Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
06:24
Oncogene Expression Analysis with Alterations in pH in a Pancreatic Ductal Cell Line
Published on: April 11, 2025
[DNA damage and oncogenic protein expression induced by cadmium]
Feng Cao1, Tong Zhou, Tai-yi Jin
1Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Summary
Cadmium exposure causes significant DNA damage and cell cycle disruption in human and rat cells. This damage and increased oncogenic protein expression may contribute to cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Molecular biology
- Cellular toxicology
Context:
- Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal with known carcinogenic potential.
- Understanding cadmium's cellular mechanisms is crucial for risk assessment and prevention.
Purpose:
- To investigate the effects of cadmium on DNA damage and oncogenic protein expression.
- To evaluate cadmium's impact on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and senescence.
- To explore cadmium's effects both in vitro (human cells) and in vivo (rats).
Summary:
- Cadmium significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced DNA damage in human cultured cells and rat organs.
- Comet assay showed increased DNA damage rates with increasing cadmium dosage, particularly in rat kidneys and prostates.
- Cadmium exposure blocked cell cycle progression and increased the expression of oncogenic proteins (c-myc, c-Jun) and a senescence marker (beta-Gal).
Impact:
- Cadmium-induced DNA damage and cell cycle arrest can lead to senescence and cell death.
- The study highlights cadmium's role in DNA damage and oncogenic protein upregulation, suggesting a potential mechanism for cadmium-induced carcinogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
02:59Cancer Prevention
Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Some...
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Somatic cells are...
01:38Nucleotide Excision Repair
DNA Distortion and Damage
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...