Effect of cadmium injury on growth and migration of cultured human vascular endothelial cells.

The effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on the cell proliferation and migration of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was quantitatively analyzed. The HUVEC viable cell count decreased dose-dependently after exposure to Cd (cadmium chloride, 10 nM-1 mM). Morphologic examination by phase-contrast microscopy revealed severe damaging effects of Cd at higher concentrations. The cytotoxic effect of Cd (10 microM-1 mM) on DNA synthesis was also concentration-dependent. When the distance endothelial cells grew out from the scraped edge of a monolayer was measured, HUVEC outgrowth was found to be inhibited by Cd (1.0 microM-1.0 mM) in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that HUVEC cell proliferation and migration are susceptible to Cd cytotoxicity, and that this may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.