CONSEQUENCES OF THALLIUM EXPOSURE ON MDCK CELLS LIPIDS METABOLISM

MOREL GOMEZ, EMANUEL; CASALI, CECILIA IRENE; FAGGIONATO, DANIELA; VERSTRAETEN, SANDRA; FERNANDEZ TOME, MARIA DEL CARMEN

BUENOS AIRES

Congreso; 49TH REUNION ANUAL DE SAIB; 2013

SAIB

CONSEQUENCES OF THALLIUM EXPOSURE ON MDCK CELLS LIPIDS METABOLISM Morel Gómez E1, Casali C1, Faggionato D1, Verstraeten SV1,2, Fernández Tome MC 1,2. 1School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2 IQUIFIB (UBA-CONICET) Thallium (Tl) is a toxic heavy metal that among other symptoms, causes renal damage. In the present study we investigated the effects of Tl(I) and Tl(III) on lipids metabolism in a renal epithelial (MDCK) cell line. Cells were exposed to 10 or 100 M of Tl(I) or Tl(III) for either 24 or 48 h. The profile of phospholipids (PL), cholesterol (Cho) and triacylglycerides (TG) was evaluated. No changes were observed at 10 M Tl(I), but increased total PL (24 h: 28%, 48 h: 40%) and Cho (24 h: 30%, 48 h: 52%) contents were found at 100 M Tl(I). TG content was decreased by 30% and increased by 80% after 24 and 48 h of Tl(I) treatment, respectively. Tl(III) (100 M) increased both PL and Cho content around 100% after 24 h and 300% after 48 h of incubation. TG content was increased by 60 and 600% after 24 and 48 h, respectively. Such an increase was also evidenced in lipid droplet size. PL profile showed decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine and increase in phosphatidylcholine contents. After 48 h, both cations decreased the fluidity of the outer monolayer of plasma membrane, increased that of the inner monolayer, and increased the annular fluidity. Tl(III) caused marked alterations in cells ultrastructure. The increase in cell membranes components (PL and Cho) and fatty acid storage (TG) as well as the changes in membrane properties may contribute to renal cell dysfunction in Tl-exposed people.