title: Cadmium Induced Apoptosis in MG63 Cells by Increasing ROS, Activation of p38 MAPK and Inhibition of ERK 1/2 Pathways.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cadmium (Cd) induces apoptosis in different kinds of cells, including osteoblasts, both in vivo and in vitro. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which Cd induces apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we used the human osteosarcoma cell line MG63, which has characteristics similar to human osteoblasts, as an in vitro model to determine the cellular mechanisms by which Cd induces apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that short-term exposure to CdCl2 induced apoptosis in MG63 cells. Furthermore, the incubation of cells with CdCl2 significantly increased the level of phosphorylated p38MAPK and significantly decreased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, the inhibition of the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK by SB202190 protected MG63 cells from Cd-induced apoptosis. The incubation of MG63 cells with the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 significantly increased apoptosis in MG63 cells. CdCl2 also significantly increased the intracellular levels of ROS. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reduced ROS levels and reversed the effects of CdCl2 on MAPK signaling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that Cd induced apoptosis in MG63 cells by increasing ROS, activation of p38 MAPK and inhibition of ERK1/2 pathways.
authors.forename: Kong-He
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wen-Xue
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min-Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: She-Bing
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cai-Xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002104:Cadmium; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases