Repeated cadmium nebulizations induce pulmonary MMP-2 and MMP-9 production and emphysema in rats.

This study describes induction of pulmonary inflammation, production of matrix metalloprotease of type 2 (MMP-2) and type 9 (MMP-9), and emphysema in cadmium (Cd)-exposed rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into two groups: one placebo-exposed group undergoing saline (NaCl 0.9%) inhalation (n=30) and one Cd-exposed group undergoing cadmium (CdCl(2) 0.

Evidence for a role of heat shock factor 1 in inhibition of NF-kappaB pathway during heat shock response-mediated lung protection.

Heat shock transcription factor (HSF)-1 is recognized as a central component of the heat shock response, which protects against various harmful conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying the protection and the role of HSF-1 in these mechanisms have not yet been clearly elucidated. Using HSF-1 knockout mice (Hsf1(-/-)), we examined whether heat shock response-mediated lung protection involved an inhibition of the proinflammatory pathway via an interaction between HSF-1 and NF-kappaB, in response to cadmium insult.

Use of Hsf1(-/-) mice reveals an essential role for HSF1 to protect lung against cadmium-induced injury.

Cadmium (Cd) is known to activate heat shock (HS) response, which is characterized by overexpression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) under the control of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). The potential protection provided by the HS response, induced by increasing the body temperature of animals before Cd exposure or by Cd itself, against pathophysiological changes occurring after Cd intranasal instillation (1 to 100 microg/mouse) was examined. HSF1-deficient mice were used to evaluate the role of this factor in lung protection.

Differential heat shock gene hsp70-1 response to toxicants revealed by in vivo study of lungs in transgenic mice.

Members of heat shock proteins (Hsp70) family have been considered to respond to a large variety of stressful conditions. But it was suggested that, in pulmonary cells, Hsp response depends more closely on the type of stimulus. The lungs are critical organs potentially subjected to air pollution affecting respiratory function and, therefore, these organs are of particular interest with regard to the stress response.