Cadmium is a novel and independent risk factor for early atherosclerosis mechanisms and in vivo relevance
Messner B et al. – Research suggests cadmium (Cd) has promoting effects on early human and murine atherosclerosis, partly offset by high Zinc (Zn) concentrations. Methods- 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
Results- 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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