Cadmium is a toxic metal present in the environment and its inhalation can lead to pulmonary disease
such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These lung diseases are characterized
by chronic inflammation. Here we show that exposure of human airway epithelial cells to cadmium promotes
a polarized apical secretion of IL-6 and IL-8, two pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokines known to play
an important role in pulmonary inflammation. We also determined that two distinct pathways controlled
secretion of these proinflammatory cytokines by human airway epithelial cells as cadmium-induced IL-6
secretion occurs via an NF-jB dependent pathway, whereas IL-8 secretion involves the Erk1/2 signaling
pathway. Interestingly, the natural antioxidant curcumin could prevent both cadmium-induced IL-6 and
IL-8 secretion by human airway epithelial cells. In conclusion, curcumin could be used to prevent airway
inflammation due to cadmium inhalation.