Diamide reduces cadmium accumulation by human lung carcinoma A549 cells.

Human lung carcinoma A549-T27 cells were used to determine the effect of diamide on cadmium accumulation. Treatment of the cells with diamide decreased their cellular glutathione content to 51.6 +/- 7% of control and significantly decreased their cadmium accumulation both as a function of time and as a function of Cd2+ concentration. Verapamil also decreased cadmium accumulation. Its effect compares well in magnitude with that which resulted from diamide treatment. No additive effect was observed when the cells were simultaneously treated with diamide and verapamil. The results suggest that a change in the GSH/GSSG ratio affects cadmium uptake. Further, calcium channels may be involved in cadmium uptake by A549-T27 cells in a fashion that is dependent on sulfhydryl status.