Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], is a well‑known toxic form of the heavy metal chromium in the natural environment. Clinical evidence has indicated that exposure to Cr(VI) can cause severe renal damage. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to intracellular reduction of Cr(VI) is the main mechanism underlying the induction of cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. The present study aimed to investigate in detail the apoptotic pathways induced by Cr(VI)‑exposure in a human immortalized proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK‑2, in order to understand the mechanism involved therein. Exposure to 10 µM potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), a toxic compound of Cr(VI), significantly decreased cell viability after 24 and 48 h of incubation and induced intracellular ROS generation. The expression levels of markers that activate the apoptotic pathway including cleaved caspase‑3 and poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase were significantly upregulated in K2Cr2O7‑exposed HK‑2 cells. In addition, the induction of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic markers was detected in K2Cr2O7‑exposed HK‑2 cells. In summary, the present study described for the first time the novel apoptotic mechanism of Cr(VI)‑toxicity in human renal cells which may be beneficial in designing optimal clinical treatment for renal damage caused by acute Cr(VI) toxicity.
Keywords: cell death; extrinsic apoptosis; intrinsic apoptosis; hexavalent chromium; human proximal tubular epithelial cell.