Metallothionein expression and tissue metal kinetics after partial hepatectomy in mice.
To better elucidate previous results showing that partial hepatectomy noticeably changes the tissue content of zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron(II) ions in regenerating the liver, thymus, and spleen, we report on the correlation of these metal tissue kinetics in these organs with the expression of metallothionein-I+II (MT-I+II) proteins and MT-I mRNA in early postoperative period (1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h) after one-third hepatectomy (pHx). The results showed that 2 h after pHx the regenerating liver accumulated Zn2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Fe2+ ions while decreasing the concentration of all these metals in the spleen and of Zn2+ in the thymus. On the 24th h, a new high accumulation of Zn2+ and Ca2+ was seen in the regenerating liver and of Zn2+, Ca2+, and Fe2+ in the spleen. Simultaneously, MT-I mRNA increased in the liver and spleen. In hepatocytes and on several spleen and thymus mononuclear lymphatic cells, the increased expression of MT proteins was found mainly in the cytoplasm and nuclei. The areas expressing MTs in regenerating liver inversely correlated with those containing apoptotic cells, suggesting that these proteins participate in tissue restoration through reduction or increase of metal ions after injury to the liver.
Jakovac
Hrvoje
H
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Grebić
Damir
D
Mrakovcić-Sutić
Ines
I
Tota
Marin
M
Broznić
Dalibor
D
Marinić
Jelena
J
Tomac
Jelena
J
Milin
Cedomila
C
Radosević-Stasić
Biserka
B
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D006498:Hepatectomy; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D017931:DNA Primers; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D008670:Metals; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008668:Metallothionein; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium