Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2)on the expression of PKCα mRNA and protein in NRK cells as well as the biological effect of PKC inhibitor(Bisindolymaleimide I) on cells treated with cadmium. METHODS: Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was applied to test the effects of CdCl2 on the expression of PKCα mRNA in NRK cells exposed to CdCl2 at various concentrations (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μmol/L). Western blot was used to measure the effects of CdCl2 on the expression of PKCα protein in NRK cells exposed to CdCl2 at the same concentrations. Additionally, the expressions of PKCα mRNA and protein were also assessed in NRK cells exposed to CdCl2 after treated by PKC inhibitor. RESULTS:The expressions of PKCα mRNA and protein in NRK cells exposed to CdCl2 at the concentrations between 1.25 and 10 μmol/L were increased, and a dose-effect relationship was found. PKC inhibitor had an obvious effect on the expressions of PKCα mRNA and protein in the cells after CdCl2 treatment. CONCLUSION:CdCl2 could induce an increase in expressions of PKCα mRNA and protein, and the PKC inhibitor showed an obvious inhibitory effect.

Key words: cadmium, NRK cells, PKC, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, PKC inhibitor