Differential transcytosis and toxicity of the hNGAL receptor ligands cadmium-metallothionein and cadmium-phytochelatin in colon-like Caco-2 cells: implications for in vivo cadmium toxicity.

•PC and MT are transcytosed via the human NGAL receptor in colonic Caco-2 BBE cells.•Transcytosis efficiency of PC>MT, toxicity of Cd complexes is CdMT>CdPC.•MT, but not PC, co-localizes with lysosomes, which is prevented by nocodazole.•Nocodazole increases MT transcytosis efficiency and reduces CdMT toxicity.•Differential enterocyte trafficking of Cd complexes may affect toxicity in vivo.