Science

Heparin-binding growth inhibitor may prevent cadmium liver toxicity

Last Updated: 2008-02-04 13:55:07 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The exogenous application of midkine, an endogenous heparin-binding growth inhibitor, may protect hepatocytes from cadmium-induced liver toxicity, according to a new study.

Midkine is found in some cancers and inflammatory conditions and may play a protective role against them, note Dr. Nuray Yazihan of Ankara University and colleagues in the January 7 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Yazihan's team evaluated various dosages of cadmium, ranging from 0.5 micrograms/mL to 10 micrograms/mL on hepatocytes, with and without the addition of midkine in dosages ranging from 250 pg/mL to 5,000 pg/mL.

They found that that "cadmium exposure induced prominent apoptosis and lactate dehydrogenase leakage" beginning at the lowest cadmium dosages.

"Our results showed that midkine secretion from (hepatocytes) during cadmium exposure protects liver cells from cadmium-induced cellular damage," Dr. Yazihan and associates report. "Midkine has an anti-apoptotic and a cytoprotective role during cadmium toxicity. Further studies are needed to explain the mechanism."

The beneficial effects of exogenous midkine to minimize cadmium-induced liver damage could "provide a new perspective for...other liver diseases...such as alcoholic, toxic and non-alcoholic liver disease models," Dr. Yazihan's team writes.

World J Gastroenterol 2008;14:76-80.