title: Metallothionein downregulation in very old age: a phenomenon associated with cellular senescence?
abstract: It is known that metallothionein (MT) mRNA expression first increases with age, but then decreases again in the very elderly. Here we report that MT protein levels also decrease in very old age, and that this is independent of dietary zinc intake. Age-related changes of MT, as well as alterations of zinc homeostasis (intracellular labile zinc and NO-induced zinc release), occur both in human PBMCs ex vivo and also in CD4+ T cell clones progressing through their finite life span in vitro. These results suggest that phenomena observed in very old people can be at least partially attributed to diminished cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Center, Section of Nutrition, Immunity and Ageing, Res. Department INRCA, Ancona, Italy. m.malavolta@inrca.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malavolta
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cipriano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costarelli
authors.forename: Robertina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacconi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tesei
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piacenza
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pierpaoli
authors.forename: Annis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larbi
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pawelec
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dedoussis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herbein
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jajte
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rink
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mocchegiani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D002999:Clone Cells; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein