title: Significance of metallothionein expression in liver disease.
abstract: Hepatic metallothionein (MT) expression, with various isoforms, and varying cellular localizations is a useful marker for clinico-pathogenesis of liver diseases. In acute liver toxicity caused by cadmium, carbon tetrachloride, or acetaminophen, MT plays a protective role, via the scavenging of radical species. In chronic hepatitis C patients, hepatic MT levels appear to be a biological factor associated with the severity of HCV infection, and are associated with a better response to IFN therapy. Transgenic mice that express HBsAg in the liver show hepatocellular damage, inflammation, regeneration, hyperplasia, and, eventually, neoplasia. The MT isoform, MT-1 help mitigate HBV-induced hepatitis. Analysis of MT gene expression in the livers of chronic hepatitis B patients is useful for understanding the features of distinct liver diseases and for judging disease progression. A profound down-regulation of isoform MT-1G in hepatocellular carcinoma was observed in 63% of tumors relative to the adjacent nonmalignant liver. MT has been implicated in the control of p53 folding with zinc exchange. Therefore, it appears MT may play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Overall MT is linked to a variety of liver diseases.
authors.forename: Takeaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagamine
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Health Science, Gunma University 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan. mine@health.gunma-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein