Metallothionein is required for zinc-induced expression of the macrophage colony stimulating factor gene.

Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of mononuclear phagocytes. The present study investigates the effect of zinc on M-CSF expression in MC3T3-E1 and L929 cells. Zinc dose-dependently increased M-CSF mRNA levels.

Metallothionein modulates lipopolysaccharide-stimulated tumour necrosis factor expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Metallothionein (MT) is a low-molecular-mass, cysteine-rich metal binding protein thought to be involved in the detoxification of heavy metals and scavenging of free radicals. MT is directly induced not only by heavy metals, but also by hormones and cytokines. The present study, which uses mice with genetic deletions of the MT proteins (MT(-/-) mice), was designed to evaluate the effects of MT on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages.