title: Metallothionein and brain inflammation.
abstract: Since the seminal discoveries of Bert Vallee regarding zinc and metallothioneins (MTs) more than 50 years ago, thousands of studies have been published concerning this fascinating story. One of the most active areas of research is the involvement of these proteins in the inflammatory response in general, and in neuroinflammation in particular. We describe the general aspects of the inflammatory response, highlighting the essential role of the major cytokine interleukin-6, and review briefly the expression and function of MTs in the central nervous system in the context of neuroinflammation. Particular attention is paid to the Tg2576 Alzheimer disease mouse model and the preliminary results obtained in mice into which human Zn(7)MT-2A was injected, which suggest a reversal of the behavioral deficits while enhancing amyloid plaque load and gliosis.
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology Unit, Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biosciences, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Yasmina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manso
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Adlard
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vašák
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D008668:Metallothionein