Cadmium exposure enhances VE‑cadherin expression in endothelial cells via suppression of ROCK signaling

  • Authors:
    • Xiaorui Li
    • Xiao Li
    • Rong Sun
    • Mei Gao
    • Hui Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 28, 2022     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11282
  • Article Number: 355
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Vascular endothelium is a target of cadmium (Cd), which is a global pollutant of the environment. However, the detailed effects and underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 50 µM cadmium chloride (CdCl2) for 12 h. It was found that vascular endothelial (VE)‑cadherin mRNA and protein expression was upregulated by Cd in HUVECs in a dose‑dependent manner. Higher levels of VE‑cadherin were detected at cell‑to‑cell junctions in HUVECs treated with 10 µM CdCl2 compared with normal condition. The phosphorylation level of myosin‑binding subunit of myosin phosphatase, a downstream substrate of Rho‑associated protein kinase (ROCK), was reduced by 10 µM CdCl2, suggesting that Cd inhibited the Rho/ROCK pathway. Activation of ROCK by narciclasine reversed the Cd‑induced increase of VE‑cadherin expression. By contrast, ROCK pathway inhibitor Y27632 increased VE‑cadherin expression in HUVECs. Following inhibition of the ROCK pathway, Cd did not significantly alter the level of VE‑cadherin. Taken together, the results suggested that Cd exposure enhanced VE‑cadherin expression in endothelial cells via suppression of ROCK signaling.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

May-2022
Volume 23 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Li X, Li X, Sun R, Gao M and Wang H: Cadmium exposure enhances VE‑cadherin expression in endothelial cells via suppression of ROCK signaling. Exp Ther Med 23: 355, 2022.
APA
Li, X., Li, X., Sun, R., Gao, M., & Wang, H. (2022). Cadmium exposure enhances VE‑cadherin expression in endothelial cells via suppression of ROCK signaling. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 23, 355. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11282
MLA
Li, X., Li, X., Sun, R., Gao, M., Wang, H."Cadmium exposure enhances VE‑cadherin expression in endothelial cells via suppression of ROCK signaling". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 23.5 (2022): 355.
Chicago
Li, X., Li, X., Sun, R., Gao, M., Wang, H."Cadmium exposure enhances VE‑cadherin expression in endothelial cells via suppression of ROCK signaling". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 23, no. 5 (2022): 355. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11282