title: Cadmium Protection Strategies--A Hidden Trade-Off?
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential transition metal which is introduced into the biosphere by various anthropogenic activities. Environmental pollution with Cd poses a major health risk and Cd toxicity has been extensively researched over the past decades. This review aims at changing the perspective by discussing protection mechanisms available to counteract a Cd insult. Antioxidants, induction of antioxidant enzymes, and complexation of Cd to glutathione (GSH) and metallothionein (MT) are the most potent protective measures to cope with Cd-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, protection mechanisms include prevention of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitophagy and metabolic stress, as well as expression of chaperones. Pre-exposure to Cd itself, or co-exposure to other metals or trace elements can improve viability under Cd exposure and cells have means to reduce Cd uptake and improve Cd removal. Finally, environmental factors have negative or positive effects on Cd toxicity. Most protection mechanisms aim at preventing cellular damage. However, this might not be possible without trade-offs like an increased risk of carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. adolf.sandbichler@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Adolf Michael
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sandbichler
authors.affiliation: University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. martina.hoeckner@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höckner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D063306:Mitophagy / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002614:Chelating Agents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005419:Flavonoids; D013267:Stilbenes; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D005978:Glutathione; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: antioxidants; cadmium; chelation; detoxification; hormesis; metallothionein; mitochondrial damage; nuclear response factor 2 signaling; oxidative stress; protection