Cadmium induces Ca2Â + mediated, calpain-1/caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in primary cultured rat proximal tubular cells

Cadmium (Cd) exposure resulted in an increase of cytosolic Ca2 + concentration ([Ca2 +]c). Elevated [Ca2 +]c promoted activation of calpain-1and caspase-3 in turn, and finally led to apoptosis.72