Integration of omics analysis and atmospheric pressure MALDI mass spectrometry imaging reveals the cadmium toxicity on female ICR mouse

Acute cadmium toxicity induces multi-system organ failure. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based omics analyses and atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AP-MALDI MSI) are powerful tools for characterizing the biomarkers. Many studies on cadmium toxicity by metabolomics have been investigated, whereas the applications of lipidomics and MSI studies are still inadequate. In this study, the systematic metabolomics study on female ICR mice tissues including liver, kidney, heart, stomach, brain as well as spleen under cadmium exposure was firstly conducted and lipidomic characterizations on female ICR mice liver, kidney and heart were further constructed step by step. To deeply understand its toxicological mechanisms, several representative lipids on the mouse liver were visualized by AP-MALDI MSI. The results demonstrated that exposure to cadmium caused significant metabolic alterations in the liver, kidney and heart among all the tissues. Additionally, the toxicological mechanisms of cadmium in the mouse models are closely associated with the inflammation response, energy expenditure, oxidative stress, DNA and mitochondria damage, and lipid homeostasis. These insights could enhance knowledge in acute cadmium toxicity of public health and guide risk assessment in the future.