Zinc has ambiguous effects on chromium (VI)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis

Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Is the General Reason for Apoptosis Induced by Different-Valence Heavy Metals in Cells and Mitochondria

This review analyzes the causes and consequences of apoptosis resulting from oxidative stress that occurs in mitochondria and cells exposed to the toxic effects of different-valence heavy metals (Ag+, Tl+, Hg2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Al3+, Ga3+, In3+, As3+, Sb3+, Cr6+, and U6+). The problems of the relationship between the integration of these toxic metals into molecular mechanisms with the subsequent development of pathophysiological processes and the appearance of diseases caused by the accumulation of these metals in the body are also addressed in this review. Such apoptosis is characterized by a reduction in cell viability, the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Bcl-2), and the activation of protein kinases (ERK, JNK, p53, and p38) by mitogens. Moreover, the oxidative stress manifests as the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening, mitochondrial swelling, an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and H2O2, lipid peroxidation, cytochrome c release, a decline in the inner mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨmito), a decrease in ATP synthesis, and reduced glutathione and oxygen consumption as well as cytoplasm and matrix calcium overload due to Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The apoptosis and respiratory dysfunction induced by these metals are discussed regarding their interaction with cellular and mitochondrial thiol groups and Fe2+ metabolism disturbance. Similarities and differences in the toxic effects of Tl+ from those of other heavy metals under review are discussed. Similarities may be due to the increase in the cytoplasmic calcium concentration induced by Tl+ and these metals. One difference discussed is the failure to decrease Tl+ toxicity through metallothionein-dependent mechanisms. Another difference could be the decrease in reduced glutathione in the matrix due to the reversible oxidation of Tl+ to Tl3+ near the centers of ROS generation in the respiratory chain. The latter may explain why thallium toxicity to humans turned out to be higher than the toxicity of mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc.

Depletion of ATP and Oxidative Stress Underlie Zinc-Induced Cell Injury

The mechanisms of cell injury resulting in a special type of cell death combining the features of apoptosis and necrosis were examined in Hep-2 cells exposed to 300 μM zinc sulfate during 24h. Acute exposure to zinc induced a rapid rise in metallothionein levels and increased oxidative stress occurring in the absence of a significant early ATP depletion. Accentuated ATP loss and elevated levels of superoxide at later treatment intervals (12h and longer) were present along with increased DNA damage. Manipulation with ATP production and inhibition of NADPH oxidase had a positive effect on zinc-related increase in oxidative stress and influenced the observed type of cell death. These results suggest that Hep-2 cells acutely exposed to zinc increase intracellular labile zinc stores and over express metalothioneins. Elevated production of peroxides in zinc-treated cells is at later treatment intervals accompanied by an increase in superoxide levels, possibly by activation of NADPH oxidase, DNA damage and severe ATP loss. Prevention of critical ATP depletion and, in particular, inhibition of oxidative stress attenuates zinc-mediated cell injury and stimulates apoptosis-like phenotype in exposed cells.

Zinc inhibits aflatoxin B1-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human hepatocytes (HepG2 cells)

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has strong carcinogenicity. Consumption of AFB1-contaminated agricultural products and the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma have received widespread attention. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether zinc supplementation could inhibit AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in HepG2 cells and the mechanism of this inhibition. Our data suggest that zinc sources can relieve a certain degree of AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity by protecting against apoptotic body formation and DNA strand breaks, affecting S phase cell cycle arrest, reducing 8-OHdG formation, inhibiting global DNA hypomethylation and regulating gene expression in antioxidation, zinc-association and apoptosis processes. Consequently, zinc stabilizes the integrity of DNA and improves cell survival. These data provides new insights into the protective role of zinc in alleviating AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and mediating epigenetic changes in hepatocytes, demonstrating that zinc sources have detoxification properties in mycotoxin-induced toxicity.

Combined toxicity of heavy metal mixtures in liver cells

With rapid industrialization, China is now facing great challenges in heavy metal contamination in the environment. Human exposure to heavy metals through air, water and food commonly involves a mixture consisting of multiple heavy metals. In this study, eight common heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni) that cause environmental contamination were selected to investigate the combined toxicity of different heavy metal mixtures in HL7702 cells. Toxicity (24 h LC50 ) of each individual metal on the cells ranked Hg > Cr = Cd > Cu > Zn > Ni > Mn > Pb; toxicity of the different mixtures ranked: M5 > M3PbHgCd > M5+Mn > M5+Cu > M2CdNi > M4A > M8-Mn > M8 > M5+Zn > M4B > M8-Cr > M8-Zn > M8-Cu > M8-Pb > M8-Cd > M8-Hg > M8-Ni > M3PbHgNi > M3CuZnMn. The cytotoxicity data of individual metals were successfully used to build the additive models of two- to eight-component metal mixtures. The comparison between additive model and combination model or partly additive model was useful to evaluate the combined effects in mixture. Synergistic, antagonistic or additive effects of the toxicity were observed in different mixtures. These results suggest that the combined effects should be considered in the risk assessment of heavy metal co-exposure, and more comprehensive investigations on the combined effects of different heavy metal mixtures are needed in the future. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Zinc protects human kidney cells from depleted uranium-induced apoptosis

Depleted uranium (DU) is a weak radioactive heavy metal, and zinc (Zn) is an effective antidote to heavy metal poisoning. However, the effect of Zn on DU-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis is not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Zn on DU-induced cell apoptosis in human kidney cells (HK-2) and explore its molecular mechanism. Pre-treatment with Zn significantly inhibited DU-induced apoptosis. It reduced the formation of reactive oxygen species in the cells, increased the catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, suppressed the DU-induced soluble Fas receptor (sFasR) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) overexpression, suppressed the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inhibitor factor (AIF) from mitochondria to cytoplasm, inhibited the activation of caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3, and induced metallothionein (MT) expression. Furthermore, exogenous MT effectively inhibited DU-induced cell apoptosis. In conclusion, mitochondrial and FasR-mediated apoptosis pathways contribute to DU-induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells. Through independent mechanisms, such as indirect antioxidant effects, inhibition of the activation of caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3, and induction of MT expression, Zn inhibits DU-induced apoptosis.

Studies on the interaction between chromium(VI) and human serum albumin: spectroscopic approach

The interaction between Cr(2)O(7)(2-) and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated using fluorescence, UV/vis, FT-IR, CD spectroscopy, and molecular modeling method. The experimental results showed that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by Cr(2)O(7)(2-) is a result of the formation of HSA-chromium(VI) complex; static quenching was confirmed to result in the fluorescence quenching. The corresponding thermodynamic parameters showed that the process of binding Cr(2)O(7)(2-) on HSA was a spontaneous molecular interaction procedure. Ionic, H-bonds and van der Waals interactions play a major role in stabilizing the complex. The Cr(2)O(7)(2-) altered the environments of Trp and Tyr residues in HSA.

Preliminary studies on the effect of zinc and selenium on vanadium-induced cytotoxicity in vitro

In the present work, we investigated the cytotoxicity of vanadium and the influence of zinc and selenium on vanadium-dependent cell damage in the BALB/c 3T3 cell culture. Treatment of cells for 24 hours with medium containing 50, 100 and 200 microM NaVO3 caused a significant decrease in the cell viability as measured by MTT test. Furthermore, the assays for reactive oxygen species (NBT reduction and phenol red oxidation) demonstrated the increase in superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production. In the cotreatment studies, the cells were exposed to NaVO3 (50, 100 and 200 microM) in the presence of nontoxic concentrations of ZnCl2 (5 microM) or Na2SeO3 (0.5 microM). Following 24 h incubation, the cell viability (assessed in MTT assay) and reactive oxygen species generation were evaluated. Our data suggest that zinc and selenium, in the concentrations mentioned above, provide no protection against adverse actions induced by sodium metavanadate at concentration levels of 50, 100 and 200 microM. To our knowledge, this is the first report from in vitro studies on interaction between pentavalent vanadium and trace elements that function as antioxidants: zinc and selenium.

Application of DNA diffusion assay in earthworm coelomocytes

We have applied the DNA diffusion assay proposed by Singh (2000) Exp Cell Res 256:328-337, for quantitative estimation of apoptosis in earthworm coelomocytes, exposed to Chromium (VI) and cypermethrin as model toxicants in vitro. The DNA diffusion assay was originally described for mammalian cells. H2O2, Sodium ascorbate, and hyperthermia were used as positive controls in present study. Apoptosis such as DNA diffusion occurred in dose-dependent manner for Chromium (VI) and cypermethrin at very low concentration (1, 3, and 10 ppm for Chromium (VI) and 4, 8, and 16 ppm for cypermethrin). Three distinct patterns (apoptosis like DNA diffusion, necrosis, and normal) were observed in exposed and nonexposed cells. Present study is probably the first report of application of the DNA diffusion technique in earthworm coelomocytes. Findings of this study indicate that this assay has potential for use in invertebrate cells to differentiate between apoptosis and necrosis.