Cadmium exposure induces skeletal muscle insulin resistance through the reactive oxygen species-mediated PINK1/Parkin pathway

Chi Chen; Yuan Chen; Hualing Zhai; Yanyan Xiao; Junfei Xu; Yimeng Gu; Xu Han; Chao Wang; Qi Chen; Hao Lu

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Oct 2024)

Cadmium exposure induces skeletal muscle insulin resistance through the reactive oxygen species-mediated PINK1/Parkin pathway

Chi Chen,
Yuan Chen,
Hualing Zhai,
Yanyan Xiao,
Junfei Xu,
Yimeng Gu,
Xu Han,
Chao Wang,
Qi Chen,
Hao Lu

Affiliations

Chi Chen: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yuan Chen: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Hualing Zhai: Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yanyan Xiao: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Junfei Xu: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yimeng Gu: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Xu Han: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Chao Wang: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Qi Chen: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Correspondence to: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Middle Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
Hao Lu: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Correspondence to: Department of Endocrinology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528, Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 284
p. 116954

Abstract

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Epidemiological studies have suggested a positive association between environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Skeletal muscle insulin resistance (IR) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic low-level Cd exposure on skeletal muscle IR and its potential mechanism. Rats were exposed to drinking water containing 2 or 10 mg/L Cd for 24 weeks. Differentiated L6 myotubes were treated with Cd for 72 h. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry assay, RNA-sequencing, and Seahorse analysis were conducted to determine the effects of Cd and its underlying mechanism on relevant parameters, including insulin sensitivity, glucose uptake, oxidative stress, mitophagy, and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle and L6 myotubes. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitophagy inhibitor Cyclosporin A (CsA) were used to confirm the role of oxidative stress in mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by Cd. We found that rats exposed to 10 mg/L Cd exhibited hyperglycemia and skeletal muscle IR. Cd markedly increased IRS-1 phosphorylation at Ser612, while decreased levels of phosphorylated PI3K, Akt, AS160, inhibited GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake. Mechanistically, Cd increased the intracellular ROS, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde levels and decreased antioxidase activity in L6 myotubes. Furthermore, Cd upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of LC3II/I, PINK1, and Parkin. In addition, Cd induced the formation of mitophagosomes, reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased the adenosine triphosphate content, and impaired the mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Strikingly, NAC ameliorated oxidative stress, excessive mitophagy, and the associated reduction in myotube insulin sensitivity, while inhibition of mitophagy by CsA alleviated skeletal muscle IR. In conclusion, this study reveals a previously unrecognized mechanism that chronic low-level Cd exposure may induce mitophagy by activating the PINK1/Parkin signal pathway by increasing ROS, thus causing skeletal muscle IR and elevated blood glucose.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

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