LSC 2011 Abstract: Molecular interplay between inflammation and occurrence of proliferation: Role of cadmium

Introduction: Cadmium is one of the inflammation-related xenobiotics with potent carcinogenicity. The mechanism between inflammation and cell proliferation due to chronic cadmium exposure has not been studied yet (Lau AT, et al ., Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2006). Objectives: The present study was undertaken to determine molecular mechanism of inflammation linked cell proliferation due to cadmium exposure in mice and lung cancer cell line. Methods: Swiss albino mice and A549 cell line were chosen for experiments. Levels of different cytokines, expression level of cell cycle regulatory proteins estimated by ELISA, western blot and immunoprecipitation. Other techniques used scanning electron microscopy, histopathology and Cytotoxic assay, Cell cycle analysis, DNA fragmentation assay and RT-PCR experiments. Results: Prolonged exposure of low concentration of cadmium resulted in up regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and cell cycle regulatory molecules both in vivo and in vitro (Waalkes MP et al ., Toxicol Sci 1999). We found that cadmium induced upregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) along with different proinflammatory cytokines. The major distinct feature of EGFR expression is promoting inflammatory responses along with cell proliferation. Conclusions: These data provide a new insight into the relation between chronic inflammation and cell proliferation in vivo due to cadmium toxicity.