Further observations on the etiology of pre-eclampsia: mobilization of toxic cadmium-metallothionein into the serum during pregnancy.
Cadmium-metallothionein, mobilized from the liver, might be the toxic serum factor associated with pre-eclampsia. We base this on four documented concepts. First, during pregnancy, maternal physiology adjusts to assure the fetus of the proper amounts of nutrients necessary for growth. Our focus is on zinc and progesterone. Second, because zinc and cadmium are similar, they compete for binding sites. Our focus is on the storage protein metallothionein. Third, the manifestations of cadmium toxicity closely mimic the manifestations of toxemia (i.e. hypertension, proteinuria, edema). Our focus is on cadmium-induced endovasculitis. Fourth is the concept that metallothionein-bound cadmium can be mobilized from the liver into the serum during pregnancy as it follows the mobilization of metallothionein-bound zinc. Our focus is on the extreme toxicity of extracellular cadmium-metallothionein. We correlate these four concepts into a rational theory on the etiology of toxemia, and we suggest a method of proof.
Chisolm
J C
JC
Department of Obstetrics, Methodist Hospitals of Memphis, Tennessee 38104, USA.
Handorf
C R
CR
D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy
C004203:cadmium-binding protein; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein