Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is suffered progressive loss of kidney function lasting more than 3 months and is classified according to the degree of kidney damage (level of proteinuria) and the decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The most severe form of CKD is end-stage renal disease. The prevalence of CKD is high with fast growth rate and the disease burden has become increasingly serious. CKD has become an important public health problem threatening human health. The etiology of CKD is complex. In addition to genetic factors, environmental factors are an important cause of CKD. With the development of industrialization, environmental metal pollution has become increasingly severe, and its impact on human health has received widespread attention. A large number of studies have shown that metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic can accumulate in the kidney, which can cause damage to the structure and function of the kidney, and play an important role in the development of CKD. Therefore, summarizing the epidemiological research progress in the relationship between arsenic, cadmium, lead, and other metal exposures and kidney diseases can provide new ideas for the prevention and control of kidney diseases caused by metal exposure.
Humans ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; Arsenic/toxicity* ; Kidney ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/epidemiology* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic

OBJECTIVE: The effect of oral cadmium (Cd) intake to influence contact skin allergies was examined, since it is known that Cd is a heavy metal that affects many tissues, including the skin, in which it disturbs homeostasis, thus resulting in inflammation and injury. METHODS: Male rats were evoked with experimental contact hypersensitivity reaction (CHS) to hapten dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), after prolonged (30 day) oral exposure to an environmentally relevant Cd dose (5 ppm). The ear cell population was analyzed with flow cytometry. Cytokine production by ear skin cells and the activity of skin-draining lymph node (DLN) cells were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Orally acquired Cd (5 ppm) increased CHS intensity only in Dark Agouti (DA) rats by affecting inflammatory responses in both the sensitization (an increase of IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokine production) and challenge (an increase of CD8 ⁺ and CD4 ⁺ cell number and TNF, IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokine production) phases. An increased CHS reaction was seen in Albino Oxford (AO) rats only at a high Cd dose (50 ppm), during the challenge phase (an increase of CD8 ⁺ and CD4 ⁺ cell number and TNF, IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokine production). CONCLUSION These novel data indicate that oral Cd intensifies the skin response to sensitizing chemicals such as DNCB.
Male ; Rats ; Animals ; Allergens/toxicity* ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; Dinitrochlorobenzene/toxicity* ; Interleukin-17 ; Cytokines

Cadmium (Cd) is a common heavy metal in the environment. Cd²⁺ may penetrate the blood-brain barrier and produce neurotoxicity, thus inducing various neurodegenerative diseases. Celastrol is an effective component of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., which has many pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory. Here we explored the effect of celastrol on the corresponding neurotoxicity induced by Cd²⁺. Cell proliferation test, cell membrane integrity test, and cell morphology were observed to analyze the effect of Cd²⁺ on the viability of HMC3. The neurotoxicity of Cd²⁺ and the effect of celastrol on the corresponding neurotoxicity induced by Cd²⁺ were analyzed by nitric oxide (NO) test, lipid peroxidation (MDA) test, and Western blotting. When the concentration of Cd²⁺ reached 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rate of HMC3 cell proliferation was (57.17±8.23)% (P < 0.01, n=5), compared with the control group. The cell activity continued to reduce when the Cd²⁺ concentration further increased. When the concentration of Cd²⁺ was higher than 40 μmol/L, the cell membrane of HMC3 was significantly damaged, and the damage was dose-dependent. Upon increasing the Cd²⁺ concentration, the cell morphology began to change and the adhesion also became worse. Cd²⁺ significantly increased the amount of NO released by HMC3 cells, while celastrol effectively inhibited the NO release of HMC3 cells induced by Cd²⁺. Cd²⁺ greatly increased the release of MDA in HMC3 cells, and the level of MDA decreased rapidly upon the addition of 10^-7 mol/L celastrol. Cd²⁺ increased the expression of p-PI3K protein, and the levels of p-PI3K protein and p-AKT protein were inhibited by the addition of celastrol (10^‒7 mol/L, 10^‒6 mol/L), thus preventing cell apoptosis. In conclusion, celastrol inhibits Cd²⁺ induced microglial cytotoxicity and plays a neuroprotective role.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; Nitric Oxide/pharmacology* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology*

Objective: To investigate the effects of cadmium (Cd) on antioxidant enzymes in testis of mice and the protective effect of vitamin C (VC). Methods: A total of 72 male Kunming mice of clean grade were divided into four groups (n=18): the control group, the Cd group (CdCl₂ 3 mg/kg), the VC group (200 mg/kg), and the VC (200 mg/kg) +Cd group (CdCl₂ 3 mg/kg). Mice were poisoned once a day, exposed for 1 and 3 days and were treated with VC at the same time. Twenty-four hours after exposure on the 1st and 3rd day, half of the mice in each group were weighed, the serum and testis tissues were collected. Testicular organ coefficient, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum and testis tissues, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and total glutathione (T-GSH) in testis tissues were detected. Results: Compared with the control group, the body weight and testicle organ coefficient of mice in the Cd group were decreased on the 1st and 3rd day; after 3 days of exposure, the serum SOD in the Cd group was decreased significantly and MDA was increased significantly (P＜0.05); the levels of SOD, GSH-Px, T-GSH and GSH/GSSG of testis in the Cd group were increased significantly on the 1st day (P＜0.05), while all the above indexes were decreased significantly on the 3rd day (P＜0.05), and the content of MDA was increased significantly on the 1st and 3rd days in the Cd group (P＜0.05); after VC treatment, the degree of reduction was decreased. Compared with the Cd group, the serum SOD and MDA levels in the VC+ Cd group were significantly different after 3 days of exposure (P＜0.05); the changes of SOD, GSH-Px, T-GSH and GSH/GSSG levels of the testis in the VC+ Cd group were significantly different on the 1st and 3rd day of exposure (P＜0.05), and the MDA level of the testis in the VC+ Cd group was decreased significantly on the 3rd day of exposure (P＜0.05). Compared with the Cd group for 1 day, the level of serum SOD exposed for 3 days was decreased significantly (P＜0.05), and the changes of testis indexes were also significantly different (P＜0.05). Conclusion: VC treatment can improve the antioxidant function of cadmium-loaded mice to some extent, and has protective effect on oxidative damage of testis.
Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Ascorbic Acid/pharmacology* ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Disulfide/pharmacology* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Male ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Testis

Objective: To study the underlying mechanism of cadmium-induced apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes (GC-2 spd) . Methods: In March 2021, GC-2 spd cells were exposed to different concentrations of CdCl(2) for 24 hours, namely 5 μmol/L CdCl(2) (low-dose) group and 10 μmol/L CdCl(2) (high-dose) group, and unexposed GC-2 spd cells were used as control group. Mitochondrial morphology was observed in the cells stained with Mito-Track Red CMXRos fluorescent probes by confocal microscopy and the mitochrondrial membrane potential was measured by flow cytometry with JC-1 fluorescent probes. Mitochrondrial proteins, cytosolic proteins and total cellular proteins of GC-2 spd cells were extracted using cell mitochondria isolation kit and RIPA buffer, respectively. The expression of mitochondrial homeostasis regulatory proteins (FIS1 and OPA1), and apoptosis-related proteins (Cytochrome c and cleaved Caspase-3) were examined by Western blot. Results: Compared with the cells in the control group, the relative ratio of JC-1 red/green fluorescence signal in the cells of the low-dose and high-dose CdCl(2) groups decreased significantly (0.740±0.071, 0.570±0.028), with a statistically significant difference (P=0.017, 0.004) ; The morphology of mitochondria changed from long tube to point, and the proportion of cells containing point mitochondria increased significantly (45.1%±3.7% and 25.7%±4.9%), the difference was statistically significant (P=0.005, 0.001) ; The relative expression level of mitochondrial FIS1 in cells of low and high dose CdCl(2) groups was significantly higher (1.271±0.120, 1.693±0.155), the difference was statistically significant (P=0.046, 0.000) ; The relative expression level of OPA1 decreased significantly (0.838±0.050, 0.682±0.040), and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.049, 0.001). Compared with the control group, the relative expression level of cytochrome c protein in the cytoplasm of cells in the low dose group of CdCl(2) was not significantly increased (1.249±0.151), and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.075). However, the relative expression level in the cytoplasm of cells in the high dose group of CdCl(2) was significantly increased (2.355±0.110), and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.000) ; The relative expression level of Cytochrome c in mitochondria of low and high dose CdCl(2) groups decreased significantly (0.681±0.043, 0.619±0.114), with a statistically significant difference (P=0.004, 0.001) ; Moreover, the level of cleaved Caspase-3 protein in cells gradually increased (5.486±0.544, 11.493±1.739), the difference was statistically significant (P=0.004, 0.000) . Conclusion: Cadmium induced cleaved Caspase-3 mediated apoptosis of GC-2 spd cells via promoting mitochrondrial fission and the release of Cytochrome c from the mitochrondria to the cytosol.
Male ; Mice ; Animals ; Mitochondrial Dynamics ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; Cytochromes c/metabolism* ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial

Animals ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; Dysbiosis/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glutamine/pharmacology* ; Methionine ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Ostreidae ; Protein Hydrolysates ; Tyrosine

Chuanxiong Rhizoma is a traditional Chinese medicinal material mainly produced in Sichuan and Chongqing of China. In recent years, the cadmium content in Chuanxiong Rhizoma produced in most of the genuine producing areas has exceeded the standard, which makes Chuanxiong Rhizoma difficult to be exported. To solve the problem of excessive cadmium content in soil, this study employed the MaxEnt model to simulate the potential geographic distribution of Ligusticum chuanxiong and evaluate important environmental factors, and re-plan its ecologically suitable areas based on the mineral distribution characteristics and soil cadmium pollution status. The results showed that the places suitable for L. chuanxiong growing covered an area of 335 523.69 km~2, mainly in central and eastern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi and most parts of Chongqing. Among them, the highly suitable areas of L. chuanxiong were mainly concentrated in Chengdu, Ya'an, Deyang, and Mianyang. Solar radiation, annual precipitation, and annual range of temperature were evaluated as important variables affecting the distribution of L. chuanxiong, with the contribution rates of 62.3%, 13.3%, and 6.8%, respectively. In addition, Qionglai county, Chongqing county, Mianyang city(Youxian district and Fucheng district), Qingchuan county, and Xinjin county were classified into the first-class ecologically suitable zone, covering a total area of 2 768.87 km~2. The se-cond-class ecologically suitable zone was even wider, involving such counties as Tongjiang county, Renshou county, Jianyang county, and Nanjiang county, and the total area reached 43 616.92 km~2. The re-planning of the ecologically suitable areas for L. chuanxiong has provided strong data support for the cultivation and resource development of L. chuanxiong and also new ideas for solving the problem of excessive cadmium content in L. chuanxiong.
Cadmium/toxicity* ; Environmental Pollution ; Ligusticum ; Rhizome ; Soil

Objective: To investigate involvement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the immunomodulatory effects of cadmium (Cd). Methods: The effect of Cd on AhR activation ( Results: Cd increased Conclusion AhR signaling is involved in the lung leukocyte proinflammatory cytokine response to Cd. The relevance of the AhR to the cytokine response to Cd provides new insight into the mechanisms of Cd immunotoxicity.
Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/immunology* ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/immunology* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1/immunology* ; Cytokines/immunology* ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity* ; Male ; Rats ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/immunology*

To screen the available tomato pollution-safe cultivar varieties and reduce the potential food safety risks in Cd-polluted areas, the differences of Cd accumulation in different tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties in southern China were studied by soil culture and hydroponic experiments. Firstly, the high and low accumulation varieties were selected from 25 tomato varieties under 2.94 mg/kg Cd stress by soil culture test, and then the responses of high and low accumulation tomato varieties to Cd stress were determined by hydroponic experiments. The results of soil culture test show that under 2.94 mg/kg Cd stress, there were significant differences in plant height, total biomass and yield among 25 tomato cultivars, and the Cd contents of fruits of all 25 tomato cultivars exceeded the highest limit value (0.05 mg/kg) of CAC (Codex alimentarius commission). Through cluster analysis, 7, 4 and 14 varieties accumulating relatively high, medium, and low concentrations of Cd in the fruits were screened, among which the highest, the lowest, and the average Cd contents in the fruits were 3.06 mg/kg DW, 1.47 mg/kg DW, and 2.21 mg/kg DW, respectively. The results of hydroponic experiment show that under the same concentration of Cd stress, Qiantangxuri F1, a high Cd accumulating variety, absorbed Cd faster, accumulated more Cd, used shorter oxidative stress response time and had stronger tolerance to Cd than Zhefen 3053, a low Cd accumulating variety. The typical high and low Cd accumulating varieties can provide a reference for agricultural production in heavy metal polluted areas and the development of molecular-assisted breeding methods of PSC. At present, cultivating low Cd accumulating PSC varieties and dynamic monitoring of Cd contents in tomato fruits are feasible methods in medium and light Cd-polluted areas.
Antioxidants ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; China ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity*

With the expanded application of heavy metal cadmium, soil cadmium pollution is more and more serious. In this study, using Salix matsudana as a phytoremediation candidate, we observed changes of gene expression and metabolic pathway after 1, 7 and 30 days under 2.5 mg/L and 50 mg/L cadmium stress. The result of transcriptome sequencing showed that we obtained 102 595 Unigenes; 26 623 and 32 154 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the same concentration and different stress time; 8 550, 3 444 and 11 428 DEG with different concentrations at the same time; 25 genes closely related to cadmium stress response were screened. The changes of genes expression (such as metallothionein, ABC transporter, zinc and manganese transporter) depended on both concentration of cadmium and exposure time. The expression of several genes was obviously up-regulated after cadmium stress, for example 3,6-deoxyinosinone ketolase (ROT3) in brassinolide synthesis pathway and flavonoid synthase (FLS), flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H) in the synthesis pathway of brassinolide. In addition, GO analysis shows that GO entries were mainly enriched in metabolic processes including cellular processes, membranes, membrane fractions, cells, cellular fractions, catalytic activation and binding proteins in response to cadmium stress, whose number would increase along with cadmium concentration and exposure time. The reliability of transcriptome information was verified by qPCR and physiological experimental data. Response mechanisms of S. matsudana after cadmium stress were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing, which provided theoretical guidance for remediation of cadmium pollution in soil by S. matsudana.
Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; drug effects ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salix ; drug effects ; genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; genetics ; Transcriptome ; drug effects