Vanadium, a trace
metal in the environment and in
biological systems, influences the behavior of
enzymes, mimics and regulates
growth factor activity, is a potential mutagenic and carcinogenic agent, and regulates gene expression. The diverse
biological actions of
vanadium result from its capacity to function as an oxyanion, oxycation, or prooxidant.
Vanadium is found in water, rocks, and
soils in low concentration and in relatively high concentrations in
coal and oil deposits.
Vanadium compounds at much higher concentrations than are typically ingested are being considered in the treatment of
diabetes mellitus. The actions of
insulin and
vanadium on the
insulin receptor are similar, but the mechanisms are not identical.
Vanadium modulates
growth-factor-mediated signal transduction pathways.
Vanadium promotes cell transformation and diminishes cell adhesion. Consistent with its mitogenic action and its capacity to mimic mitogenic
growth factors,
vanadium stimulates expression of protooncogenes. In particular,
oxygen-derived active species are involved in the expression of the jun protooncogene in the presence of
vanadium. The unique cellular activity of
vanadium makes it a tool of unparalleled potential for studying mechanisms of cell growth, differentiation, and metabolism.