Background:

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal present in seawater, and can damage DNA, producing lipid peroxidation, and protein inactivation.

Goals:

This research aimed to investigate the effect of Cd on the concentration and expression of TNF-α protein in the Diadema setosum.

Methods:

This study was conducted for 4 weeks in the laboratory of Marine Conservation LIPI Ambon. Experimental Cd concentrations were 0.0, 1.0, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, and 12.0 µg/L. The experiment was conducted in 6 tanks (100 x 60 x 70 cm3) each one with 7 individuals of D. setosum as 7 biological replicates. The examination of activation and concentration of TNF-α was performed with immunohistochemical techniques as well as indirect ELISA and western blotting at the Laboratory of Medical Physiology of Brawijaya University. The data related to TNF-α protein concentrations were analyzed by one way ANOVA and a Duncan test (p < 0.05).

Results:

The results showed that Cd treatment significantly increased the levels of TNF-α protein. There is a linear relationship between Cd concentration and TNF-α protein levels. The level of the TNF-α protein at the concentration of 12 µg/L Cd was the highest.

Conclusions:

The results of this research on the concentration and presence of TNF-α protein indicate that this approach could be implemented as a biomonitoring model of the exposure to Cd at the molecular level using D. setosum as bioindicator species in marine waters.