We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Role of Metallothionein in Antigen-Related Airway Inflammation.
- Authors
Inoue, Ken-Ichiro; Takano, Hirohisa; Yanagisawa, Rie; Sakurai, Miho; Ichinose, Takamichi; Sadakane, Kaori; Hiyoshi, Kyoko; Sato, Masahiko; Shimada, Akinori; Inoue, Mamoru; Yoshikawa, Toshikazu
- Abstract
Metallothionein (MT) is a protein that can be induced by inflammatory mediators and participates in cytoprotection. However, its role in antigen-related inflammation remains to be established. We determined whether intrinsic MT protects against antigen-related airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin (OVA) in MT-I/II null (MT [–/–]) mice and in corresponding wild-type (WT) mice. MT (–/–) mice and WT mice were intratracheally challenged with OVA (1 µg per body) biweekly four times. Twenty-four hours after the last OVA challenge, significant increases were shown in the numbers of total cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from MT (–/–) mice than in those from WT mice. The protein level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was significantly greater in MT (–/–) mice than in WT mice after OVA challenge. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the formations of 8-oxy-deoxyguanosine and nitrotyrosine in the lung were more intense in MT (–/–) mice than in WT mice after OVA challenge. These results indicate that endogenous MT is a protective molecule against antigen-related airway inflammation induced by OVA, at least partly, via the suppression of enhanced lung expression of IL-1β and via the antioxidative properties. Our findings suggest that MT may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of antigen-related airway inflammatory diseases such as bronchial asthma.
- Publication
Experimental Biology & Medicine, 2005, Vol 230, Issue 1, p75
- ISSN
1535-3702
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/153537020523000110