PROTECTIVE ROL OF HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS (HSP) IN CADMIUM INTOXICATED RAT LUNGS. EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN SOURCES

BOLDRINI GG; FANELLI M; GOMEZ NN; MARTIN MOLINERO GD; PENACCHIO G; PEREZ CHACA MV; CORDOBA ME; ALVAREZ SM

Virtual

Congreso; IV Reunión Conjunta de las Sociedades de Biología de la República Argentina; 2020

Sociedad de Biologia de Cuyo

Heat shock proteins are a superfamily of highlyconserved proteins that have an important role in folding/degradation ofproteins, antigen presentation and immune response regulation. Their expressioncan be used as a sensitive biomarker when cells are under stress conditions, asmicroorganisms infections, chemical substances or temperature. We decided tostudy their expression in rat lungs with a subchronic intoxication withcadmium, analyzing the possible protective effects of a soy based diet. 4 lotsof adult Wistar rats were used: 2 lots received casein and 2 lots, soy asprotein source. Within each group, 1 lot received regular tap water and theother 15ppm of Cd (as CdCl2) in drinking water for 60 days. Lungswere removed, fixed and paraffin embedded. Immunohistochemistry was realizedusing Hsp27 and Hsp70 antibodies. Some sections were hematoxylin-eosin stainedfor basic histologic assessment. Results showed that Hsp27 expression increasedin both Cd intoxicated groups (p<0.05), being higher in soy fed groups.Hsp70 expression showed no differences between casein groups, but it revealed asignificant increase in Soy-Cd vs its control. Histological assessment revealeda loss of normal pulmonary histoarchitecture in Cas-Cd group, with a wideinfiltration of connective tissue, fused alveoli and capillary fragility.Injuries were less severe in Soy-Cd group, with infiltration zones just inlungs periphery. Cadmium intoxication generates injuries in lungs, which wereless severe in soy fed animals. This could be related with higher Hsps levelsfound in those groups and their protective effects evidenced in the mostlyconserved histoarchitecture in soy groups.