Vanadium in the environment as a risk factor causing negative modification of cell death (scientific review)

The review dwells on results obtained via examinations that focused on effects produced by vanadium and its compounds contaminating the environment on health disorders related to cell death deregulation. Research works that have been performed over the last decades and focused on revealing the essence of apoptosis mechanism under exposure to technogenic chemicals are truly vital due to this phenomenon having great biological significance within a system of a body trying to adapt to influences exerted by environmental factors. The present work focuses on apoptosis peculiarities under exposure to excess technogenic concentrations of vanadium compounds. Published research works have been analyzed, analysis results are outlined, and a scientific hypothesis has been formulated within the subject matter. We have described an immune-modulating effect produced by vanadium compounds that is able to modify apoptosis events due to changes in cell death modes (apoptosis activation/inhibition) and it provides body adaptation to changing environmental conditions. A range in vanadium concentrations between essential and toxic ones predetermines multi-directional changes in apoptosis induction and completion. Thus, induced apoptosis activation makes for development of autoimmune and immune-proliferative processes; at the same time, cell death inhibition can result in immune deficiency, inflammatory reactions, and neurodegenerative diseases. It was shown that vanadium compounds produced modifying effects on mitochondrial functions regulation, changes in phosphorilation/dephosphorilation ratio in protein products, and imbalance in free radical processes; all this ultimately disrupts a balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic signals in a cell. Monitoring over apoptosis parameters that characterize cell death under exposure to vanadium and its compounds will allow timely detecting risks of pre-nosology state occurrence and prevent damage to health.