Integrative proteomics and metabolomics profiling of the protective effects of Phascolosoma esculent ferritin on BMSCs in Cd(II) injury.

Ferritin is the major intracellular iron storage protein and is essential for iron homeostasis and detoxification. Cadmium affects cellular homeostasis and induces cell toxicity via sophisticated mechanisms. Here, we aimed to explore the mechanisms of cytoprotective effect of Phascolosoma esculenta ferritin (PeFer) on Cd(II)-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) injury. Herein, the effects of different treated groups on apoptosis and cell cycle were assessed using flow cytometric analysis. We further investigated the alterations of the three groups using integrative 2-DE-based proteomics and 1H NMR-based metabolomics profiles. The results indicate that PeFer reduces BMSC apoptosis induced by Cd(II) and delays G0/G1 cell cycle progression. A total of 19 proteins and 70 metabolites were significantly different among BMSC samples of the three groups. Notably, multiomics analysis revealed that Cd(II) might perturb the ER stress-mediated apoptosis pathway and disrupt biological processes related to the TCA cycle, amino acid metabolism, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, thereby suppressing the cell growth rate and initiating apoptosis; however, the addition of PeFer might protect BMSCs against cell apoptosis to improve cell survival by enhancing energy metabolism. This study provides a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of the protective effect of PeFer in BMSCs against Cd(II) injury.