis induced by bismuth nitrate was characterized using a cell culture system. It was found that bismuth (1-10 microM) significantly increased the intracellular accumulation of metallothionein in bovine aortic endothelial cells without an exhibition of cytotoxicity and a change of either general protein synthesis or proliferative DNA synthesis after a 24-h incubation. A low increase in the metallothionein accumulation was observed in bovine aortic smooth muscle cells; however, porcine kidney epithelial LLC-PK1 cells, human Chang liver cells and two human hepatoma cell lines (HLF cells and Hep-G2 cells) did not respond to bismuth. Other cations including cobalt, lead and zinc at 10 microM failed to induce metallothionein in endothelial cells, although cadmium at 1 microM was a strong inducer. Bismuth accumulated highly in endothelial cells but very slightly in LLC-PK1 cells and Chang liver cells. The present data suggest that bismuth is a selective inducer of metallothionein of vascular endothelial cells and this cell type particularly responds to the cation.
Kaji
T
T
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Suzuki
M
M
Yamamoto
C
C
Imaki
Y
Y
Mishima
A
A
Fujiwara
Y
Y
Sakamoto
M
M
Kozuka
H
H
D000225:Adenine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001729:Bismuth / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D008670:Metals; D009566:Nitrates; C065545:bismuth nitrate; D008668:Metallothionein; D007930:Leucine; D000225:Adenine; D001729:Bismuth; D013936:Thymidine