Effects of trace metals on mouse B16 melanoma cells in culture

Effects of trace metal profiles characteristic for autism on synapses in cultured neurons

Various recent studies revealed that biometal dyshomeostasis plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Substantial evidence indicates that disrupted neuronal homeostasis of different metal ions such as Fe, Cu, Pb, Hg, Se, and Zn may mediate synaptic dysfunction and impair synapse formation and maturation. Here, we performed in vitro studies investigating the consequences of an imbalance of transition metals on glutamatergic synapses of hippocampal neurons. We analyzed whether an imbalance of any one metal ion alters cell health and synapse numbers. Moreover, we evaluated whether a biometal profile characteristic for ASD patients influences synapse formation, maturation, and composition regarding NMDA receptor subunits and Shank proteins. Our results show that an ASD like biometal profile leads to a reduction of NMDAR (NR/Grin/GluN) subunit 1 and 2a, as well as Shank gene expression along with a reduction of synapse density. Additionally, synaptic protein levels of GluN2a and Shanks are reduced. Although Zn supplementation is able to rescue the aforementioned alterations, Zn deficiency is not solely responsible as causative factor. Thus, we conclude that balancing Zn levels in ASD might be a prime target to normalize synaptic alterations caused by biometal dyshomeostasis.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox effector factor-1(APE/Ref-1): a unique target for the prevention and treatment of human melanoma

Management of melanoma is a growing and challenging public health issue requiring novel and multidisciplinary approaches to achieve more efficient prevention and therapeutic benefits. The aim of this article is to show the critical role of APE/Ref-1 on melanomagenesis and progression. APE/Ref-1 serves as a redox-sensitive node of convergence of various signals as well as a DNA-repair enzyme, and its activation protects melanocytes and melanoma cells from chronic oxidative stress and promotes cell survival via mediation of downstream pathways. APE/Ref-1 is a strong candidate as a potential drug-treatable target for the prevention and treatment of human melanoma. Lead compounds exhibiting inhibitory effects on APE/Ref-1 are also reviewed. We anticipate potential clinical benefit in the future through inhibition of APE/Ref-1 and/or Ref-1-mediated signaling.

In vitro lead-induced cell toxicity and cytoprotective activity of fetal calf serum in human fibroblasts

The underlying mechanisms by which lead ions produce their deleterious effects prior to the onset of clinical symptoms are incompletely understood. This study aimed to assess lead-induced cell toxicity mechanisms by focusing on the effects of the metal on cell growth, DNA synthesis, cellular ATP, intracellular hexosaminidase activity and lysosomal function, and examine the possible cytoprotective role of fetal calf serum (FCS). Several human dermal cultured fibroblast lines were exposed to Pb (400 microM) for 1-6 days with 2, 5, and 10% FCS. The earliest toxic effect of Pb was significant inhibition of DNA synthesis after 24 h direct exposure; this harmful effect was not progressive during the first 3 days, but worsened clearly on the 4th day regardless of the FCS concentration. Atime-dependent depletion of intracellularATP content was also caused by ionic lead, thereby compromising the cell energy charge which precedes cell death. Fibroblast growth was progressively and significantly inhibited from day 2 onwards; the greatest noxious effect was observed in the presence of 2% FCS: 49% reduction in cell proliferation after 5 days. Lead salts produced loss of cell adhesion to the culture dish which worsened from the 2nd day and was more pronounced when FCS in growth medium was decreased. Toxic actions on lysosomal membrane integrity provoked a decrease in neutral red uptake (NRU) which was exposure time-dependent and more marked with 2% FCS. In contrast, increased relative NRU (to 20% at 4 days), suggestive of endocytosis-induced lysosome enlargement, was observed in Pb-exposed cells. Intracellular hexosaminidase activity was not negatively affected until 5 days after exposure to Pb salts. FCS had a significant cytoprotective effect on Pb-induced toxicity.

The effects of cadmium exposure on the cytology and function of primary cultures from rainbow trout

Cultured epidermal cells from explants of skin of rainbow trout were used to study the cytological and functional changes following sublethal exposure to cadmium stress. The aim was to develop diagnostic markers for ecotoxicology. Cultures were exposed to the pollutant for 48 h. Cell structural and cytological changes were established by light and electron microscopy. Metabolic alterations were detected by immunohistochemistry. The relation between the initiation of cellular alterations and cadmium concentrations was compared in cultures exposed in commercially-available serum-free and serum-containing medium. The expression of stress proteins (metallothionein and heat shock protein) was also studied. Rainbow trout epithelial cells exposed to cadmium showed typical morphological changes indicative of cell death by apoptosis. Sublethal exposure also resulted in cellular metabolic disturbances with increased deposits of glycogen. Increased melanization was also observed. These changes appeared at lower concentrations of cadmium when cells were exposed in serum-free media than in serum-containing media. Cadmium induced the expression of heat shock proteins but not of metallothioneins. The results broadly confirm in vivo findings for cadmium toxicity and suggest that this in vitro technique may have applications in aquatic toxicology.

Effect of selenium compounds on murine B16 melanoma cells and pigmented cloned pB16 cells

The effects of selenium compounds such as sodium selenite, sodium selenate, seleno-DL-cystine and seleno-DL-methionine (100 microM and 10 microM) on B16 and pigmented cloned pB16 murine melanoma cells were investigated in vitro. At the tested concentrations, B16 cells showed a greater sensitivity to the toxic effects of sodium selenite and seleno-DL-cystine than pB16 cells, whereas no decrease of B16 and pB16 cell number was observed after incubation with sodium selenate or seleno-DL-methionine. Glutathione (GSH) percentages were strongly decreased only by selenite and seleno-DL-cystine; it was marked more in B16 than in pB16 cells. The pretreatment of B16 cells with a GSH depleting agent (10 microM buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine) did not significantly influence the cytotoxic effects of selenite and seleno-DL-cystine. On both cell populations, GSH preincubation (50 microM) enhanced the cytotoxicity of selenite whereas the survival of seleno-DL-cystine treated cells was increased. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in B16 cells was more sensitive than in pB16 cells to the activating effect of selenite, and particularly of seleno-DL-cystine: however, cell-free controls indicated that activation was mainly due to glutathione reductase. The rate of 75Se (as sodium selenite) uptake in both cell populations was maximal within the first hour of incubation, with a preferential accumulation in the cytosol; after 24 h of incubation, the amount of 75Se in cytosol and pellet was approximately the same.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Use of cell cultures, nuclear and radioanalytical techniques for metallotoxicological studies at the JRC-Ispra

This paper reviews the JRC-Ispra research activity on toxicological studies related to the environmental and occupational exposure of trace metals, as carried out by a combination of cell culture methodologies with nuclear and radioanalytical techniques.Applications concern the setting of uptake-effect relationships and the study of the mechanisms of toxicity of specific metals (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Mo, Se, V), as well as the establishment of ranking of metal toxicity by carrying out systematic studies (screening tests).