Abstract
Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal, which has a destroying impact on organs. Exposure to cadmium causes severe health problems to human beings due to its ubiquitous environmental presence and features of the pathologies associated with prolonged exposure. Cadmium is a well-established carcinogen, although the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood yet. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the impact of this environmental pollutant on the epigenome. Because of the role of epigenetic alterations in regulating gene expression, there is a potential for the integration of cadmium-induced epigenetic alterations as critical elements in the cancer risk assessment process. Here, after a brief review of the major diseases related to cadmium exposure, we focus our interest on the carcinogenic potential of this heavy metal. Among the several proposed pathogenetic mechanisms, particular attention is given to epigenetic alterations, including changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA expression. We review evidence for a link between cadmium-induced epigenetic changes and cell transformation, with special emphasis on melanoma. DNA methylation, with reduced expression of key genes that regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis, has emerged as a possible cadmium-induced epigenetic mechanism in melanoma. A wider comprehension of mechanisms related to this common environmental contaminant would allow a better cancer risk evaluation.
Keywords: Cadmium, Cancer, DNA methylation, Epigenetics, Histone modifications, Melanoma, Non-coding RNAs.
Current Genomics
Title:Epigenetic Effects of Cadmium in Cancer: Focus on Melanoma
Volume: 15 Issue: 6
Author(s): Mario Venza, Maria Visalli, Carmelo Biondo, Rosaria Oteri, Federica Agliano, Silvia Morabito, Gerardo Caruso, Maria Caffo, Diana Teti and Isabella Venza
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cadmium, Cancer, DNA methylation, Epigenetics, Histone modifications, Melanoma, Non-coding RNAs.
Abstract: Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal, which has a destroying impact on organs. Exposure to cadmium causes severe health problems to human beings due to its ubiquitous environmental presence and features of the pathologies associated with prolonged exposure. Cadmium is a well-established carcinogen, although the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood yet. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the impact of this environmental pollutant on the epigenome. Because of the role of epigenetic alterations in regulating gene expression, there is a potential for the integration of cadmium-induced epigenetic alterations as critical elements in the cancer risk assessment process. Here, after a brief review of the major diseases related to cadmium exposure, we focus our interest on the carcinogenic potential of this heavy metal. Among the several proposed pathogenetic mechanisms, particular attention is given to epigenetic alterations, including changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA expression. We review evidence for a link between cadmium-induced epigenetic changes and cell transformation, with special emphasis on melanoma. DNA methylation, with reduced expression of key genes that regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis, has emerged as a possible cadmium-induced epigenetic mechanism in melanoma. A wider comprehension of mechanisms related to this common environmental contaminant would allow a better cancer risk evaluation.
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Cite this article as:
Venza Mario, Visalli Maria, Biondo Carmelo, Oteri Rosaria, Agliano Federica, Morabito Silvia, Caruso Gerardo, Caffo Maria, Teti Diana and Venza Isabella, Epigenetic Effects of Cadmium in Cancer: Focus on Melanoma, Current Genomics 2014; 15 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920291506150106145932
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920291506150106145932 |
Print ISSN 1389-2029 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5488 |
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