Cadmium-induced apoptotic death of human retinal pigment epithelial cells is mediated by MAPK pathway.
Cadmium (Cd), released from cigarette smoke and metal industrial activities, is known to accumulate in human body organs including retina and is particularly higher in retinal tissues of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) eyes compared to non-AMD eyes. We have determined the cytotoxic effects of Cd on human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Upon Cd treatment, there was a dose- and time-dependent decline in ARPE-19 cell viability as well as early apoptotic changes such as altered mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and Cytochrome C release in cytosol. Depletion of GSH by buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO) resulted in increased Cd toxicity in ARPE-19 cells. Cadmium also caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2), and p38 in ARPE-19 cells. Antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reduced Cd-induced toxicity. These results indicate that elevated ROS-induced activation of the MAPK signaling pathway could be associated with Cd-induced RPE cell apoptosis, one of the major contributing factors in AMD. The toxic effects of Cd on ARPE-19 cells indicate that environmental heavy metals such as Cd could be important potential factors in RPE cells death associated retinal diseases particularly related to smoking.
Kalariya
Nilesh M
NM
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
Wills
Nancy K
NK
Ramana
Kota V
KV
Srivastava
Satish K
SK
van Kuijk
Frederik J G M
FJ
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine; D045304:Cytochromes c; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005978:Glutathione; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D000111:Acetylcysteine