关键词: 镉, 钙稳态, 肾损伤, 细胞凋亡

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) as a toxic heavy metal, and the situation of pollution is becoming more and more serious in China. Cd accumulates in kidney after exposure to human body. In the kidney, Cd mainly accumulates in the renal tubules. Due to the long half-life of Cd in human body, Cd will cause the loss or disorder of renal function, and even increase the incidence of renal cancer. At present,  studies have suggested that Cd causes endoplasmic reticulum stress, calcium homeostasis disruption, and eventually leads to cell apoptosis. Ca2+ homeostasis plays a key role in maintaining the normal physiological function of the cells. Recently, the methods and drugs to restore Cd disrupted Ca2+ homeostasis has been tested. Further studies of the roles and the underlying mechanism of Ca2+ in Cd induced nephrotoxicity are urgently needed. This article reviewed the underlying mechanism of Ca2+ in Cd-induced nephrotoxicity, which might provide a new direction for the study of the mechanism of toxicity and detoxification in Cd.

Key words: cadmium, calcium homeostasis, kidney injury, cell apoptosis