Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10872634 | FEBS Letters | 2007 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
Cadmium is a toxic metal that initiates both mitogenic responses and cell death. We show that Cd2+ increases phosphorylation and activity of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK-II) in mesangial cells, in a concentration-dependent manner. Activation is biphasic with peaks at 1-5 min and 4-6 h. Cadmium also activates Erk, but this appears to be independent of CaMK-II. At 10-20 μM, Cd2+ initiates apoptosis in 25-55% of mesangial cells by 6 h. Inhibition of CaMK-II, but not of Erk, suppresses Cd2+-induced apoptosis. We conclude that activation of CaMK-II by Cd2+ contributes to apoptotic cell death, independent of Erk activation.
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Authors
Ying Liu, Douglas M. Templeton,