Oxidative stress: a possible mechanism for lead-induced apoptosis and nephrotoxicity.
Lead-induced nephrotoxicity is a human health hazard problem. In this study, Human mesangial cells (HMCs) were treated with different concentration of lead acetate (5, 10, 20 μmol/l) in order to investigate the oxidative stress and apoptotic changes. It was revealed that lead acetate could induce a progressive loss in HMCs viability together with a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The apoptotic morphological changes induced by lead exposure in HMCs were demonstrated by PI-Hochest33342 staining. A DNA laddering pattern in lead-treated cells was shown, which could indicate nuclear fragmentation. In addition, lead acetate significantly increased the levels of malondialehyde (MDA) content and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Therefore, it might be concluded that lead could promote HMCs' oxidative stress and apoptosis, which may be the chief mechanisms of lead-induced nephrotoxicity.
Experimental Center of Medicine, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military, People's Liberation Army, Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Gene Drug of Gansu Province, 333 Southern Binhe Road, Lanzhou 730050, China. jjiaqh@hotmail.com
Qinghua
Q
Jia
Xiaoqin
X
Ha
Zhihua
Z
Yang
Lin
L
Hui
Xiaopeng
X
Yang
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D007854:Lead; C008261:lead acetate