Effects of Cadmium on the kidney.

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal with known toxicity for humans and animal. Uptake by the lungs or digestive tract results in a wide range of possible toxic effects due to binding of Cd on SH-groups of proteins. The liver and the kidney synthesize metallothioneins (MT) that bind Cd with high affinity and prevent in this way the binding of Cd to other proteins. The kidneys are able to store CdMT for a long time (elimination t_1/2 of Cd = 10-30 years) until with chronic exposure the renal cells are overloaded and damage occurs. Clinical signs of Cd-nephrotoxicity are disfunctions of the transport processes in the proximal tubule. Clinically, Cd-nephropathy is characterized quite good although at a cellular level, the precise mechanisms of uptake, defense and interference with normal cell function by Cd need to be defined. In this research project, the influence of Cd as free ion, CdCl2 and CdMT on normal cell function will be investigated in vitro on primary cellcultures of proximal tubules and in isolated perfused proximal tubulus as well as in vivo. 

Current projects about Cadmium:

• Danny Jans, PhD
• Koen Jolling, PhD-student: Effect of toxins on the mammal kidney: study of the kidney function through luminal perfusion of isolated proximal tubules.
• Sara Terryn, PhD-student: Properties of the mouse proximal tubule in primary cell culture under control conditions and after acute or chronic exposure to heavy metals.
• Sandy Thijssen, PhD-student: Responses of animal cells to cadmium stress: defense mechanisms and cellular functional state

PhD-thesis:

• Georg Klein, PhD: Midgut electrophysiology of Orchesella cincta (L.) Templeton 1835. (december 2003)

Further information about the heavy metals research, please contact Prof. Dr. Emmy Van Kerkhove.