Influence of Certain Chelating Agents on Egress of Cadmium from Cultured Epithelial Cells Containing High Amounts of Metallothionein: A Screening of Cd-Releasing and Toxic Effects

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Abstract
Human epithelial cell cultures were used to study the effect of 6 different metal chelating compounds on the efflux of Cd from the cells and on cell growth. The cells were made resistant to high levels of Cd (100 .mu.mol/l) in the medium. They contain large amounts of intracellular Cd (40-50 nmol Cd/mg cell protein), the main part of which is bound to cytoplasmic metallothionein. Among the different monothiol and dithiol compounds tested are 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (BAL), D-penicillamine (PA), N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (NAPA) and some newer metal chelators, 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (BAL-Sulf), mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). The 3 latter all showed better effect on the egrees of Cd than PA and NAPA and less toxic effect than BAL on an equimimolar basis. All the agents tested increased the efflux of Cd from metallothionein-containing cell cultures which seem to be justified as a test system for primary screening of effect and toxicity of new chelators.