The antioxidative enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Sod1) is an important cellular defence system against reactive oxygen species (ROS). While the majority of this enzyme is localized to the cytosol, about 1% of the cellular Sod1 is present in the intermembrane space (IMS) of mitochondria. These amounts of mitochondrial Sod1 are increased for certain Sod1 mutants that are linked to the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a highly toxic persistent organic pollutant. Most of the toxic effects of TCDD are believed to be mediated by high-affinity binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and subsequent effects on gene transcription and protein expression. TCDD causes cancer in multiple tissues in different animal species and is classified as a class 1 human carcinogen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe main target organ of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) in mammals is the kidney but OTA has also been shown to be hepatotoxic in rats and to induce tumors in mouse liver. Even at very low concentrations, OTA causes perturbations of cellular signaling pathways as well as enhanced apoptosis. OTA has been extensively studied in kidney cell systems.
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