title: MAPK activation is involved in cadmium-induced Hsp70 expression in HepG2 cells.
abstract: Cadmium is one of the most toxic elements to which man can be exposed at work or in the environment. By far, the most salient toxicological property of Cd is its exceptionally long half-life in the human body. Once absorbed, Cd accumulates in the human body, particularly in the liver and other vital organs. The cellular actions of Cd are extensively documented, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these actions are still not resolved. It is known that Cd activates the activator protein-1 (AP-1), but no data about the pathway involved are reported for liver. The objective was to provide a greater insight into the effect of cadmium on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK's) involved in signal transduction, its relationship with AP-1 activation, and heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 expression, in HepG2 cells. AP-1 activation as a result of 5 microM CdCl(2) exposure was increased 24.5-fold over control cells after 4 h treatment. To investigate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK's), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK's) and p38 kinases in cadmium-induced AP-1 activation, specific MAPKs inhibitors were used. AP-1 activation decreased by 74% with ERK inhibition, by 83% with p38 inhibition, while inhibition of JNK decreased by 70%. Only ERK and JNK participated in Hsp70 production, conferring cell protection against cadmium damage.
authors.affiliation: Doctorado en Biología Experimental, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Avenida San Rafael Atlixco 186, México D.F., México.
authors.forename: Ma del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bucio
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Luis Enrique
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gómez-Quiroz
authors.forename: Ma Concepción
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez Ruiz
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D002104:Cadmium; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019256:Cadmium Chloride