Cellular and molecular mechanisms of antimony transport, toxicity and resistance

Environmental context Antimony is a toxic metalloid that is used in a wide range of modern technology applications and in medical treatments. The accelerating needs for antimony in various industrial applications has led to concerns about increased human and environmental exposure. This review provides a brief summary of the biological properties of antimony and its mechanisms of actions in cells. Abstract Antimony is a toxic metalloid that is naturally present in low amounts in the environment, but can locally reach high concentrations at mining and processing sites. Today, antimony is used in a wide range of modern technology applications and is also an important constituent of pharmacological drugs. The increasing use of antimony has led to concerns about human and environmental exposure. Yet little is known about the biological properties of antimony and its mechanisms of actions in cells. This review will provide a brief summary of how antimony enters and affects cells, and how cells deal with the presence of this metalloid to acquire resistance.