Evaluation of the Cd/hemoglobin affinity assay for the rapid determination of metallothionein in biological tissues

Dietary fish oil alters specific and inflammatory immune responses in chicks

Two experiments were designed to determine the effects of dietary (n-3) fatty acids and grain source on the growth-suppressive effects of the inflammatory response and indices of specific immunity. In Experiment 1, chicks were fed diets containing 0.5, 1, or 2 g/100 g of either corn oil or fish oil. In Experiment 2, chicks were fed diets containing up to 2 g/100 g of either fish oil, linseed oil or corn oil as the source of dietary fat, in either cereal grain- or corn-based diets. In each experiment, subsets of chicks within each dietary treatment were either vaccinated with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccine, injected with Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS), heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus, or remained noninjected. Increasing dietary fish oil, but not corn oil increased body weight and lessened the growth-suppressing effect of heat-killed S. aureus or S. typhimurium LPS. Increasing the concentration of dietary fish oil decreased febrile response, circulating hemopexin and metallothionein concentrations. Dietary fish oil resulted in decreased release relative to dietary corn oil of interleukin-1 by peritoneal macrophages. Although IBV titers were not significantly affected by dietary oil treatment, phytohemagglutination-induced wattle swelling was greater among chicks fed fish oil. In Experiment 2, the modulating effects of fish oil on the immune system were dependent on the type of grain used in the diet, with fish oil/cereal diets resulting in greater cell-mediated immunity and lower indices of inflammation than fish oil/corn diets. Inclusion of increasing amounts of fish oil in the diet improved performance, decreased indices of the inflammatory response and either improved or did not change indices of the specific immune response of growing chicks.

Effect of arsenite, arsenate, and the herbicide monosodium methyl arsonate (MSMA) on hepatic metallothionein expression and lipid peroxidation in channel catfish

Arsenic exerts its toxicity by the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates which caused lipid peroxidation and cellular damage. Metallothioneins (MTs) have been shown to be induced by oxidative stress and act as scavengers of reactive oxygen intermediates. Thus, hepatic MT was examined in channel catfish treated with the herbicide monosodium methyl arsonate (MSMA) and compared to equal doses of trivalent and pentavalent arsenic. Fish were exposed to 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/L of each compound for 1 week by static renewal. Hepatic MT was measured by the cadmium/hemoglobin (Cd/Hb) saturation assay, ELISA using antibodies raised against the first 10 amino acids of piscine MT, and Northern blot analysis using a cDNA encoding winter flounder hepatic MT. Cd/Hb and ELISA measurements of low molecular weight fractions from the hepatic cytosolic component of fish exposed to MSMA revealed a dose dependent increase in MT. MTs and MT mRNA of fish receiving the 1.0 mg/L dose were significantly induced vs control. Responses to arsenate exposure were more variable, but showed a trend toward a dose-dependent induction of MT and MT mRNA. MT mRNA and protein also showed a dose-dependent increase with arsenite exposure with no significant differences with untreated animals. Hepatic lipid peroxidation (as determined by TBARS) and glutathione was unaltered by any of the arsenical treatments. Thus, the lack of correlation between oxidative stress and MT expression suggest MT may not be a reliable indicator of oxidative stress. In addition, the induction of hepatic MT by various forms of As does not appear to be mediated through an oxidative stress mechanism in the liver.

Association of arsenic-induced malignant transformation with DNA hypomethylation and aberrant gene expression

Inorganic arsenic, a human carcinogen, is enzymatically methylated for detoxication, consuming S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) in the process. The fact that DNA methyltransferases (MeTases) require this same methyl donor suggests a role for methylation in arsenic carcinogenesis. Here we test the hypothesis that arsenic-induced initiation results from DNA hypomethylation caused by continuous methyl depletion. The hypothesis was tested by first inducing transformation in a rat liver epithelial cell line by chronic exposure to low levels of arsenic, as confirmed by the development of highly aggressive, malignant tumors after inoculation of cells into Nude mice. Global DNA hypomethylation occurred concurrently with malignant transformation and in the presence of depressed levels of S-adenosyl-methionine. Arsenic-induced DNA hypomethylation was a function of dose and exposure duration, and remained constant even after withdrawal of arsenic. Hyperexpressibility of the MT gene, a gene for which expression is clearly controlled by DNA methylation, was also detected in transformed cells. Acute arsenic or arsenic at nontransforming levels did not induce global hypomethylation of DNA. Whereas transcription of DNA MeTase was elevated, the MeTase enzymatic activity was reduced with arsenic transformation. Taken together, these results indicate arsenic can act as a carcinogen by inducing DNA hypomethylation, which in turn facilitates aberrant gene expression, and they constitute a tenable theory of mechanism in arsenic carcinogenesis.

Effects of glutathione depletion on cadmium-induced metallothionein synthesis, cytotoxicity, and proto-oncogene expression in cultured rat myoblasts

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic metal and a known carcinogen. Although the carcinogenic mechanism of action is unknown, Cd will induce transcriptional activation of c-myc and c-jun. We have previously found that the extent of Cd-induced oncogene expression is limited by the presence of cellular metallothionein (MT) in rat L6 myoblasts. Glutathione (GSH) is thought to play an important role in protection against Cd before the onset of MT synthesis. Thus, this study examined the effects of GSH depletion on Cd-induced MT synthesis, cytotoxicity, and proto-oncogene expression in rat L6 myoblasts after pretreatment with L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a potent inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase, which effectively depletes GSH. Exposure of L6 cells to BSO (5 or 25 microM) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in cellular GSH levels. GSH depletion had no effect on Cd- or zinc-induced MT synthesis. Although the depletion of GSH was not itself cytotoxic in L6 cells, BSO pretreatment, particularly at the higher dose (25 microM), resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the sensitivity to Cd cytotoxicity, as assessed by a tetrazolium-based dye (MTT) assay. Low levels of Cd (1 microM) slightly increased the expression of both c-myc and c-jun as assessed by increases in gene-specific mRNA levels, in accordance with previous studies. GSH depletion (5 muM BSO) likewise caused an increase in expression of c-myc and c-jun. However, combined GSH depletion and Cd exposure decreased levels of c-myc and c-jun transcription well below control levels. These results suggest that increased cytotoxicity resulting from exposure to Cd after BSO depletion of cellular GSH abrogates the oncogene activation observed after either treatment alone. Thus proto-oncogene expression induced by Cd appears to be dependent on the absence of over Cd-induced cytotoxicity.

Suppression of Kupffer cell function prevents cadmium induced hepatocellular necrosis in the male Sprague-Dawley rat

Exposure of humans to toxic metals and metalloids is a major environmental problem. Many metals, such as cadmium, can be hepatotoxic. However, the mechanisms by which metals cause acute hepatic injury are in many cases unknown. Previous reports suggest a major role for inflammation in acute cadmium induced hepatotoxicity. In initial experiments we found that a non-hepatotoxic dose of cadmium chloride (CdCl2; 2.0 mg/kg, i.v.) markedly increased the clearance rate of colloidal carbon from the blood, which is indicative of enhanced phagocytic activity by Kupffer cells (resident hepatic macrophages). Thus. the objective these studies was to determine the involvement of Kupffer cells in cadmium induced liver injury by inhibiting their function with gadolinium chloride (GdCl3). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered GdCl3 (10 mg/kg, i.v.) followed 24 h later by a single dose of CdCl2 (3.0 and 4.0 mg/kg, i.v.). Twenty four hours after CdCl2 administration animals were killed and the degree of liver toxicity was assessed using plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), as well as light microscopy. Cadmium chloride administration produced multifocal hepatocellular necrosis and increased plasma ALT activity. Pretreatment with GdCl3 significantly reduced both the morphological changes and hepatic ALT release caused by CdCl2. However, the protection was specific to the liver, and did not alter CdCl2 induced testicular injury, as determined by histopathological damage. In many cases, the inducible cadmium-binding protein, metallothionein (MT) is often an essential aspect of the acquisition of cadmium tolerance in the liver. Although cadmium caused a dramatic induction of hepatic MT (32-fold), GdCl3 caused only a minor increase (2-fold). Combined CdCl2 and GdCl3 treatment did not induce levels to an extent greater than CdCl2 alone. As expected, GdCl3 also caused a slight increase in the amount of cadmium associated with the liver. In cultured hepatocytes isolated from GdCl3 pretreated rats, CdCl2 induced cytotoxicity was not significantly altered compared to control hepatocytes, indicating that the mechanism of tolerance required the presence of other cell types. Thus, GdCl3 attenuation of CdCl2 induced hepatotoxicity does not appear to be caused by increased tissue MT content or a decreased susceptibility of hepatocytes to cadmium. From these data, we concluded that tolerance to cadmium induced hepatotoxicity involves the inhibition of Kupffer cell function which results in a decreased inflammatory response and an altered progression of hepatic injury. These data further indicate that Kupffer cell function is critical to cadmium induced hepatocellular necrosis.

Idiorrhythmic dose-rate variability in dietary zinc intake generates a different response pattern of zinc metabolism than conventional dose-response feeding

We compared the effects of idiorrhythmic dose-rate feeding and conventional dose-response on the induction of intestinal metallothionein (iMT), expression of aortal heat-shock protein mRNA (HSP70mRNA) induced by restraint stress, and accumulation of Zn in the femur and incisor of young growing male rats. An idiorrhythmic approach requires that the average dietary Zn concentration (modulo, M) over the whole experiment (epoch, E) is kept constant across different groups. This is done by adjusting the Zn concentration of the supplemented diet supplied to compensate for the reduction in the number of days on which Zn-supplemented diet is fed, the latter being spread evenly over the experiment. Idiorrhythms involve offering the diet with n times the overall Zn concentration (M) only every nth day with Zn-deficient diet offered on other days. Idiorrythmic Zn dose-rate feeding changed Zn accumulation in the femur and incisor in a complex bi-modal fashion, indicating that metabolic efficiency of dietary Zn is not constant but depends on Zn dose-rate. In contrast to feeding Zn in the conventional dose-response scheme, iMT and HSP70mRNA were not affected by idiorrhythmic dose-rate feeding. Idiorrhythmic cycling in dietary Zn load posed no risk of a biochemical overload nor caused the animals to be stressed. Idiorrhythmic dose-rate feeding brings the dimension of time to the conventional dose-response model.

Loss of the metal binding properties of metallothionein induced by hydrogen peroxide and free radicals

The relationship between the metal-binding properties of metallothionein (MT) and its ability to interact with peroxides and free radicals was explored in vitro. The binding of 109Cd to MT and the thiol density of the protein were determined after incubation of a purified Zn/Cd-metallothionein preparation with either hydrogen peroxide alone, or with a number of free radical generating systems. Exposure of MT to H2O2, whether in the presence or absence of Fe2+, resulted in the progressive loss of the thiol residues of the protein and led to a parallel decrease of its 109Cd-binding capacity. These changes correlated with r values of 0.999 (P = 0.001) and 0.998 (P = 0.001), in the absence and presence of iron, respectively. The effects of H2O2, alone or plus Fe2+, on MT were completely prevented by catalase, but totally unaffected by superoxide dismutase or desferrioxamine. Exposure of MT to xanthine/xanthine oxidase also led to thiol oxidation and to a concomitant loss of the Cd-binding properties. In this system, both changes correlated with an r of 0.993 (P = 0.001) and were completely inhibited by superoxide dismutase. Exposure of MT to the peroxyl radical generator, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), resulted in the progressive loss of its the metal-binding properties and its thiol residues, both changes correlating with an r of 0.986 (P = 0.002). The ability of MT to bind 109Cd, lost as a result of its prior exposure to either H2O2 alone, H2O2 plus Fe2+, xanthine/xanthine oxidase, or to AAPH was, in all cases, completely recovered after incubation of the modified protein with dithiothreitol. These results indicate that H2O2 alone, and/or the oxygen-derived species, superoxide anion and peroxyl radicals, can all directly interact in vitro with MT to modify the protein oxidatively, and suggest that, under in vivo conditions, these species may be implicated as modifying factors of the metal-binding capacity of metallothionein.

Erythrocyte metallothionein in relation to other biochemical zinc indices in pregnant and nonpregnant women

Erythrocyte metallothionein (E-MT) is considered a promising index of zinc status in humans, since it may be more sensitive than other biochemical indices to changes in dietary zinc. However, conditions of high zinc demand with substantial redistribution of tissue zinc and specific changes in hormone profile, such as pregnancy, may have an influence on E-MT levels in addition to dietary zinc. In this study, we compared E-MT concentrations in relation to other biochemical zinc indices in healthy pregnant women at delivery (n = 40) and non-pregnant women (n = 22) with similar habitual dietary zinc intakes (average 13.3 mg/d). Pregnant women had lower serum zinc and albumin-bound serum zinc, but higher levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin-bound serum zinc than the nonpregnant women. Erythrocyte zinc (E-Zn) was similar in both groups, but E-MT (mean +/- SE) was slightly but significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the pregnant women (2.9 +/- 0.09 nmol/g protein) compared to nonpregnant women (2.6 +/- 0.06 nmol/g protein). A significant correlation was observed between E-MT and E-Zn in the nonpregnant women (r = 0.70; p < 0.001), consistent with the role of intracellular zinc in the regulation of metallothionein synthesis. However, such correlation was not observed in the pregnant women, suggesting that E-MT levels in pregnancy may be influenced by factors related to the pregnant state.

Effects of cadmium on trophoblast calcium transport

Maternal exposure to cadmium (Cd) during pregnancy has been linked to low fetal birthweight, which may be attributed to placental damage and/or dysfunction in nutrient transport. Previous studies have suggested that Cd is accumulated in the placenta, and that placental transport of calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) is perturbed by Cd. To investigate the mechanism of Cd perturbation of Ca transport, we used JEG-3, a human choriocarcinoma cell line which exhibits trophoblastic properties, to analyse Cd effects in vitro. Treatment with Cd at low, physiologically relevant concentrations (e.g. 0.04 microM) did not result in obvious changes in cell morphology or integrity, whereas higher concentrations (> or = 0.16 microM) affected cell integrity. With lower concentrations of Cd treatment for 24 h, activities of cellular Ca uptake and transport, and Ca2+ binding were decreased, and intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) profile was also altered; however, membrane-associated Ca(2+)-activated ATPase activity remained relatively unchanged. Interestingly, cellular Ca uptake activity was unaffected by short-term (30 min) Cd pretreatment. The 24-h Cd treatment also resulted in elevated expression of the metal-binding protein, metallothionein, whereas the expression of a trophoblast-specific cytosolic Ca(2+)-binding protein (HCaBP) was drastically reduced. These results strongly suggest that Cd exposure significantly compromises the Ca handling ability of trophoblastic cells; this effect is probably not due to perturbations in Ca channel or membrane Ca pump activities, but rather a consequence of alterations in subcellular, cytosolic Ca2+ binding activities.

Tolerance induced by all-trans-retinol to the hepatotoxic effects of cadmium in rats: role of metallothionein expression

Recently, it has been shown that large doses of all-trans-retinol (vitamin A) can potentiate the hepatotoxicity of several organic chemicals in the rat. Whether retinol pretreatment can alter the acute hepatotoxicity of an inorganic chemical, such as cadmium, is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how retinol might affect the acute toxicity of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and to elucidate possible mechanisms. Cadmium exposure can induce acute, lethal hepatocellular necrosis in rodents, as well as lesions in the lung, kidney, testis, and gastrointestinal tract. In the present studies, male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with retinol (75 mg/kg/day, po) for 7 consecutive days. One day after the last dose of retinol, animals were given a single injection of CdCl2 (2.5 to 4.0 mg/kg, iv). Cadmium chloride administration to unpretreated control rats caused extensive hepatic, renal, pulmonary, and testicular toxicity at 6, 24, and 48 hr postdosing as evaluated by plasma enzymes and/or histopathology. In retinol-pretreated rats, a significant attenuation of CdCl2-induced tissue injury was observed. Since the inducible cadmium-binding protein metallothionein (MT) is often an essential aspect of cadmium tolerance, its content in tissue was assessed using the cadmium-hemoglobin assay. Interestingly, retinol pretreatment significantly increased MT in the liver by sevenfold, but had no effect on lung, kidney, testicular, or pancreatic MT content. Although this increase in hepatic MT was much less than that induced by CdCl2, it was additive to the induction of CdCl2. Furthermore, the tissue distribution of cadmium was significantly altered by retinol pretreatment. The liver accumulated more cadmium, while less cadmium was found in the lung, kidney, and testis in retinol-pretreated rats than in controls. In monolayers of primary isolated hepatocytes, CdCl2-induced toxicity was significantly reduced in cells isolated from retinol-pretreated rats compared to those isolated from control rats. The dose response was shifted to the right and the in vitro cadmium LC50 was increased by in vivo retinol exposure from 1.1 +/- 0.1 to 2.4 +/- 0.04 microM. From these data it is concluded that the induction of hepatic MT is an essential aspect of retinol-induced tolerance to CdCl2 hepatotoxicity, as well as toxicity in other tissues.

Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase polymorphism: influence on lead levels and kidney function in humans

Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) polymorphism has been reported to modify lead pharmacokinetics (i.e., individuals who express the ALAD2 allele [ALAD2 subjects] have higher blood lead levels than homozygotes for the ALAD1 allele [ALAD1 subjects]). In our study of 89 lead-exposed workers (7 ALAD2 homozygotes or heterozygotes) and 34 unexposed workers (10 ALAD2 heterozygotes), concentrations of urinary calcium and creatinine were lower in ALAD2 subjects than in ALAD1 subjects (respective medians: calcium--78 mg/l versus 185 mg/l, p = .003; creatinine--11.2 mmol/l versus 14.9 mmol/l, p = .008). No association was found between ALAD genotype and blood lead levels or bone lead levels. However, expression of the ALAD2 allele occurred less frequently among lead-exposed workers than in unexposed controls. The results indicated the presence of ALAD allele-specific differences in kidney function, as well as a possible genetic healthy-worker selection.

Sequence of exposure to cadmium and arsenic determines the extent of toxic effects in male Fischer rats

Arsenic and cadmium are both priority hazardous substances and human carcinogens. Although there is the potential for simultaneous exposure to both metals, the interactions of cadmium and arsenic are not well defined. We examined the toxicity of these metals when given alone or in alternating sequence to adult male Fischer rats. In the first study, a non-toxic dose of arsenic (22.5 micromol NaAsO2/kg, s.c.) was given 24 h before cadmium (10, 20, or 30 micromol CdCl2/kg, s.c.) and toxicity was assessed 24 h later. Arsenic pretreatment markedly reduced mortality in rats given the high dose of cadmium (9 survivors/10 treated) compared to rats given cadmium alone (2/10). Arsenic pretreatment also reduced cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity, as indicated by serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) activity, and markedly reduced cadmium-induced testicular hemorrhagic necrosis. Arsenic pretreatment produced an 8-fold increase in hepatic levels of metallothionein (MT), a metal-binding protein often associated with cadmium tolerance. In the second study, a non-toxic dose of cadmium (3 micromol CdCl2/kg, s.c.) was given 24 h before arsenic (68, 79, 84, or 90 micro/mol NaAsO2/kg. s.c.) and toxicity was assessed 24 h later. Cadmium pretreatment did not alter the lethality of the high dose of arsenic and had no effect on arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity. Although cadmium pretreatment had no effect on arsenic toxicity, it produced large increases in hepatic MT (26-fold) before the arsenic challenge and greatly enhanced MT induction after the challenge. Thus, even though both arsenic and cadmium induce MT synthesis, only arsenic pretreatment protects against cadmium intoxication, and cadmium pretreatment does not effect arsenic toxicity. Thus, toxic interactions of arsenic and cadmium appear to depend on the sequence of exposure.

Testosterone pretreatment mitigates cadmium toxicity in male C57 mice but not in C3H mice

Previous work has indicated that testosterone pretreatment protects against cadmium-induced toxicity in male rats while other data indicate that pretreatment of mice with testosterone offers no such protection against cadmium. Since cadmium toxicity may vary widely with species and strain, we examined the effect of testosterone pretreatment on cadmium toxicity in two strains of mice, one that is sensitive (C3H) and one that is resistant (C57) to cadmium toxicity. A single sc injection of 20 micromol CdCl2/kg to C3H mice or 45 micromol CdCl2/kg to C57 mice proved very toxic, causing 50%, and 44% mortalities, respectively. However, when C57 mice were pretreated with testosterone (5 mg/kg, s.c., at - 48, - 24, and 0 h) prior to cadmium (45 micromol/kg), complete resistance to cadmium-induced lethality developed. Testosterone had no effect on cadmium-induced lethality in C3H mice. Testosterone prevented extensive hepatocellular damage caused by cadmium in C57 mice and also significantly reduced cadmium-induced elevations in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), which are indicators of hepatic and renal function, respectively. The toxicokinetics of cadmium were apparently not affected by testosterone pretreatment, as the distribution of cadmium to liver in either strain was unchanged by the steroid. Cadmium-induced metallothionein (MT) levels in liver and kidney of C57 mice were increased in testosterone-pretreated mice given the higher doses of metal but no such enhancement of MT synthesis occurred in C3H mice. This increase in MT may provide some level of protection against cadmium toxicity in the C57 mice. These results indicate that testosterone pretreatment prevents toxicity of cadmium in male C57 mice, possibly through enhancement of MT synthesis, but has no effect in male C3H mice.

Relative bioavailability of zinc methionine and two inorganic zinc sources fed to cattle

A 12-week experiment was conducted to compare supplemental ZnMet, ZnSO4, and ZnO on Zn, Cu and metallothionein (MT) concentrations in various fluids and tissues of 32 yearling cattle. Supplemental Zn (360 mg per day) was fed for four weeks, withdrawn for four weeks, and then resumed for another four weeks. Mineral (Zn and Cu) concentrations were determined in serum, liver, pancreas, kidney, bone, bone marrow (metacarpus), hair, hoof and neck muscle (sterno mandibularis), and Zn only in erythrocytes, skin and cornea. Metallothionein levels were determined in liver, pancreas and kidney. There were no treatment differences (p > 0.05) in serum or erythrocyte Zn content for all days of collection. Serum Cu concentrations tended to decrease with all treatments. There were no treatment differences (p > 0.05) in Zn and Cu tissue concentrations and liver, kidney and pancreas MT concentrations. Tissue Cu concentrations did not drop in the supplemented treatments when compared to controls. At adequate levels of dietary Zn, bioavailability of supplemental Zn sources may be less important than under conditions of limited dietary Zn or if very high levels of supplemental Zn are fed.

Hepatocytes from metallothionein-I and II knock-out mice are sensitive to cadmium- and tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity

Metallothionein (MT) has been proposed to play an important role in heavy metal detoxication and in the scavenging of free radicals. Effects of MT on the cytotoxicity of cadmium (Cd), tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were examined using primary hepatocyte cultures from control (C57BL/6J) and MT-I and II knock-out (MT-null) mice. Compared to control hepatocytes, MT-null hepatocytes had minimal Cd-binding proteins (MT equivalents), but cellular glutathione concentration was similar to the control hepatocytes. MT-null hepatocytes were more sensitive than controls to the cytotoxic effects of Cd (50-300 microM) and t-BHP (125-500 microM), as indicated by the levels of lactate dehydrogenase released into the medium. Cd and t-BHP also produced more lipid peroxidation in MT-null hepatocytes than in control cells, as demonstrated by the abundance of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. However, MT-null hepatocytes were equally sensitive as controls to the cytotoxicity of MNNG (0.5-2.0 mM), suggesting that MT does not protect against MNNG-induced cytotoxicity. These results support the hypothesis that constitutive MT levels affect the sensitivity of mammalian cells to Cd and oxidative stress.

Interaction of different organic and inorganic zinc and copper sources fed to rats

A study was conducted to compare bioavailability, interactions and retention of different sources of Zn and Cu fed to rats. Sixty-three male CD rats were fed individually a purified diet and deionized water ad libitum. The nine treatments included were all combinations of three Zn (ZnMet, ZnLys, ZnSO4) and three Cu (CuLys, CuSO4, CuO) sources added to the basal diet at 30 mg/kg of Zn and 6 mg/kg of Cu forming a 3' 3 factorial experiment. After the four-week supplementation phase, four randomly selected rats from each treatment were sacrificed (Phase 1). The remaining rats were fed the purified, unsupplemented diet for an additional week (Phase 2) and then sacrificed. Mineral (Zn and Cu) concentrations were determined in plasma, liver, kidney, bone and muscle, and metallothionein (MT) content was determined in liver and kidney. Plasma Cu concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) for CuO-than CuSO4- and CuLys-supplemented rats. Bone Zn concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) for CuLys-than for CuO-supplemented rats. In all tissues where Cu was measured, CuO was the lowest (p < 0.05) available source of Cu. Furthermore, in muscle, CuSO4-supplemented rats had higher (p < 0.05) Cu concentrations than CuLys-supplemented rats. Kidney MT concentrations followed the same pattern as Cu concentrations, with CuO-fed rats having the lowest (p < 0.05) MT concentrations. Plasma Cu concentrations of depleted rats were lower (p < 0.05) for CuO-than CuLys-supplemented rats. Kidney Zn concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) for CuSO4-than for CuO-supplemented rats after depletion. In liver, CuO supplemented rats had the lowest (p < 0.05) Cu concentration. Copper oxide was less available than CuLys and CuSO4 when added in adequate dietary levels. However, organic (ZnMet and ZnLys) and inorganic (ZnSO4) sources of Zn were similar.

Metallothionein and HSP-72 are induced in the liver by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation but not by shock alone

BACKGROUND

Previous reports have indicated that HSP-72 and metallothionein mRNA undergo induction in the liver after resuscitated hemorrhagic shock. In this study we investigated whether unresuscitated shock triggers induction and whether protein induction also occurs.

METHODS

Rats were subjected to resuscitated and unresuscitated shock protocols of varying severity; livers were isolated and processed for Northern, Western, and immunohistochemical analysis. Cadmium binding assay was used to measure metallothionein protein.

RESULTS

Unresuscitated shock led to no induction of HSP-72 or metallothionein. Severe resuscitated shock led to prompt induction of HSP-72 mRNA and protein in hepatocytes, up to 20-fold over sham group; metallothionein mRNA induction appeared later than HSP-72 and did not lead to elevated protein levels. Mild resuscitated shock had little effect.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate resuscitated severe shock, not shock alone, leads to induction of HSP-72 and metallothionein in the liver. Metallothionein expression lags behind HSP-72 expression.

Induction of c-myc and c-jun proto-oncogene expression in rat L6 myoblasts by cadmium is inhibited by zinc preinduction of the metallothionein gene

Certain proto-oncogenes transfer growth regulatory signals from the cell surface to the nucleus. These genes often show activation soon after cells are exposed to mitogenic stimulation but can also be activated as a nonmitogenic stress response. Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic metal in humans and rodents and, though its mechanism of action is unknown, it could involve activation of such proto-oncogenes. Metallothionein (MT), a metal-inducible protein that binds Cd, can protect against many aspects of Cd toxicity, including genotoxicity and possibly carcinogenesis. Thus, the effects of Cd on expression of c-myc and c-jun in rat L6 myoblasts, and the effect of preactivation of the MT gene by Zn treatment on such oncogene expression, were studied. MT protein levels were determined by the Cd-heme assay, and MT, c-myc, and c-jun mRNA levels were measured using oligonucleotide hybridization and standardized to beta-actin levels. Cd (5 microM CdCl2, 0-30 h) stimulated both c-myc and c-jun mRNA expression. An initial peak of activation of c-myc expression occurred 2 h after initiation of Cd exposure, and levels remained elevated throughout the assessment period. Zn pretreatment markedly reduced the activation of c-myc expression by Cd compared to cells not receiving Zn pretreatment. Cd treatment increased c-jun mRNA levels by up to 3.5-fold. Again, Zn pretreatment markedly reduced Cd-induced activation of c-jun expression as minimal increases occurred with Cd exposures of < or = 1 h, but otherwise the Zn pretreatment prevented activation of c-jun. The Zn pretreatment elevated MT protein levels > 5-fold over control at the point of Cd exposure, but Cd exposure did not further elevate these Zn-induced MT levels. Similarly, Zn pretreatment did not result in increased relative MT mRNA levels above Cd exposure alone at various time points after Cd exposure. Therefore, Zn pretreatment, possibly by providing elevated MT protein levels at the point of Cd exposure, inhibited the Cd-induced c-myc and c-jun proto-oncogene expression. The extent of Cd-induced proto-oncogene activation thus may be limited by the presence of cellular MT.

Metallothionein and zinc as potential antioxidants in radical-induced lipid peroxidation in cultured hepatocytes

Rat hepatocytes were isolated by a two-step collagenase perfusion technique and introduced to the hydroxyl radical (OH)-generating xanthine-xanthine oxidase-iron (X/XO/Fe) system. The amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA) and thiobarbituric acid bound malondialdehyde (TBA-MDA) were assayed in homogenates after different phases of cultivation. The effects on lipid peroxidation of supplemented metallothionein (MT) ranging from 25 to 75 microM and zinc ranging from 14.5 to 77.8 microM, as well as the effect of a Zn-pretreatment for 18 h were investigated. The addition of X/XO/Fe resulted in a 3 to 4-fold increase in the levels of TBA and TBA-MDA. These results show that X/XO/Fe initiated the lipid peroxidation in the hepatocyte cell system. High doses of supplemented MT inhibited the production of TBA and TBA-MDA. Neither Zn nor the Zn-pretreatment, which resulted in an increase of intracellular MT, had any effect on TBA and TBA-MDA levels. This study suggests that MT can act as an antioxidant in high concentrations via the cysteinyl groups of the protein. The postulated protective effects of Zn via its release from the oxidized MT can be ruled out.

Sensitivity of testis tumour cells to chemotherapeutic drugs: role of detoxifying pathways

In contrast to most other types of cancer, metastatic testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) are cured in most patients using cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. The biochemical mechanisms underlying this sensitivity have not been defined. Drug detoxification can modulate response to chemotherapy in vivo and in vitro, and therefore we measured levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and both constitutive and cisplatin- and dexamethasone-induced levels of metallothionein (MT) in five human testis tumour cell lines. The levels were compared with those in five human bladder cancer cell lines and two cell lines with cisplatin resistance acquired in vitro. GSH levels were relatively low in the testis tumour cell lines, as might be expected in drug-sensitive cells, and there was a 77-fold increase in GSH levels in the cisplatin-resistant testis tumour cell line. GST levels were similar in the two cell types, while metallothionein levels were relatively high in the testis tumour cell lines. These data indicate that GSH may contribute to the sensitivity of TGCT to chemotherapy, and that GSH expression may be involved in the acquisition of cisplatin resistance in these tumours.

Increased oxidant resistance of alveolar macrophages isolated from rats repeatedly exposed to cadmium aerosols

This study investigated potential mechanisms of oxidant resistance in alveolar macrophages (AM) isolated from Lewis rats exposed repeatedly to cadmium aerosols. Macrophages from Cd-adapted animals significantly greater resistance to oxidant-induced cytotoxicity than control cells when challenged with hydrogen peroxide in vitro. Elevations in glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were associated with increased oxidant tolerance but catalase activity was unchanged. Metallothionein (MT) expression (protein and mRNA) was dramatically up-regulated in response to in vivo Cd exposure. A study using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques revealed significantly heterogeneity in the expression of metallothionein by AMs. The percentage of AMs positive for MT (protein and mRNA) and the degree of MT expression within individual cells increased in response to additional Cd exposures. A putative state of activation was suggested by differences in size and number of inclusion bodies in macrophages from Cd-adapted animals and by secretion of a cytokine with interleukin-1-like characteristics. In summary, AMs from Cd-adapted animals are distinguished from control cells with respect to: (1) increased oxidant resistance, (2) secretion of cytokines, (3) elevations in enzymes associated with glutathione metabolism, and (4) up-regulation in metallothionein expression.

Trace metal, acute phase and metabolic response to endotoxin in metallothionein-null mice

Accumulation of hepatic zinc via metallothionein (MT) induction during infection/inflammation is postulated to benefit a range of metabolic processes. The metabolic consequences of two doses of endotoxin (LPS) (1 and 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) were examined in normal (MT+/+) and MT-null (MT-/-) mice (all results means =/- S.E.M., n=6). At 16 h after 1 mg/kg LPS, hypozincaemia was pronounced in the MT+/+ mice (4.4+/-0.2 microM), concomitant with a 36% increase in hepatic Zn and a > 10-fold increase in hepatic MT. Plasma Zn (16.6+/-0.7 microM) and total hepatic Zn were unchanged in MT -/- mice, confirming the importance of MT in altering plasma and hepatic Zn during inflammation. Plasma iron was lower in LPS-treated MT-/- mice, whereas plasma copper increased to a similar extent in both groups of mice. Plasma fibrinogen more than doubled, and was similar in both groups of mice, which questions the importance of MT in acute-phase protein synthesis. Blood and liver glucose concentrations were not significantly different between groups before or after LPS, whereas blood and liver lactate concentrations were significantly lower (31% and 24% respectively) in MT-/- mice after LPS. At 16 h after 5 mg/kg LPS, plasma Zn was decreased even further in MT+/+ mice (2.6+/-0.3 microM), but remained unchanged in MT-/- mice at concentrations significantly above those in 16-h fasted MT-/- mice (15.8+/-0.5 versus 11.3+/-0.3 microM). Total liver Zn was 17% lower than fasting values in MT-/- mice, in contrast with 32% higher in MT+/+ mice. Synthesis of MT (in MT+/+ mice) and fibrinogen in all mice was not further enhanced by the higher LPS dose. Blood glucose was significantly decreased by 18% in MT+/+ mice and by 38% in MT-/- mice after 5 mg/kg LPS. There was a marked 44% decrease in liver glucose in MT-/- mice; that in MT+/+ mice was unchanged from fasting levels, implying a deficit in hepatic gluconeogenesis in LPS-treated MT-/- mice. In the absence of any indication of major hepatotoxicity, the results of this study indicate that energy production, and not acute-phase protein synthesis, may be most influenced by Zn supply during endotoxaemia, suggesting that MT has a role in maintaining hepatic and blood glucose in this metabolic setting.

Metallothionein gene expression in testicular interstitial cells and liver of rats treated with cadmium

The rodent testes are generally more susceptible to cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity than the liver. Cd induces predominantly testicular interstitial cell (TIC) tumors. In order to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying tissue differences in Cd sensitivity, we compared Cd-induced metallothionein (MT) gene expression, MT protein accumulation, and Cd retention in freshly isolated TICs and liver. Adult male Fischer rats received a s.c. injection of 4.0 micromol Cd/kg or vehicle and 24 h later tissues were sampled and TICs isolated. MT-I and MT-II mRNA levels were determined by slot-blot analysis followed by densitometry scanning, and MT was estimated by the Cd-heme method. Testicular lesions were not grossly or histologically observed in rats treated with 4 micromol Cd/kg. Both MT mRNA and MT (as determined by Cd-binding capacity) were constitutively present in TICs as well as the liver. TICs isolated from Cd-treated rats accumulated more Cd (4-fold), and had higher levels of MT-I (1.9-fold) and MT-II (1.4-fold) mRNAs over control, but contained less MT (30% decrease) than TICs isolated from control animals. Cd exposure substantially increased hepatic Cd content (6000-fold), MT (58-fold), and MT-I mRNA (5.3-fold), but did not increase MT-II mRNA. Thus, our findings indicate that, although low-dose Cd exposure results in increases of MT mRNA in TICs it does not enhance MT synthesis within these cells. The inability to induce the metal-detoxicating MT-protein, in response to Cd, might account for higher susceptibility of testes to Cd toxicity and carcinogenesis relative to liver.

Effect of zinc supplementation on metallothionein, copper, and zinc concentration in various tissues of copper-loaded rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of Zn administration on metallothionein concentrations in the liver, kidney, and intestine of copper-loaded rats. Male CD rats were fed a diet containing 12 mg Cu and 67 mg Zn/kg body wt. They were divided into either acute or chronic experimental protocols. Rats undergoing acute experiments received daily ip injections of either Cu (3 mg/kg body wt) or Zn (10 mg/kg body wt) for 3 d. Chronic experiments were carried out on rats receiving Cu ip injections on d 1, 2, 3, 10, 17, and 24, Cu injections plus a Zn-supplemented diet containing 5 g Zn/kg solid diet, or a Zn-supplemented diet alone. Rats injected Zn or Cu had increased MT concentrations in liver and kidney. Zn produced the most important effects and the liver was the most responsive organ. Rats fed a Zn-supplemented diet had significantly higher MT concentrations in liver and intestine with respect to controls. Increased MT synthesis in the liver may contribute to copper detoxification; the hypothesis of copper entrapment in enterocytes cannot be confirmed.

Influence of cAMP-effector-agonists on the synthesis of metallothionein in rat primary hepatocytes

The model of rat primary hepatocytes incubated in DMEM/F12 (Ham) medium was used for studying the influence of the cAMP-effectors epinephrine (100 microM), norepinephrine (100 microM), glucagon (1 microM) and isoproterenol (1-1000 microM) as well as the synthetic cAMP-analogon dibutyryl-cAMP on the metabolism of metallothionein. Liver parenchymal cells isolated by a two-step collagenase perfusion were incubated with DMEM/F12 containing 5% (v/v) fetal calf serum (FCS) and 20 microM zinc in Petri dishes. Experiments were initiated after a 24 h equilibration period by adding the agonists for 18 h. MT in hepatocyte homogenates was quantified by the 109Cd-hemoglobin-binding assay. Cell viability was assessed by the activity of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) liberated into the culture medium and by trypan blue exclusion. Isoproterenol and glucagon produced a significant increase of cytosolic MT about 50%. In contrast, incubation with epinephrine and norepinephrine did not lead to any significant effects in the amount of hepatic metallothionein. Simulating the influence of cAMP by dibutyryl-cAMP (500 microM) did not affect the content of hepatic metallothionein. To examine transcriptional and translational regulatory effects supplementation of cycloheximide (0.1-500 microM) and actinomycin D (0.1-100 microM) showed a total inhibition of the agonist induced amounts. Particularly in combination with isoproterenol low LDH activities reflected a high viability of hepatocytes. In conclusion, in primary hepatocyte cultures cAMP-mobilizing-agonists like isoproterenol and glucagon indicate an independent effect on the MT-metabolism. This is possibly due to the de novo synthesis of the protein because suppression by actinomycin D can be observed. However, cAMP-effectors do not seem to be involved in the induction of metallothionein because theophylline and dibutyryl-cAMP did not affect MT-metabolism by suppressing the phosphodiesterase or by stimulating the cAMP-cascade.

Increased oxidant resistance of alveolar epithelial type II cells. Isolated from rats following repeated exposure to cadmium aerosols

Alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEIIC) were isolated from male Lewis rats following repeated in vivo cadmium aerosol exposure and were subsequently evaluated for their oxidant resistance in vitro. AEIIC from Cd-adapted animals removed a greater proportion of hydrogen peroxide from the extracellular milieu and incurred less oxidant-induced cytotoxicity than AEIIC from air controls. This altered response to oxidants occurred coincident with changes in cellular resistance factors. A two-fold increase in glutathione peroxidase activity and a 1.5-fold increase in the activities of glutathione reductase and catalase were observed in Cd-adapted AEIIC compared to control cells. These cells also exhibited a dramatic induction of metallothionein (MT), a thiol-rich protein known to scavenge free radicals in vitro. MT concentration increased as a function of exposure number. MT was localized within the nucleus and cytoplasm of AEIIC by immunocytochemical techniques. MT positive cells showed a wide variation of MT content, particularly in the nucleus. The biochemical and physiological features of these AEIIC may explain, in part, why animals pretreated with Cd aerosols develop cross-tolerance to hyperoxia.

Metallothionein induction in cultured rat hepatocytes by arthritic rat serum, activated macrophages, interleukin-6, interleukin-11 and leukaemia inhibitory factor

Potential mediators of hepatic metallothionein (MT) synthesis in adjuvant-induced arthritis were investigated in cultured rat hepatocytes. Sera from arthritic rats (14 d post-adjuvant treatment) in the presence of Zn (50 mumol/L)+dexamethasone (Dex; 1 mumol/L) increased metallothionein (MT) accumulation by 34% above that obtained with control rat serum with Zn+Dex. Endogenous IL-6 activity in serum from arthritic rats was 93 +/- 49 U/mL and was undetectable in control rat serum. The activities of TNF, IL-1 and corticosterone concentrations were the same in control and arthritic rats. The accumulation of MT in hepatocytes in the presence of Zn (10 mumol/L)+Dex (1 mumol/L) was enhanced 29% and 49% by media from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophage (PMM) and Kupffer cell cultures (KCM), respectively. The response with PMM and KCM was quantitatively the same as that with interleukin-6 (IL-6). Analysis of PMM and KCM showed activities of 1,000-10,000 U/mL for IL-6, 100-1000 U/mL for TNF and < 10,000 U/mL for IL-1, the latter detected only in PMM. LPS alone enhanced the accumulation of MT above Zn+Dex in a dose dependent manner. A significant LPS response was obtained at 5 mg/L with a maximal stimulation above Zn+Dex of 38% at 10 mg/L. This direct stimulation of MT by LPS was not part of the response observed with PMM and KCM where the final LPS concentration in culture was only 0.1 mg/L. Other cytokines capable of synergy with Zn+Dex on MT synthesis were investigated. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) increased the Zn+Dex induction in a dose dependent manner with maximal stimulation at 100 U/mL of 40%. A small stimulation of 12% above Zn+Dex was obtained with leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) at concentrations greater than 100 U/mL. No enhancement of the Zn+Dex response was obtained with interleukin-3 (1000 U/mL), interleukin-4 (10 micrograms/L), platelet activating factor (5 nmol/L) or granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (5 micrograms/L). Neither IL-11 nor LIF enhanced the response obtained with Zn+Dex+IL-6. The results demonstrate that mediators present in arthritic rat serum and in LPS-stimulated PMM and KCM cause a quantitatively similar response on MT accumulation as IL-6. IL-11 and to a lesser extent LIF, are also potential mediators of MT synthesis in inflammation.

Influence of zinc on selected cellular functions of cultured human retinal pigment epithelium

Zinc is a necessary micronutrient, usually abundant in human RPE. Our study was undertaken to determine the effects of short-term, zinc deficiency on human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) using a culture model of fetal human RPE cells. Human fetal RPE cells were isolated and cultured in Coon's modified Ham's F-12 medium. For zinc depletion studies, cells were cultured for 1 week in Chelex-treated Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing low (0.25 microM) or physiologic (11 microM) total zinc concentrations as determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Protein synthesis was determined by incorporation of 35S-cysteine/methionine and labeled proteins analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Several cell parameters and enzymes were significantly reduced below control when cultured in low zinc: zinc content (40%), proliferation (63%), protein/well (50%), catalase activity (68%), alkaline phosphatase activity (61%), alpha-mannosidase activity (68%), and metallothionein (82%). No statistically significant decline was seen in acid phosphatase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione peroxidase activity and dexamethasone induction of metallothionein. Zinc repletion (100 microM, 1 h) increased catalase and alpha-mannosidase activities from 32% and 33% of control to 75% and 73%, respectively. Cycloheximide did not inhibit this short-term zinc-induced repletion of catalase or alpha-mannosidase. Protein synthesis in low zinc medium was depressed, but not significantly, as shown by incorporation of radiolabeled 35S-cysteine/methionine into newly synthesized proteins. The effects of zinc deficiency in cultured human RPE are selective. Adequate intracellular zinc was required for maximal activity of some enzymes. The dependence of catalase activity on zinc was not predicted and may help explain the observed decline in catalase activity seen with age in RPE. Our model of zinc deficiency should prove useful in elucidating the complex effects of zinc deficiency and repletion in human RPE.

Hepatic zinc in metallothionein-null mice following zinc challenge: in vivo and in vitro studies

Hepatic zinc uptake and accumulation were compared in freshly isolated and cultured hepatocytes prepared from control (MT+/+) and metallothionein (MT)-null (MT-/-) mice. In freshly isolated hepatocytes, rapid (10-15 min) exchange of 65Zn was proportional to the Zn concentration in the medium and occurred to the same extent in hepatocytes from MT+/+ and MT-/- mice. In 24 h culture experiments with MT+/+ and MT-/- hepatocytes it was shown that approx. 40% of newly acquired cell-associated Zn was attached to the cell surface and not internalized. In MT+/+ and MT-/- hepatocyte cultures, internalized Zn (intZn) increased in proportion to extracellular Zn. Zn accumulation in MT-/- hepatocytes was only 60% that of MT+/+ cells. Addition of 1 microM dexamethasone (Dex) and recombinant mouse interleukin-6 (IL-6; 100 units/ml) increased MT accumulation by 8.6-fold in MT+/+ hepatocytes (at 50 microM Zn) and there was an associated parallel increase in intZn. Dex and IL-6 did not increase intZn in the MT-/- hepatocytes. At 16 h after an intraperitoneal injection of 5 micrograms/g Zn, plasma and urine Zn concentrations were 69 +/- 10 microM and 86 +/- 25 microM respectively in MT-/- mice (n = 10) and 27 +/- 1 microM and 23 +/- 4 microM respectively in MT+/+ controls (n = 9) (P < 0.001, plasma; P < 0.05, urine). Hepatic cytosolic Zn concentrations doubled in MT+/+ mice and increased by a significant 15% in MT-/- mice. There was no increase in hepatic Zn (dry wt.) concentrations or in total hepatic Zn, demonstrating that the increase in cytosolic Zn in MT-/- mice was due to hepatic water loss rather than net Zn uptake. It appears that even at extreme plasma concentrations of Zn, little if any accumulates within the liver when there is no MT available for its sequestration. That this is not fully demonstrated in vitro is probably due to nature of cell culture, where organ architecture is lost and the external protein binding milieu is less complex.

Endotoxin-induced inflammation does not cause hepatic zinc accumulation in mice lacking metallothionein gene expression

The action of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on hepatic Zn uptake was examined in mice lacking expression of metallothionein (MT)-1 and MT-II genes. Hepatic Zn concentrations, which in normal control mice increased by a mean 29% (MT elevated 20-fold) 16 h post-LPS exposure, did not increase in MT-null mice. Plasma Zn fell by 68% in controls and 32% in MT-null mice. The time course of LPS action in normal mice was characterized by a rapid reduction (-74% at 4 h, -81% at 8 h) and partial recovery (-39% at 24 h) in plasma Zn, with a progressive increase over 24 h in hepatic concentrations of MT (by 36-fold) and Zn (by 40%). In contrast, the MT-null mice had a linear decrease in plasma Zn (-15% at 8 h, -41% at 24 h) and early loss of Zn from the liver. The Zn changes seen in MT-null mice were largely attributable to LPS-associated anorexia. Food deprivation (20 h) alone caused respective 14% and 30% decreases in hepatic and plasma Zn concentrations and a 27% reduction in total liver Zn reserves, whereas fasted normal mice conserved Zn with a 4-fold increase in hepatic MT. This study confirms that MT synthesis is essential for endotoxin-induced liver Zn accumulation.

Metallothionein protects against the cytotoxic and DNA-damaging effects of nitric oxide

In inflammatory states, nitric oxide (.NO) may be synthesized from precursor L-arginine via inducible .NO synthase (iNOS) in large amounts for prolonged periods of time. When .NO acts as an effector molecule under these conditions, it may be toxic to cells by inhibition of iron-containing enzymes or initiation of DNA single-strand breaks. In contrast to molecular targets of .NO, considerably less is known regarding mechanisms by which cells become resistant to .NO. Metallothionein (MT), the major protein thiol induced in cells exposed to cytokines and bacterial products, is capable of forming iron-dinitrosyl thiolates in vitro. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that overexpression of MT reduces the sensitivity of NIH 3T3 cells to the .NO donor, S-nitrosoacetylpenicillamine (SNAP), and to .NO released from cells (NIH 3T3-DFG-iNOS) after infection with a retroviral vector expressing human iNOS gene. There was a 4-fold increase in MT in cells transfected with the mouse MT-1 gene (NIH 3T3/MT) compared to cells transfected with the promoter-free inverted gene (NIH 3T3/TM). NIH 3T3/MT cells were more resistant than NIH 3T3/TM cells to the cytotoxic effects of SNAP (0.1-1.0 mM) or .NO released from NIH 3T3-DFG-iNOS cells. A brief (1 h) exposure to 10 mM SNAP caused DNA single-strand breaks that were 9-fold greater in NIH 3T3/TM compared to NIH 3T3/MT cells. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of NIH 3T3 cells revealed a greater peak at g = 2.04 (e.g., iron-dinitrosyl complex) in NIH 3T3/MT than NIH 3T3/TM cells. These data are consistent with a role for cytoplasmic MT in interacting with .NO and reducing .NO-induced cyto- and nuclear toxicity.

Accumulation of metallothionein and its multiple forms by zinc, cadmium and dexamethasone in human peripheral T and B lymphocytes and monocytes

Metallothionein (MT) is produced at high rates in isolated monocytes, and T and B lymphocytes during induction in vitro. At optimal concentrations, 125 microM for Zn and 10 microM for Cd and dexamethasone (dex), MT was demonstrated after only 2 h in some cases, and in all cell types substantial levels were measured after 1 day of exposure to all three inductors. With Cd, lower amounts of MT were found, but maximum levels were reached faster than with Zn. The same result was found for dex compared to Zn. Zn and dex in combination showed the same accumulation rate as Zn alone. If the inductors were used in lower concentrations than optimal, reduced accumulation rates occurred, particularly during the first part of the exposure period. No MT was found for concentrations below 5 microM Zn, 1 microM Cd or 0.5 microM dex. The constitutive levels of MT (mean +/- S.E.M.) were 0.11 +/- 0.05, 0.54 +/- 0.3, 0.06 +/- 0.05 and 0.15 +/- 0.08 nmol Cd bound/5 x 10(6) unseparated mononuclear cells (MNC), monocytes, T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, respectively. Monocytes accumulated 19 times and B lymphocytes 6 times more MT than T lymphocytes after 2 days of exposure to 125 microM Zn. Despite these differences in accumulated amounts of MT, the fold accumulation values were rather similar between the cell types, reflecting corresponding variations in background MT levels. After exposure of unseparated MNC to 125 microM Zn for 2 days, removal of the metal caused constitutive MT levels to be reestablished in 5 days. Five different MT forms, all capable of Cd complexation, were demonstrated in these cells. These forms had kinetically different behaviour during Zn exposure among the cell types, and the response to Cd was different from the Zn response. The results indicate metals to be closely controlled in MNC and emphasize a role for multiple MT forms in the process of regulation.

Measurement of zinc in hepatocytes by using a fluorescent probe, zinquin: relationship to metallothionein and intracellular zinc

Zinquin [ethyl (2-methyl-8-p-toluenesulphonamido-6-quinolyloxy)acetate], a new intracellular zinc fluorophore, was used to reveal and to measure Zn in cultured rat hepatocytes before and after metallothionein (MT) induction. Hepatocytes labelled with an intense extranuclear fluorescence. Culture with combinations of Zn, dexamethasone and interleukin-6, increased intracellular MT by 24-fold, Zn 3-fold, and Zinquin fluorescence by approx. 2-fold above control values. Zinquin fluorescence correlated in descending order with the total cellular Zn (r = 0.747), exchangeable Zn (r = 0.735), soluble cytosolic Zn (r = 0.669) and MT (r = 0.666). When Zinquin was incubated with a cytosolic fraction of liver proteins before Sephadex G-75 column chromatography, it fluoresced with free, MT-incorporated and protein-bound Zn. Although only a slight attenuation of fluorescence was seen with high-molecular-mass protein-bound Zn, MT was degraded by 60% in the presence of Zinquin. The undegraded Zn-MT fluoresced at about 20% of the expected intensity. Although Zinquin fluoresces with all cytosolic Zn, caution is required when comparisons are made between samples with different concentrations of MT. This limitation was demonstrated by staining liver slices from adjuvant-treated rats where MT was increased 24-fold, intracellular Zn by 77%, but Zinquin fluorescence by only 19% above controls. Nevertheless, Zinquin should prove to be a useful tool for studying the distribution of Zn in living cells.

Effects of mild zinc deficiency, plus or minus an acute-phase response, on galactosamine-induced hepatitis in rats

Zn deficiency is hypothesized to produce poor resistance to injury involving oxidative stress. This could occur by impairing Zn antioxidant function(s) or by indirectly limiting adaptive protective mechanisms such as a rise in acute-phase proteins. The present study examined rats fed diets adequate or moderately low in Zn (4 or 25 micrograms/g diet) for 9 d. The lower intake produced a mild Zn deficiency based on body weight, plasma Zn and plasma alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activity. Galactosamine injection, an oxidative stress, produced much more liver injury in the mildly Zn-deficient rats. However, injury was strongly inhibited in rats from each dietary group by an acute-phase response due to turpentine-induced leg inflammation. Mild Zn deficiency did not prevent a rise in levels of the acute-phase protein caeruloplasmin (EC 1.16.3.1), but did limit the usual inflammation-induced rise in hepatic levels of metallothionein, a Zn protein with possible antioxidant function. In conclusion, high degrees of galactosamine-induced hepatitis were associated with mild Zn deficiency, but the liver injury was blocked by prior stimulation of an acute-phase response, regardless of Zn status.

Species variation in hepatic metallothionein

Metallothionein (MT) is a low-molecular-weight protein involved in the homeostasis of endogenous metals and in the detoxication of heavy metals. In humans, the levels of hepatic MT have been shown to be up to 100 times the levels found in rat and mouse liver. In order to further investigate this species difference in hepatic MT levels, hepatic MT was quantified in 15 species (human, monkey, dog, cat, cow, pig, sheep, goat, rabbit, chicken, hamster, rat, mice, guinea pig, and frog). Fresh liver was obtained from each species and MT was quantified by 2 different metal-saturation assays. Results from the Cd-heme and Ag-heme assays showed that human, dog, cat, pig, and goat had the highest hepatic MT levels (400-700 micrograms/g liver). Monkey, cow, and sheep had moderate hepatic MT levels (about 200 micrograms/g liver), while rodents (mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit) had low hepatic MT levels (2-10 micrograms/g liver). Hepatic MT levels in non-mammals (chick and frog) were slightly higher than rodents (about 20 micrograms/g liver). Sephadex G-75 column elution volumes ranged from 1.7 to 1.8, which implies that MT from all species had approximately the same molecular weight and similar structure. Copper and zinc concentration in the cytosols were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Dog and cat had the highest levels of Cu (86 and 50 micrograms/g liver, respectively), and pig and hamster were lowest (about 10 micrograms/g liver). Human, dog, cat, and goat had the highest levels of zinc (approximately 40-50 micrograms/g liver) while hamster and guinea pig were lowest (approximately 15 micrograms/g liver). The results show that there is a marked species difference in hepatic MT concentrations with dog, cat, and human having the highest levels.

Effect of dexamethasone on zinc transport in rat hepatocytes in primary culture

Incubation of hepatocytes in medium supplemented with 1 microM dexamethasone and 15 or 30 microM ZnCl2 for 24 h resulted in increased intracellular Zn and metallothionein levels. There were a positive correlation between the Zn and metallothionein concentrations. Initial rates of 65Zn influx from balanced salt solutions containing albumin and ZnCl2 to give known free Zn2+ concentrations were measured over 10 min. At 1.6 nM free Zn2+ the influx rate was the same in control and dexamethasone-treated cultures, but at 18 nM free Zn2+ there was an increased rate of influx after dexamethasone treatment. Measurements of 65Zn efflux were quite hard to interpret, because of the existence of at least two intracellular Zn pools, a fast-exchanging and a slow-exchanging pool. The amount of Zn in the fast-exchanging pool appeared to increase as the external free Zn2+ concentration was increased, while the amount in the slow-exchanging pool increased on pre-treatment with Zn and dexamethasone. The fractional efflux of 65Zn from the fast-exchanging pool appeared to increase with the pool size, implying that the rate of Zn efflux increases faster than the concentration of Zn2+ in that pool.

Wasting in adjuvant-induced arthritis and its relationship to plasma zinc, copper and liver metallothionein

The appearance of joint inflammation (JI) 14 days after the injection of adjuvant (AJ) in the tail of rats is associated with a cachectic syndrome which is characterised by marked weight loss (WL). The degree of weight loss was examined in relation to the extent of change in other markers of inflammation including increased plasma copper (pCu), decreased plasma zinc (pZn) and increased hepatic metallothionein (hMT). At 14 days post-AJ injection, arthritic rats showed the following changes, relative to the controls: body weight, 12% decrease, pZn, 50% decrease; pCu, 90% increase and hMT, 11-fold increase (all p < 0.001). Significant relationships were observed between JI, WL, pZn and hMT. The following coefficients of determination (r2) were observed; JI and WL, -0.530, JI and pZn, -0.485; JI and hMT, 0.286; WL and hMT, -0.510 (all p < 0.007). There was a strong relationship between the decreased pZn and increased hMT; r2 = 0.456 (p < 0.001). While increased pCu was clearly associated with AJ-arthritis in these rats, there was no quantitative relationship between the extent of change in pCu and the other parameters measured (r2 all < 0.01). The highest correlation observed was between pZn and WL (r2 = 0.637, p < 0.001). While the initial depression of pZn may be the result of increased hepatic hMT levels, longer term reductions in pZn levels are linked to systemic inflammation, the degree of arthritis and associated weight loss.

Serotransferrin, ovotransferrin and metallothionein levels during an immune response in chickens

Extracellular iron-binding proteins function in iron transport, iron scavenging and bactericidal activity. To determine whether the levels of chicken iron-binding proteins are altered during an immune challenge, young broiler chicks and 40-week-old hens were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Serum transferrin and liver mRNA for serum transferrin increased at 24 hr after injection. Increased levels of serum transferrin and hepatic mRNA for serum transferrin define chicken serum transferrin as an acute-phase protein. Magnum mRNA for ovotransferrin decreased 24 hr after the immune challenge in hens. Hens had also stopped ovulating, suggesting that synthesis of all egg proteins was decreased.

Influence of dietary iron deficiency on nickel, lead and cadmium intoxication

The influence of dietary iron deficiency on acute nickel, lead or cadmium toxicity as reflected by the induction of hepatic, renal, and intestinal metallothionein (MT), disposition of the metals and alterations in hematological parameters, was investigated in young rats to ascertain whether the toxic effects of these metals modify under anemic conditions. The administration of Cd induced hepatic, renal and intestinal MT while that of Ni or Pb induced hepatic MT only. While dietary Fe deficiency did not affect MT induction by Cd, it enhanced the synthesis of renal and intestinal MT by Ni and Pb. The accumulation of Pb in liver and kidney and that of Cd in liver only, were enhanced by Fe deficiency; the tissue deposition of Ni remained unaffected by Fe deficiency. The induction of hepatic MT by Ni, Pb or Cd appears to be related to the concomitant rise in the hepatic Zn, Ca and Fe levels in normal rats. However, dietary Fe deficiency increased the hepatic Zn in response to Ni or Cd and the hepatic Ca in response to Pb administration.

Antagonism of cadmium cytotoxicity by differentiation inducers

Studies on the antagonism of toxicity can provide information about toxic mechanisms and suggest chemotherapeutic strategies. A rapid cell growth assay that measures the effects of test agents on the accumulation of cell protein (Shopsis and Eng, Toxicol. Lett. 1985;26:1) has been applied to studies of the antagonism of the cytotoxicity of cadmium. Exposure of Balb/c mouse 3T3 cells to 15 mumol/L Cd2+ for 24 h or 7 mumol/L Cd2+ for 48 h caused a 50% decrease in total cell protein. Zn2+ and selenite ion, antagonists of Cd toxicity in vivo, antagonized Cd2+ cytotoxicity when added in micromolar concentrations at the initiation of exposure to Cd2+. A diverse group of chemicals that can induce differentiation in vitro in cultured erythroleukemia and other cells were also found to antagonize the cytotoxic effects of Cd2+ to 3T3 cells. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), hexamethylene bisacetamide, N,N-dimethyl formamide, N-methyl formamide, dimethyl acetamide, hypoxanthine, hemin, ouabain, and sodium butyrate, when added to cultures simultaneously with Cd2+, each antagonized Cd2+ toxicity. These agents were used at concentrations equal to or lower than the concentrations at which they induce cellular differentiation. Other cytotoxicity assays and morphological studies confirmed these observations. DMSO added as much as 6 h after the initiation of a 24-h exposure to Cd2+ still protected cells; conversely, pretreatment of cultures with butyrate or DMSO for 24 h followed by their removal did not confer protection against subsequent Cd2+ challenge. Ethanol and methanol (noninducers of differentiation) did not antagonize Cd2+ cytotoxicity, and differentiation-inducing agents did not protect the cells from Zn(2+)- or Hg(2+)-induced cytotoxicity. DMSO treatment does not induce an increase in the concentrations of metallothionein or glutathione in these cells.

Possible role of metallothionein in the cellular defense mechanism against UVB irradiation in neonatal human skin fibroblasts

The role of metallothionein (MT) in protecting skin cells against UVB irradiation was investigated. Fibroblast strains from normal adult (HS-K) and neonatal (NB1RGB) human skins as well as keratinocyte strains from human skin (SV40-HSK) and newborn Balb/c mouse skin (Pam 212) were exposed to UVB irradiation. The sensitivity of HS-K and NB1RGB cells to UVB irradiation was similar; those of SV40-HSK and Pam 212 cells were two- and six-fold as sensitive to UVB irradiation as HS-K cells, respectively. The HS-K cells contained the greatest cellular reduced form of glutathione (GSH) levels compared to the three other skin cells: the levels were 13-, 7- and 6-fold of those in NB1RGB, SV40-HSK and Pam 212 cells, respectively. These results indicated that the sensitivity of skin cells to UVB irradiation was not always associated with their endogenous GSH levels. In particular, despite the fact that NB1RGB cells contained a relatively small amount of GSH, they were less sensitive to UVB irradiation. NB1RGB cells contained 4-30 times more MT than those in other skin cells examined. The sulfhydryl residues of MT molecules in the NB1RGB cells were estimated to be mostly unoccupied by metals, suggesting they act in a similar way to those of GSH. Moreover, NB1RGB cells in which the MT content was elevated by dexamethasone (1 microM) or Zn2+ (7 micrograms/mL) treatment were more resistant to UVB irradiation than nontreated ones. These results suggest that, at least in neonatal human skin fibroblasts, MT may play a role in protection against UVB irradiation.

Effect of chlorpromazine pretreatment on cadmium toxicity in the male Wistar (WF/NCr) rat

A recent report has indicated that cadmium-induced testicular damage in CF-1 mice can be prevented by pretreatment with calmodulin inhibitors such as chlorpromazine (CPZ), trifluoperazine, or N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide (W-7). However, the basis of this tolerance to cadmium is unclear and has not been demonstrated in any species other than mice. Thus, we examined the effects of the calmodulin inhibitor CPZ on cadmium toxicity in male Wistar (WF/NCr) rats. A single sc injection of 25 mumol CdCl2/kg proved nonlethal over 24 h but caused the typical spectrum of testicular lesions and increases in hemoglobin content (as assessed by hemoglobin absorbance in testicular supernatant). Pretreatment with 40 mumol CPZ/kg had no effect on cadmium-induced testicular lesions but did reduce testicular hemoglobin content, while 120 mumol CPZ/kg moderately reduced the severity of testicular lesions and hemoglobin contents. CPZ pretreatment in some cases increased cadmium content in liver and reduced testicular content but had no effect on renal levels. Cadmium treatment markedly increased hepatic and renal metallothionein (MT), a metal-binding protein often associated with tolerance to cadmium. CPZ alone likewise increased hepatic MT and MT mRNA, but did not modify renal MT, renal MT mRNA, or testicular MT mRNA. In contrast to liver and kidney, testicular cadmium-binding protein (TCBP) decreased in rats exposed only to cadmium or to CPZ, while CPZ pretreatment had no further effect on cadmium-induced reductions in TCBP levels. These results indicate that, like mice, CPZ in rats can reduce the testicular toxicity of cadmium as indicated by CPZ-induced reductions in testicular vascular lesions and hemoglobin contents. However, in rats CPZ has a less dramatic effect on such cadmium-induced lesions than in mice. The CPZ-induced stimulation of hepatic MT gene expression or modification of toxicokinetics may both play roles in this acquired tolerance to cadmium.