Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40806353›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Cadmium Inhibits Proliferation of Human Bronchial Epithelial BEAS-2B Cells Through Inducing Ferroptosis via Targeted Regulation of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway.

Huan Li, Zixin Qiu, Long Chen, Tianbao Zhang, Diandian Wei, Xue Chen, Yun Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Huan LiSchool of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.ORCID 0009-0009-8515-3623
Zixin QiuSchool of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.
Long ChenSchool of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.
Tianbao ZhangSchool of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.
Diandian WeiSchool of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.
Xue ChenSchool of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7083-7688
Yun WangSchool of Public Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.

Funding

the Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Colleges and Universities,the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students, the Graduate Student Research and Innovation Program of Bengbu Medical University no. 2022AH051454, no. 2022AH051425,202310367076,no. Bycxz24066
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd)-induced pulmonary toxicity is closely associated with ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation (LPO). Luteolin (Lut) is a natural flavonoid compound that exists in many plants. In this study, we used human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to explore the impact of ferroptosis in the inhibition of Cd-induced BEAS-2B cells proliferation. BEAS-2B cells were exposed to Cd (5 μM) with/without Lut (10 μM), ferroptosis modulators (Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1)/Erastin), or nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulators (tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)/ML385). Viability, iron content, reactive oxygen species (ROS), LPO, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity were assessed. Exposure to Cd significantly decreased cell viability, increased intracellular iron levels, ROS production, and LPO activity, while simultaneously reducing MMP and GSH-PX activity. Fer-1 mitigated Cd-induced cytotoxicity, but Erastin intensified these effects. Mechanistically, Cd exposure suppressed the Nrf2/Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in maintaining redox homeostasis. Activation of Nrf2 using TBHQ mitigated oxidative stress and upregulated the expression of key proteins within this pathway, while inhibition of Nrf2 with ML385 exacerbated cellular damage. Notably, Lut treatment could significantly alleviate Cd-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and downregulation of Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 proteins. These findings demonstrate that ferroptosis is a critical mechanism underlying Cd-mediated lung epithelial injury and identify Lut as a promising therapeutic candidate via its activation of Nrf2-driven antioxidant defense mechanisms. This study provides novel insights into molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of Cd-associated pulmonary disorders.

Indexed as

Amino Acid Transport System y+BronchiCadmiumEpithelial CellsFerroptosisNF-E2-Related Factor 2Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione PeroxidaseCell LineCell ProliferationCell SurvivalHumansIronLipid PeroxidationMembrane Potential, MitochondrialReactive Oxygen SpeciesSignal TransductionAmino Acid Transport System y+CadmiumIronNFE2L2 protein, humanNF-E2-Related Factor 2Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione PeroxidaseReactive Oxygen SpeciesSLC7A11 protein, humanBEAS-2B cellscadmiumferroptosisluteolinNrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway

Identifiers

PMID40806353
PMCPMC12346323

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.