Background and Aim: Industrialization of communities has resulted in a rise in cadmium accumulation in the plants, and also organs of human and animals. Kidney is the main target organ for cadmium accumulation and toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of montelukast on cadmium toxicity in renal cells.
Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on human embryonic kidney cells of HEK-293 class. The study included six groups. Group one was our control group. Group 2:  treated with different concentrations of cadmium chloride; group 3: treated with different concentrations of montelukast; group 4: exposed to cadmium chloride IC50 for 24 hours, then treated with montelukast at therapeutic concentration for 24 and 72 hours; group 5: treated with montelukast at therapeutic concentration for 24 hours followed by cadmium chloride IC50 for 24 and 72 hours; group 6: simultaneously exposed to cadmium chloride IC50 and montelukast at therapeutic concentration for 24 and 72 hours. Cell viability and changes in the cell nuclei were determined at specific times by MTT test and DAPI staining, respectively. Finally, the data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA.
Results: Montelukast administration resulted in a significant increase in the viability of cadmium exposed kidney cells. The results of MTT test and DAPI staining showed that treatment with montelukast decreased cadmium induced cell deformation and led to significant improvement of the damaged cells (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Considering the beneficial effects of montelukast on renal cells, it can be recommended for prevention or treatment of cadmium toxicity.