title: Cadmium and transport of ions and substances across cell membranes and epithelia.
abstract: Toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd(2+)) pose serious risks to human health. However, even though the importance of Cd(2+) as environmental health hazards is now widely appreciated, the specific mechanisms by which it produces its adverse effects have yet to be fully elucidated. Cd(2+) is known to enter cells, it binds and interacts with a multitude of molecules, it may indirectly induce oxidative stress and interfere with gene expression and repair of DNA. It also interacts with transport across cell membranes and epithelia and may therefore disturb the cell's homeostasis and function. Interaction with epithelial transport, especially in the kidney and the liver, may have serious consequences in general health. A lot of research still needs to be done to understand the exact way in which Cd(2+) interferes with these transport phenomena. It is not always clear whether Cd(2+) has primary or secondary effects on cell membrane transport. In the present review we try to summarize the work that has been done up to now and to critically discuss the relevance of the experimental work in vitro with respect to the in vivo situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Building C, Diepenbeek, Belgium. emmy.vankerkhove@uhasselt.be
authors.forename: Emmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Kerkhove
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pennemans
authors.forename: Quirine
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Swennen
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism; D009318:Natriuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008670:Metals; D002104:Cadmium; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D005947:Glucose