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Cadmium is a novel and independent risk factor for early atherosclerosis mechanisms and in vivo relevance
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 06/30/09

Messner B et al. – Research suggests cadmium (Cd) has promoting effects on early human and murine atherosclerosis, partly offset by high Zinc (Zn) concentrations.

• Study of the effects of Cd in initial stages of atherosclerosis
• Subjects: 195 young healthy women of Atherosclerosis Risk Factors in Female Youngsters (ARFY) study

• Cd independently associated with early atherosclerotic vessel wall thickening (intima-media thickness >90th percentile of distribution
• In line, Cd-fed ApoE knockout mice yielded a significantly increased aortic plaque surface vs controls
• In vitro results: physiological doses of Cd increase vascular endothelial permeability up to 6-fold
• Effect by: 1) inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, and 2) induction of a caspase-independent but Bcl-xL-inhibitable form of cell death >72 hrs after Cd addition
• Both phenomena preceded by Cd-induced DNA strand breaks and a cellular DNA damage response
• Zn showed potent protective effect against deleterious effects of Cd both in the in vitro and human studies

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