Zinc interference with Cd-induced hormetic effect in differentiated Caco-2 cells: Evidence for inhibition downstream ERK activation.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that enters the food chain. Following oral ingestion, the intestinal epithelium represents an effective protective barrier against Cd toxicity, but it is also a target tissue that may accumulate and trap high levels of the ingested metal. Using human enterocytic-like Caco-2 cells, we have previously shown that Cd may induce a concentration and time-dependent increase in 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (MTT)-reducing activity in differentiated cultures with correlation to ERK1/2 activation.