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a University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA b University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA c University 'G. d'Annunizio', Chieti 66013, Italy d Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut 06169, USA
Key Words: heavy metal • zinc • cadmium • tin • copper • cardiomyopathy • chelation • ischemia • inflammation • cytoprotection • heme-oxygenase • heat shock proteins • vascular surgery • immunomodulation • metallothionein • humoral immunity • neuronal injury • oxidative stress
Address for correspondence: Lawrence Hightower, Ph.D., Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269. Voice: +1-860-486-4257; fax: +1-860-486-4331. lawrence.hightower{at}uconn.edu
As a group, heavy metals include both those essential for normal biological functioning (e.g., Cu and Zn), and nonessential metals (e.g., Cd, Hg, and Pb). Both essential and nonessential metals can be present at concentrations that disturb normal biological functions, and which evoke cellular stress responses. The cellular targets for metal toxicity include tissues of the kidney, liver, heart, and the immune response and nervous systems. Intriguingly, manipulations of specific metals, their reservoirs, and the cellular stress response can have therapeutic effects on certain diseases. In this minireview, we will consider both the biological responses to stressful levels of heavy metal cations, and experimental and clinical manipulations of these cations as a means to improve human health parameters.
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