镉对血管内皮细胞损伤及其致动脉硬化的毒理学机制

Damage of Cadmium to Vascular Endothelial Cells and Its Toxicity Mechanism in Atherosclerosis

采用人脐静脉内皮细胞体外培养和大鼠镉染毒实验,检测镉对人脐静脉内皮细胞和大鼠血清NO和ICAM-1分泌量,及大鼠主动脉病理改变的影响。结果表明,镉染毒可造成血管内皮细胞NO分泌量明显降低和ICAM-1分泌量明显升高,与镉染毒浓度剂量相关,体外细胞培养与活体动物实验的结果表现出一致性(P<0.05)。镉暴露可明显促进血管内皮细胞凋亡,主动脉HE染色见动脉硬化改变,各层均见较多ICAM-1阳性表达,主要存在于粥样斑块区。因此,过量镉摄入通过影响大鼠血管内皮细胞功能和结构促进动脉粥样硬化的形成。

Cultured in vitro and feed interventions experiments were conducted to explore the toxic effects of cadmium （Cd） on human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） and rat artery. Results showed that NO level in Cd added group significantly decreased （P 〈0.05）, while the level of ICAM-1 in rat plasma significant increased （P 〈0.05） compared with the control. Levels of NO and ICAM-1 in rat plasma were both in Cd doseresponse manners. The results determined by cultured in vitro and living animal experiment were consistent （P 〈0.05）. The apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and arteriosclerosis changes of aorta cross-section in HE staining promoted and caused by Cd was obviously observed. The immunohistochemically visualized ICAM- 1 positively expressed on aortic intima and adventitia of the control group, which mainly distributed in the areas of atheromatous plaque. The results suggested that excessive intake of Cd affected the function and structure of endothelial cells, which probably promoted the formation of atherosclerosis.