Biomaterial Database

Endotoxin-induced inflammation does not cause hepatic zinc accumulation in mice lacking metallothionein gene expression. 1995

J C Philcox, and P Coyle, and A Michalska, and K H Choo, and A M Rofe

Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Australia.

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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007249	Inflammation	A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function.	Innate Inflammatory Response,Inflammations,Inflammatory Response, Innate,Innate Inflammatory Responses
D008070	Lipopolysaccharides	Lipid-containing polysaccharides which are endotoxins and important group-specific antigens. They are often derived from the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and induce immunoglobulin secretion. The lipopolysaccharide molecule consists of three parts: LIPID A, core polysaccharide, and O-specific chains (O ANTIGENS). When derived from Escherichia coli, lipopolysaccharides serve as polyclonal B-cell mitogens commonly used in laboratory immunology. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Lipopolysaccharide,Lipoglycans
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008297	Male		Males
D008668	Metallothionein	A low-molecular-weight (approx. 10 kD) protein occurring in the cytoplasm of kidney cortex and liver. It is rich in cysteinyl residues and contains no aromatic amino acids. Metallothionein shows high affinity for bivalent heavy metals.	Isometallothionein,Metallothionein A,Metallothionein B,Metallothionein I,Metallothionein II,Metallothionein IIA
D008810	Mice, Inbred C57BL	One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases.	Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005508	Food Deprivation	The withholding of food in a structured experimental situation.	Deprivation, Food,Deprivations, Food,Food Deprivations
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015032	Zinc	A metallic element of atomic number 30 and atomic weight 65.38. It is a necessary trace element in the diet, forming an essential part of many enzymes, and playing an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc deficiency is associated with ANEMIA, short stature, HYPOGONADISM, impaired WOUND HEALING, and geophagia. It is known by the symbol Zn.