Effect of lead exposure and accumulation on copper homeostasis in cultured C6 rat glioma cells.

C6 rat glioma cells resemble rat astroglia in culture in that both cell types accumulate lead (Pb) intracellularly from the medium. As such, C6 cells are a model for Pb accumulation by the brain. In this study, an increase in intracellular Pb accumulation induced by p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) after exposure to 10 microM Pb acetate suggests a role for sulfhydryl groups in Pb retention. Stimulation of Pb accumulation by nifedipine suggests the entry of Pb into these cells by a novel path. Most of the intracellular Pb from exposure for 7 days to 1 microM Pb was associated with high-molecular weight components in cytosol. Pb exposure increased the abundance of three proteins with the following characteristics on two-dimensional gels: 81 kDa with pI of 5.6, 81 kDa with pI of 4. 9, and 71 kDa with pI of 5.6. The levels of five other proteins, ranging in size from 37-41 kDa with pIs of 6.0-6.8 declined. Exposed C6 cells accumulated copper (Cu) intracellularly, and Cu accumulation after Pb exposure was shown by kinetic analysis with 67Cu to result from an increased uptake and a decreased efflux for Cu. Pb-exposed cells also showed increased Cu binding to membranes, which is consistent with the increase of Cu uptake. These data indicate that intracellular Pb interacts with high molecular weight proteins in C6 cells, and exposure also alters membrane transport properties for copper.