Investigation of Sensitive Biomarkers to Determine
Cadmium Inducing Hepato- and Nephro-toxicity
in Cattle by Immunofluorescence Method
Shutipen Buranasinsup BSc, PhD*,
Arunee Jangsangthong BS*, Piyanat Toniti DVM, MSc*
Affiliation :
* Department of Pre-clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science,
Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand
Cadmium inducing hepato- and nephro-toxicity can cause the alteration of protein expression such
as metallothionein (MT), i.e. cadmium binding protein, and the metal transcription factor-1 (MTF-1), which
plays a significant role in cellular responses to the heavy metal stress. To study the expression of these
proteins, the cattle were classified into five groups resulting from the levels of cadmium in the kidneys. Next,
the blood biochemical profiles were analyzed to estimate the liver and kidney functions. The expressions of MT
and MTF-1 proteins both in the liver and kidneys were investigated by immunofluorescence method. This
study found that the blood biochemical profiles were not correlated with the level of cadmium in these tissues;
however, the expressions of MT and MTF-1 proteins were earlier detected in the bovine which had a low
level of cadmium contamination (0.5 mg/kg). Thus, these proteins could be used as the sensitive markers to
determine the cadmium in tissue.
Keywords : Biological markers, Cadmium, Cattle, DNA-Binding proteins, Fluorescent antibody technique,
Kidney, Liver, Metallothionein, Transcription factors
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