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Endotoxin-induced zinc accumulation by liver cells is mediated by metallothionein synthesis

1988; Elsevier BV; Volume: 152; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0006-291x(88)80120-7

1090-2104

Tomihiro Fukushima, Yoshio Iijima, F Kosaka,

Chromium effects and bioremediation

Endotoxin induces a decrease in zinc concentration in the serum and an increase in zinc levels in the liver. We have studied whether metallothionein (MT), which is a heavy metal-binding protein, is associated with this phenomenon invitro. When MT of liver cells is induced by a factor secreted by endotoxin-stimulated macrophages, the cells accumulate zinc from the medium. The temporal accumulation of zinc is correlated with the induction of MT, and the accumulated zinc binds to MT. These results suggest that zinc accumulation by liver cells is mediated by metallothionein produced in response to a macrophage factor, which is elicited by endotoxin.