Azoramide ameliorates cadmium-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and suppressing oxidative stress

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is hazardous to human health because of its cytotoxicity and long biological half-life. Azoramide is a small molecular agent that targets the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and moderates the unfolded protein response. However, its role in Cd-induced cytotoxicity remains unclear. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of azoramide against Cd-induced cytotoxicity and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Inductively coupled plasma -mass spectrometry was used to measure Cd concentrations in each tissue of ICR male mice. The human proximal tubule epithelial cell line HK -2 and the human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 were used in the in vitro study. Cell apoptosis was determined by DAPI staining, JC-1 staining, and annexin V/propidium iodide double staining. Intracellular oxidative stress was detected by MitoSOX red staining, western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, ER stress signaling, MAPK cascades, and autophagy signaling were analyzed by western blot. Results: The present data showed that Cd accumulated in various organs of ICR mice, and the concentrations of Cd in the studied organs, from high to low, were as follows: liver > kidney > testis > lung > spleen > eye. Our study demonstrated that azoramide inhibited ER stress by promoting BiP expression and suppressing the PERK-eIF2a-CHOP pathway. Additionally, we also found that azoramide significantly decreased ER stress -associated radical oxidative species production, attenuated p38 MAPK and JNK signaling, and inhibited autophagy, thus suppressing apoptosis in HK -2 and ARPE-19 cells. Conclusion: Our study investigated the effect of azoramide on Cd-induced cytotoxicity and revealed that azoramide may be a therapeutic drug for Cd poisoning.