Cadmium stimulates mouse skin fibroblast apoptosis by affecting intracellular homeostasis

Cadmium (Cd²⁺) is an important industrial and environmental pollutant and has been shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types and tissues.

To assess the specific effects of low-dose Cd²⁺on the skin. This organ is easily exposed to Cd²⁺, but how it damages cells is not fully understood.

Mouse skin fibroblasts were treated with low doses of Cd²⁺(0.4, 0.8 or 1.6 μM) for 12-48 h, and we observed cell morphological alterations, measured DNA damage and quantified cell viability changes.

Cd²⁺-treated fibroblasts exhibited morphological changes and evidence of DNA damage, as well as higher numbers of apoptotic and necrotic cells. There were increased caspase -3, -8 and -9 activities when fibroblasts were treated with 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 μM CdCl₂ for 24 h. Higher intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and enhanced efflux of extracellular Ca²⁺and potassium (K⁺). The mitochondrial membrane potential was lowered in treated cells, and the cell cycle arrested in the G0/G1 phase. Bax and Fas gene expression increased and Bcl-2 gene expression decreased.

The results demonstrate that Cd²⁺exerts typical apoptotic effects in mouse skin fibroblasts. It strongly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose- and duration-dependent manner. Ca²⁺homeostasis was disturbed by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase-mediated apoptosis.

K⁺efflux and Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas gene expression regulation play important roles in Cd²⁺-induced dysfunction by disrupting intracellular homeostasis in mouse skin fibroblasts.