Influences of Indium (III) Chloride on Mammalian Renal Cell (Vero) Morphology, Viability, Reactive Oxygen Species Production, and Adhesive Protein Expression

As the use of electronics and mobile devices increases, indium and its related compounds are increasingly prevalent in consumer products. However, the effects of the ionic form of indium on the mammalian renal cells are unclear. Understanding indium toxicity in these cells is important, as it relates to kidney health. Kidneys remove heavy metals, maintain electrolyte balance, and perform other vital functions. This in vitro study examines the effects of indium chloride (InCl3) on Vero cells, focusing on cell morphology, viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and expression of key focal adhesion proteins. Cells were incubated in culture media with InCl3 concentrations ranging from 0 to 3.2 mM for 24 h. Fluorescence confocal microscopy analyses revealed that concentrations above 0.8 mM caused the cells to become more compact and display decreased actin filament lengths, suggesting cellular degeneration, which was further supported by the AlamarBlue® Cell Viability Reagent. Using a 2′,7′–dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA/H2DCFDA) assay, we show that ROS levels increase with InCl3 concentration, accompanied by significant increases in focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin at InCl3 concentrations above 0.8 mM. Interestingly, the level of α-actinin detected is not affected by exposure to InCl3. Our findings demonstrate that InCl3 has negative impacts on the growth and behaviour of Vero cells at concentrations exceeding 0.8 mM, underscoring the need for further investigation into the biological effects of indium-containing compounds.