Influence of uranium speciation on normal rat kidney (NRK-52E) proximal cell cytotoxicity.
Uranium is a naturally occurring heavy metal. Its extensive use in the nuclear cycle and for military applications has focused attention on its potential health effects. Acute exposures to uranium are toxic to the kidneys where they mainly cause damage to proximal tubular epithelium. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological consequences of acute in vitro uranyl exposure and the influence of uranyl speciation on its cytotoxicity. NRK-52E cells, representative of rat kidney proximal epithelium, were exposed to uranyl-carbonate and -citrate complexes, which are the major complexes transiting through renal tubules after acute in vivo contamination. Before NRK-52E cell exposure, these complexes were diluted in classical or modified cell culture media, which can possibly modify uranyl speciation. In these conditions, uranium cytotoxicity appears after 16 h of exposure. The CI50 cytotoxicity index, the uranium concentration leading to 50% dead cells after 24 h of exposure, is 500 microM (+/-100 microM) and strongly depends on uranyl counterion and cell culture medium composition. Computer modeling of uranyl speciation is reported, enabling one to draw a parallel between uranyl speciation and its cytotoxicity.
Carrière
M
M
Laboratoire Pierre Süe CEA-CNRS UMR 9956, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France. carriere@drecam.cea.fr
Avoscan
L
L
Collins
R
R
Carrot
F
F
Khodja
H
H
Ansoborlo
E
E
Gouget
B
B
D000818:Animals; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D002452:Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002951:Citrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017974:Uranium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity
D002254:Carbonates; D002951:Citrates; D003470:Culture Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017974:Uranium Compounds