Cadmium stimulates the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and JNK activation in cerebrovascular endothelial cells.

In this study, we examined the effect of Cd on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and its mechanisms in bEnd.3 cells. The treatment with Cd increased protein and mRNA expressions of VCAM-1 and increased the phosphorylations of p38, JNK, and ERK. The Cd-induced VCAM-1 expression was significantly suppressed by either a specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor (SB202190) or a JNK inhibitor (SP600125), but not by an ERK inhibitor (U0126). These results suggest that Cd induces the expression of VCAM-1, at least in part, via p38 and JNK pathways in bEnd.3 cells.