Cadmium causes cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction through regulating mitochondrial HSF1.

Mitochondria, as the powerhouse of the cell, play a vital role in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis and are known to be a primary target of cadmium (Cd) toxicity. The improper targeting of proteins to mitochondria can compromise the normal functions of the mitochondria. However, the precise mechanism by which protein localization contributes to the development of mitochondrial dysfunction induced by Cd is still not fully understood. For this research, Hy-Line white variety chicks (1-day-old) were used and equally distributed into 4 groups: the Control group (fed with a basic diet), the Cd35 group (basic diet with 35 mg/kg CdCl), the Cd70 group (basic diet with 70 mg/kg CdCl) and the Cd140 group (basic diet with 140 mg/kg CdCl), respectively for 90 days. It was found that Cd caused the accumulation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in the mitochondria, and the overexpression of HSF1 in the mitochondria led to mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal damage. This process is due to the mitochondrial HSF1 (mtHSF1), causing mitochondrial fission through the upregulation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) content, while inhibiting oligomer formation of single-stranded DNA-binding protein 1 (SSBP1), resulting in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion. The findings unveil an unforeseen role of HSF1 in triggering mitochondrial dysfunction.