Cadmium--a metallohormone?
Cadmium is a heavy metal that is often referred to as the metal of the 20th century. It is widely used in industry principally in galvanizing and electroplating, in batteries, in electrical conductors, in the manufacture of alloys, pigments, and plastics, and in the stabilization of phosphate fertilizers. As a byproduct of smelters, cadmium is a prevalent environmental contaminant. In the general population, exposure to cadmium occurs primarily through dietary sources, cigarette smoking, and, to a lesser degree, drinking water. Although the metal has no known physiological function, there is evidence to suggest that the cadmium is a potent metallohormone. This review summarizes the increasing evidence that cadmium mimics the function of steroid hormones, addresses our current understanding of the mechanism by which cadmium functions as a hormone, and discusses its potential role in development of the hormone dependent cancers.
Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
Celia
C
Byrne
Shailaja D
SD
Divekar
Geoffrey B
GB
Storchan
Daniela A
DA
Parodi
Mary Beth
MB
Martin
D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000139:chemically induced; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000728:Androgens; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D002104:Cadmium