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(Journal of Nutrition. 2001;131:215-222.)
© 2001 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences


Articles

Metallothionein Expression Protects against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity, but Overexpression and Dietary Zinc Supplementation Provide No Further Protection in Metallothionein Transgenic and Knockout Mice1

Steven R. Davis*, Don A. Samuelson{dagger} and Robert J. Cousins*2

* Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Center for Nutritional Sciences, and {dagger} Small Animal Clinical Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0370

2To whom correspondence should be addressed at Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 201 FSHN, P.O. Box 110370, Gainesville, FL 32611-0370. E-mail: rjc{at}gnv.ifas.ufl.edu


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Metallothionein and zinc have been implicated in cellular defense against a number of cytotoxic agents. With respect to the free radical–generating hepatotoxin carbon tetrachloride, conclusions about a defensive role were reached from in vitro studies, in vivo studies using inducers of metallothionein and studies using injections of pharmacological amounts of zinc. Metallothionein knockout (null) and metallothionein transgenic mice are more direct models to examine the effects of metallothionein expression on induced cytotoxicity. Similarly, zinc presented via the diet is a more physiological model than that presented via injection. We examined whether metallothionein-overexpressing mice or metallothionein knockout mice had altered sensitivity to carbon tetrachloride and whether supplemental dietary zinc reduced sensitivity to carbon tetrachloride in these genotypes. Metallothionein knockout mice produced no metallothionein and were unable to sequester additional hepatic zinc in response to elevated dietary zinc. Hepatotoxicity, as measured by serum alanine aminotransferase activity, histological analyses and hepatic thiol levels, was greater in the knockout mice than in controls 12 h after carbon tetrachloride treatment but not at later time points (up to 48 h). In contrast, metallothionein-overexpressing mice produced more metallothionein and sequestered more liver zinc than control mice, but hepatotoxicity was similar between genotypes. Supplemental dietary zinc had no effect on hepatotoxicity with either genotype. These data suggest metallothionein null mice were more susceptible to carbon tetrachloride–induced hepatotoxicity than were control mice. However, neither metallothionein overexpression nor supplemental dietary zinc provided further protection.


KEY WORDS: • zinc • metallothionein • oxidative stress • knockout • transgenic • mice


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Zinc is an essential metal with numerous functions in biology. These functions include catalytic and structural roles in metalloenzymes and other metalloproteins, as well as regulatory roles in such diverse processes as synaptic signaling and gene expression (Cousins 1996Citation ). In rodents, zinc deficiency is associated with oxidative stress in some tissues (Bray et al. 1986Citation , Miceli et al. 1999Citation , Oteiza et al. 1995Citation ). Also, lipoproteins from zinc-deficient rats are more sensitive to oxidation in vitro (DiSilvestro and Blostein-Fujii 1997Citation ). Further, zinc-deficient rodents are more susceptible to the toxicity of the carbon tetrachloride radical (DiSilvestro and Carlson 1993). This oxidative stress could be due to depression of a number of zinc-related functions, including antioxidant functions (Powell 2000Citation ). Potential antioxidant functions for zinc include: 1) being a structural factor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, 2) the ability of zinc to protect sulfhydryl groups from oxidation and 3) the ability of zinc to keep redox active metals (iron and copper) from binding to and causing oxidative damage at active sites of zinc metalloenzymes and nonspecific binding sites on proteins (reviewed in Powell 2000Citation ). Further, zinc deficiency might influence oxidative stress by impairing signal transduction pathways, altering gene expression and affecting cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis (reviewed in Cousins 1996Citation ).

Another result of zinc deficiency is reduced expression of the zinc-containing protein metallothionein (MT)3 in some cells and tissues (Davis and Cousins 2000Citation ). MT is a small cysteine-rich metal-binding protein that can bind up to seven atoms of zinc per molecule. Expression of MT is induced by zinc through numerous metal response elements in the MT-1 and MT-2 gene promoters. MT expression is also induced by oxidants through an antioxidant response element/electrophile response element and the metal response elements of MT’s gene promoter (as reviewed in Andrews 2000Citation ). MT is likely involved in zinc metabolism and protection against certain heavy metal toxicities (Davis and Cousins 2000Citation , Klaassen and Liu 1998Citation ). MT also scavenges free radicals in vitro and is believed to protect cells against oxidative stress (Sato and Bremner 1993Citation , Schroeder and Cousins 1990Citation ). In vitro studies suggest the hydroxyl radical may have particular reactivity with MT (Thornalley and Vasak 1985Citation ). The physical interaction of MT with a number of oxidants also causes release of bound zinc, and as discussed, the released zinc may also be protective (Berendji et al. 1997Citation , Fliss and Menard 1992Citation ). As such, suppression of MT levels during zinc deficiency may predispose tissues to oxidative damage.

There is evidence that supplemental zinc and overexpression of MT help protect cells and organisms from a number of stresses. For example, the administration of pharmacological zinc doses protects rodents from the toxicity of certain metals and other chemicals, some of which cause oxidative stress (Blain et al. 1998Citation , Chvapil et al. 1973Citation , Dhawan and Goel 1995Citation ). The mechanism(s) through which supplemental zinc provides protection is uncertain. Zinc may protect sulfhydryl groups from oxidation or may limit the redox reactive metal content of tissues (Coppen et al. 1988Citation , Oteiza et al. 1995Citation ). Many have advanced the hypothesis that supplemental zinc provides antioxidant protection through its powerful induction of MT gene expression.

MT induction by a number of metals (including zinc), hormones, cytokines and other chemicals is associated with protection from the toxicity of subsequent metal, chemical and other stresses in cell culture and in vivo (Blain et al. 1998Citation , Coppen et al. 1988Citation , Kelley et al. 1988Citation , Satoh et al. 1988Citation , Schroeder and Cousins 1990Citation ). Experiments with cultured cells transfected with MT genes (Kaina et al. 1990Citation , Kelley et al. 1988Citation , Schwarz et al. 1995Citation ) and cells from MT transgenic and knockout mice or heterogeneous embryonic cells from these strains (Lazo et al. 1995Citation , Wang et al. 1999Citation ) produced similar results. A number of experiments with intact mice of these strains led to similar conclusions (Kang 1999Citation , Liu et al. 1998aCitation , Rofe et al. 1998Citation ). Other reports, however, contradict the notion that MT is universally protective (DiSilvestro et al. 1996Citation , Itoh et al. 1997Citation , Kaina et al. 1990Citation , Kelly et al. 1988Citation , Liu et al. 1999Citation ).

Zinc injections induce MT and protect against various stresses in liver and cultured cells. It is not clear whether supplemental dietary zinc mimics these protective effects and, if so, whether the protection depends on MT production. The experiments reported here were designed to provide a detailed comparison of the relationship of MT genotype to the level of zinc provided in the diet on oxidative stress related to carbon tetrachloride administration. Results confirm the importance of MT expression in protection against oxidative stress but bring into question the impact of supplemental zinc and/or elevated MT expression in such defense.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Animals.

MT knockout and MT transgenic mice used in these experiments were derived from founder mice purchased from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME). The MT-overexpressing mice (designated TG) were generated in C57BL/6 mice crossed with SJL mice (Palmiter et al. 1993Citation ), whereas MT knockout mice (KO) were generated in 129/SvCPJ mice (Masters et al. 1994Citation ). C57BL/6 mice (designated CT) and 129S3/SvImJ mice (designated CK) served as controls, respectively. All mice used were 8–11 wk of age. Mice were housed singly in stainless steel hanging cages with a 12-h light/dark cycle. During experiments, they were given free access to deionized water and semipurified diet based on the AIN-76A formulation (American Institute of Nutrition 1977Citation ) with adequate or supplemental zinc (10 or 500 mg zinc/kg diet, respectively; Research Diets, New Brunswick, NJ). Care and treatment of the mice received approval of the University of Florida Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Experimental design.

Sex-matched male and female TG, KO and control mice were fed a diet containing 10 mg zinc/kg and deionized water for 7 d. For 3 d thereafter, the diet contained 10 mg zinc/kg (Zn10) or 500 mg zinc/kg (Zn500). A sublethal dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in corn oil (207 µmol/kg body i.p.) or corn oil alone was given between 0800 and 1000 h, and the mice were killed at 0, 12, 24 or 48 h. We used this dose because, in these experiments, it was the lowest dose that consistently produced measurable signs of toxicity (histological and increased serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] activity) with these genotypes. Food intake was measured for 3 d before the injections. Indices of zinc homeostasis, MT expression and hepatic damage were measured at 0, 12, 24 and 48 h postdosing. Because mice in the 0-h group did not receive injections, data at this time point represent the effects of diet and genotype only.

Analytical methods.

MT concentrations were measured as described previously (Davis et al. 1998Citation ) using the cadmium (109Cd) binding assay (Eaton and Toal 1982Citation ). Total protein was measured according to the method of Lowry et al. (1951Citation ). Serum zinc concentrations were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry after dilution with deionized water. Tissue zinc was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after sections of liver were digested with HNO3/H2SO4 (3:1) as described previously (Dunn and Cousins 1989Citation ). Serum ALT enzyme activity was measured spectrophotometrically (Sigma 505-P; Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO). Total thiols were measured spectrophotometrically after treatment with 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (Jocelyn 1989Citation ), which generates a yellow chromophore ({lambda}max = 412 nm). Nonprotein thiols were measured by the same technique after first precipitating protein thiols with 5% trichloroacetic acid (306 mmol/L).

Histology.

Sections of liver were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. These sections were analyzed visually for necrosis and other signs of hepatotoxicity (Khoo et al. 1996Citation ). Photomicrographs were obtained with a Zeiss Axiovert S100 microscope (Carl Zeiss, Thornwood, NY) fitted with a CCD camera to obtain digital images.

Statistics.

Data were analyzed by ANOVA for a three-way factorial design (2 x 2 x 2) to determine significant main effects and interactions using genotype, dietary zinc and oxidant treatment as independent variables (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). The Tukey-Kramer comparison test was used to determine significant differences between specific groups (P < 0.05). Serum ALT data were log transformed to obtain homogeneous variances. Significance was established at P < 0.05.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Zinc status and metabolism

Food consumption did not differ between adequate zinc (Zn10) and supplemental zinc (Zn500) groups and also did not differ among the genotypes (data not shown). Measures of zinc status were serum zinc (Figs. 1ACitation and 2ACitation ), liver zinc (Figs. 1BCitation and 2BCitation ) and liver MT (Figs. 1CCitation and 2CCitation ).



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Figure 1. Zinc homeostasis indices in metallothionein (MT) knockout and control mice 0, 12, 24 or 48 h after an injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or corn oil (CO). The mice had been fed either adequate dietary zinc (Zn10) or supplemental dietary zinc (Zn500). (A) Serum zinc concentration in µmol Zn/L. (B) Liver zinc concentration in nmol/g liver. (C) Liver MT concentration in nmol/g liver. Data are presented as means ± SE of n = 3 (0 h) or n = 4–7 (12, 24 and 48 h) mice per group. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were determined by ANOVA for a three-way factorial design, followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test.

 


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Figure 2. Zinc homeostasis indices in metallothionein (MT) transgenic and control mice 0, 12, 24 or 48 h after an injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or corn oil (CO). The mice had been fed either adequate dietary zinc (Zn10) or supplemental dietary zinc (Zn500). (A) Serum zinc concentration in µmol Zn/L. (B) Liver zinc concentration in nmol/g liver. (C) Liver MT concentration in nmol/g liver. Data are presented as means ± SE of n = 3 (0 h) or n = 4–7 (12, 24 and 48 h) mice per group. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were determined by ANOVA for a three-way factorial design, followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test.

 
    KO mice. The Zn500 diet significantly increased serum zinc concentrations in both genotypes but to a greater extent in control (CK) mice. The only significant effect of genotype was seen at 12 h after the CCl4 treatment, when the serum zinc concentration increased by 80% in KO mice only.

At 0 h, liver zinc concentration was significantly lower in KO mice than in control mice fed the Zn500 diet but not lower than control mice fed the Zn10 diet (Fig. 1BCitation ). Twelve hours later, CK mice fed the Zn500 diet and injected with CO (Zn500 + CO) had 25–45% more liver zinc than the other CK groups and significantly more (>100%) liver zinc than all KO groups. This effect may have been due to the stress of the injection, but all mice received an injection of corn oil vehicle or CCl4. The CK10 + CO and CK500 + CCl4 groups had 35–90% more liver zinc than KO groups, but not all differences were statistically significant (0.03 < P < 0.1). At 24 and 48 h, there was significantly more liver zinc in CK500 mice than in mice of all other genotype-diet combinations. The only significant effect of CCl4 treatment on liver zinc concentrations was at 24 h, when CCl4-treated mice had lower liver zinc concentrations than CO-treated mice. In marked contrast, KO mice did not sequester additional zinc in the liver in response to the Zn500 diet, CCl4 treatment or the combination.

Liver MT levels depend on genotype and dietary zinc but are also affected by oxidant treatment and the stress of the injection (Fig. 1CCitation ). These values roughly paralleled hepatic zinc concentrations. As shown earlier, the level of MT in KO mouse liver represents assay background and not MT (Davis et al. 1998Citation ). At 0 h, 150% more MT was detected in CK500 than in CK10 mice. At 12 h after the injections, the CK500 + CO mice had greater MT concentrations than other mice, and CK500 mice had greater concentrations than the CK10 mice. At 48 h, the MT levels in the CK500 + CCl4 group were increased, and both CK500 groups had fivefold greater MT levels than CK10 groups. It appears that CCl4 toxicity delayed the induction of MT in these mice. This effect was completely unexpected.

    Transgenic overexpressing mice. Zinc homeostasis was also altered by MT overexpression. Serum zinc was 80–100% greater in CT mice fed the Zn500 diet than in those fed the Zn10 diet throughout the experiment (Fig. 2ACitation ). Serum zinc was also greater in TG mice fed the Zn500 diet, but the difference was less than that found in CT mice. Serum zinc was still affected by genotype and diet after injections (TG < CT; Zn10 < Zn500). Serum zinc was also lower in TG mice than in CT mice in all genotype-diet and genotype-oxidant interactions, although not all differences were significant (TG10 < TG500 + CT10 < CT500, 0.0001 < P < 0.09; TG + CO and TG + CCl4 < CT + CCl4 < CT + CO, 0.0002 < P < 0.08). In contrast, serum zinc concentrations were significantly greater in CT + CCl4 mice 12 h after CCl4 was administered, similar to the serum zinc response of KO + CCl4 mice. Throughout the time course of 48 h, MT overexpression in TG mice caused an exaggerated response of serum zinc to the carbon tetrachloride and corn oil injections, indicative of the role of MT expression in influencing serum zinc concentration during stress events.

Liver zinc concentrations were significantly greater at 0 h in the TG mice fed the Zn500 diet (Fig. 2BCitation ). From 12 h postinjection, the TG500 mice had greater concentrations than all other mice, and TG + CCl4 mice had significantly more zinc compared with other genotype-oxidant combinations. Of interest is that CCl4 alone had a minimal effect on liver MT in CT or TG mice unless combined with the Zn500 diet.

As with CK and KO mice, liver MT concentrations paralleled liver zinc (Fig. 2CCitation ). TG500 mice had more liver MT at 0 h than other diet-genotype combinations. When injected with CCl4 or CO, Zn500 groups showed an increased MT level, which peaked at 24 h and then returned to near normal at 48 h. MT induction in the Zn500 group injected with CO was delayed until 24 h. In all cases, the effect was markedly greater in TG mice than in CT mice. CCl4 alone did not cause marked MT induction in CT mice.

Hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress

Hepatotoxicity was assessed by measuring serum ALT activity and by histological analysis of liver sections for signs of damage and necrosis. Measurement of liver nonprotein thiols (NPT) (a pool composed mainly of glutathione) and liver total thiols (TT) served as measures of oxidative stress.

    KO mice. All mice had similar and normal serum ALT activity at 0 h (Fig. 3Citation ). At 12 h after CCl4 was given, all mice had significantly elevated serum ALT activity, but the levels in KO mice, compared with actual ALT activity units, were 6–12 times greater than those in CK mice. At 24 and 48 h after CCl4, the ALT activities had declined but were still significantly greater in treated mice. There were no appreciable genotype or diet effects.



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Figure 3. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in metallothionein knockout and control mice 0, 12, 24 or 48 h after an injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or corn oil (CO). The mice had been fed either adequate dietary zinc (Zn10) or supplemental dietary zinc (Zn500). These activities were measured spectrophotometrically and expressed as log activity units/L serum. Data are presented as means ± SE of n = 3 (0 h) or n = 4–7 (12, 24, and 48 h) mice per group. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were determined by ANOVA for a three-way factorial design, followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test.

 
Hematoxylin and eosin–stained liver sections were similar in all groups injected with corn oil (data not shown). Consistent with serum ALT activities, at 12 h there was significantly more liver necrosis in the KO mice (Fig. 4BCitation ) compared with CK mice (Fig. 4ACitation ). Around individual central veins, the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes was less eosinophilic and more amorphous with a general loss of cytologic structure (Fig. 4BCitation ). The nuclei were pyknotic in many of these cells. With the presence of localized coagulation necrosis, there was a collapse of the hepatic sinusoids and disruption of hepatic plate arrangement. The level of necrosis was not different between CK and KO mice at 24 and 48 h, however. There were no differences between dietary groups.



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Figure 4. Light photomicrographs (200x magnification) of hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections of liver from metallothionein knockout (KO) or control (CK) mice 12 h after injection of carbon tetrachloride. (A) CK mouse. (B) KO mouse. All mice were fed diets containing 10 mg Zn/kg diet. More severe coagulation necrosis was seen around the central vein (CV) in KO mice (B) compared with CK mice (A). Results after carbon tetrachloride were similar in female mice and mice fed diets containing 500 mg Zn/kg diet. No histologic changes due to genotype or diet were noted in mice given an injection of the corn oil vehicle. Bar = 100 µm.

 
Oxidative stress was measured as NPT levels (Fig. 5ACitation ). Interestingly, NPT levels at 0 h tended (P = 0.06) to be lower in Zn500 groups than in Zn10 groups. At 12 h postinjection, there was a general depression of NPT but no differences among groups. At 24 h, NPT concentrations were significantly lower in the KO + CCl4 groups, whereas in the KO + CO groups, they had returned to normal. At 48 h, CCl4-treated mice had significantly more NPT in liver than CO-treated mice of all genotypes. Total thiols (TT) are a measure of both protein thiols and NPT, including the thiols of MT. There was a trend (P = 0.07) toward greater TT concentrations in KO mice than CK mice at 0 h (Fig. 5BCitation ). At 12 h posttreatment, however, liver TT concentrations in KO mice decreased and were significantly lower than those in CK mice. Thereafter, no differences were detected.



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Figure 5. Indices of liver thiol homeostasis and oxidative stress in metallothionein knockout and control mice 0, 12, 24 or 48 h after injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or corn oil (CO). The mice had been fed either adequate dietary zinc (Zn10) or supplemental dietary zinc (Zn500). (A) Liver nonprotein thiols were measured (nmol/g liver) spectrophotometrically. Protein thiols had been removed by TCA precipitation. (B) Liver total thiols were measured (µmol/g liver) spectrophotometrically. Data are presented as means ± SE of n = 3 (0 h) or n = 4–7 (12, 24, and 48 h) mice per group. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were determined by ANOVA for a three-way factorial design, followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test.

 
    Transgenic overexpressing mice. Serum ALT activity did not differ among groups at 0 h (Fig. 6Citation ). Activities rose sharply in all groups treated with CCl4 by 12 h and remained elevated through 48 h. There were no differences due to genotype. It is also of interest that activities in these mice did not return to basal levels, as was observed with the CK and KO strain of mice (Fig. 3)Citation . Histological analysis of hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections revealed necrosis in CCl4-treated mice, but there were no differences due to genotype (Figs. 7ACitation nnd BCitation ). Of note is the substantial lymphocyte infiltration in the area directly surrounding the central vein of mice of both genotypes fed the higher zinc intake (Zn500) (Figs. 7CCitation , DCitation , ECitation ).



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Figure 6. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in metallothionein transgenic and control mice 0, 12, 24 or 48 h after injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or corn oil (CO). The mice had been fed either adequate dietary zinc (Zn10) or supplemental dietary zinc (Zn500). These activities were measured spectrophotometrically and expressed as log activity units/mL serum. Data are presented as means ± SE of n = 3 (0 h) or n = 4–7 (12, 24, and 48 h) mice per group. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were determined by ANOVA for a three-way factorial design, followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test.

 


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Figure 7. Light photomicrographs (200x magnification) of hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections of liver from metallothionein transgenic (TG) and control (CT) mice 24 h after injection of carbon tetrachloride. (A) CT mouse fed the adequate dietary zinc (Zn10) diet. (B) TG mouse fed the Zn10 diet. (C) CT mouse fed the supplemental dietary zinc (Zn500) diet. (D) TG mouse fed the Zn500 diet. (E) Enlargement of the perivenous region from D. Significant lymphocyte infiltration (arrow) is seen in the area directly surrounding the central vein (CV) of mice of both genotypes fed the Zn500 diet after receiving carbon tetrachloride (C–E). Results were similar in female mice. No histologic changes related to genotype were noted in mice injected with corn oil vehicle and fed either diet. Bar = 100 µm (A–D) or 25 µm (E).

 
There were no significant differences in NPT between TG and CT mice at 0 h (Fig. 8ACitation ). At 12 h after treatment, the NPT concentrations were higher in CCl4-treated mice. Also, NPT concentrations were lower in TG mice. At 48 h, the CT-CO group was near the normal level and was significantly above liver NPT levels of all other genotype-oxidant combinations. TT concentrations did not differ among groups at 0 h (Fig. 8BCitation ). At 24 h, CCl4-treated mice had greater TT levels than did CO-treated mice. Also, TG mice had significantly greater TT concentrations than CT mice. At 48 h, no significant differences remained. Because the thiols of MT are included in the TT measurement, MT induction alone may have accounted for the increased TT in TG mice. This is supported by the corresponding reduction in NPT (Fig. 8ACitation ).



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Figure 8. Indices of liver thiol homeostasis and oxidative stress in metallothionein transgenic and control mice 0, 12, 24 or 48 h after an injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or corn oil (CO). The mice had been fed either adequate dietary zinc (Zn10) or supplemental dietary zinc (Zn500). (A) Liver nonprotein thiols were measured (nmol/g liver) spectrophotometrically. Protein thiols had been removed by TCA precipitation. (B) Liver total thiols were measured (µmol/g liver) spectrophotometrically. Data are presented as means ± SE of n = 3 (0 h) or n = 4–7 (12, 24 and 48 h) mice per group. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were determined by ANOVA for a three-way factorial design, followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test.

 

    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
We examined the effects of supplemental dietary zinc in combination with different levels of MT gene expression on susceptibility to oxidative stress in vivo. Our previous research had shown that zinc, perhaps acting through regulation of the MT gene or through another zinc-responsive mechanism, provides a level of protection for rat hepatocytes against various cytotoxic agents (Coppen et al. 1988Citation , Schroeder and Cousins 1990Citation ). Up-regulation of MT expression by cytokines and dexamethasone is also associated with the same protective effect, suggesting that this metalloprotein is the species providing protection. KO and TG mice provide the opportunity to separate the potential cytoprotective effects of a zinc-dependent mechanism. By using two zinc intake levels, we were able to generate different hepatic zinc and MT levels to examine their effects on the toxicity of a sublethal dose of the hepatotoxin CCl4. CCl4 is metabolized to the trichloromethyl radical by the enzyme cytochrome P4502E1 in the perivenous region of the liver lobule (McGregor and Lang 1996Citation ). As a result, this region is most affected by the trichloromethyl radical, which causes lipid peroxidation and inactivation of enzymes such as the cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Zinc pretreatment protected against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in some, but not all, in vivo studies (Chvapil et al. 1973Citation , Dhawan and Goel 1995Citation , Khoo et al. 1996Citation , Liu et al. 1998bCitation ). A proposed mechanism for the protective effect of these pharmacological doses of zinc is that zinc induces MT and that MT is the real mediator of the hepatoprotection. Although this might explain some of the zinc-related protection, large parenteral zinc doses also protect against CCl4 toxicity in the absence of MT expression (Itoh et al. 1997Citation ). This might be related to suppression of CCl4 bioactivation, because supplementation has been shown to inhibit the activity of some cytochrome P450 enzymes (Bray et al. 1986Citation , Coppen et al. 1988Citation ).

Because MT expression has been inversely related to damage after an oxidative insult, it was expected that the damage in mouse livers in this experiment would be inversely proportional to MT expression (i.e., TG < CT and CK < KO). Enhanced susceptibility to CCl4 toxicity in KO mice has been reported recently (Liu et al. 1998bCitation ). We also expected that mice consuming the Zn500 diet would be protected compared with those consuming the Zn10 diet, because zinc supplementation would induce more MT protein and result in greater cellular zinc accumulation. Finally, because MT expression was thought to be key to zinc-related cytoprotection, we expected no protection against hepatotoxicity by zinc supplementation in KO mice.

In support of our hypothesis, we saw greater hepatotoxicity in KO mice (6- to 12-fold higher ALT activities) at the 12- h time point. At later time points, however, toxicity seemed equivalent in these genotypes. This is despite the fact that KO mice had no liver MT and were unable to sequester additional zinc. Also, TG and CT mice did not differ in the level of hepatotoxicity produced despite huge differences in hepatic MT and zinc.

To our knowledge, this is the first report in which the effect of supplemental dietary zinc on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice was examined. Also, this is the first assessment of the combination of supplemental dietary zinc and toxicity of any kind in TG mice and MT knockout mice. We show for the first time using these models that neither supplemental dietary zinc nor MT overexpression alone protected against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Further, no combination of MT gene expression and either adequate or supplemental dietary zinc provided protection, even though the levels of liver zinc and liver MT varied over a large range among groups.

These results argue against a direct antioxidant role for MT in CCl4 toxicity, because such protection would likely be dose dependent (Yao et al. 1994Citation ). Instead, the data fit better in a plateau model, where MT expression was important up to a point (equal to or less than the level in CT and CK mice), but beyond this point further expression is not useful. This is more in line with a MT-specific function such as regulation of tissue zinc accumulation and/or intracellular zinc trafficking. Specifically, KO mice might be less protected against CCl4 than CK mice because they are unable to regulate zinc homeostasis appropriately (Davis et al. 1998Citation , Philcox et al. 1995Citation ).

The most marked differences between genotypes in these experiments were alterations in zinc metabolism. In both the TG and KO experiments, the mice with the lowest MT expression displayed the weakest control over serum zinc levels after CCl4 treatment. In fact, serum zinc rose in KO mice and declined in TG mice. This is coincident with induction of hepatic MT and elevation of hepatic zinc in all except the KO mice. This is also coincident with greater hepatotoxicity in KO mice.

The role of MT in maintaining appropriate hepatic zinc levels might be especially important under conditions of oxidative stress. The protein is induced during the acute phase response and during hepatic regeneration (Arora et al. 1998Citation , Ohtake 1978Citation ). Also, zinc can be mobilized from MT by oxidants or shifts in glutathione redox status (Berendji et al. 1997Citation , Fliss and Menard 1992Citation ). These may be mechanisms for mobilization of intracellular zinc during oxidative stress (Maret 1995Citation ). The end result may be enhanced transfer of zinc from MT to zinc-dependent proteins (Jiang et al. 1998Citation ).

Although other explanations for the results of this experiment exist, we can rule out several. First, the results of this experiment are not likely affected by differences in other antioxidants in these mice, because the levels of other antioxidant enzymes and molecules are reported to be similar between genotypes (Iszard et al. 1995Citation , Lazo et al. 1995Citation , Rofe et al. 1998Citation ). Also, bioactivation of CCl4 should not differ between genotypes, because the activity of cytochrome P4502E1 in TG and KO mouse livers is similar to their respective controls (Iszard et al. 1995Citation , Itoh et al. 1997Citation ). Because these results are in opposition to some experiments conducted in rats, we cannot exclude species difference as a confounding variable. However, it seems unlikely that a process as basic as radical scavenging, a simple oxidation-reduction reaction, would differ between two rodent species. It should be noted that two different strains of mice were used in these experiments, and therefore, the results are not likely due to peculiarities of any individual inbred strain. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the KO mice are better protected than we expected due to some adaptive mechanism or mechanisms.

The lack of protection against oxidative stress by MT overexpression in this experiment is in line with results from several other experiments that used models of MT gene overexpression. Early studies using transfection of the human MT-2a gene into Chinese hamster ovary K1–2 cells and several tumor cell lines found no resistance against free radical–generating agents (Kaina et al. 1990Citation , Kelley et al. 1988Citation ). Further, TG mice were not resistant to adriamycin cardiotoxicity or {gamma}-irradiation (DiSilvestro et al. 1996Citation , Liu et al. 1999Citation ). Schwarz et al. (1995Citation ) found that MT overexpression protected NIH-3T3 cells from nitric oxide–induced cytotoxicity. Viable cell determinations were not made until 6–7 d after nitric oxide treatment, however, so it could be argued that the difference in the number of cells at that time was due to improved cell recovery instead of radical scavenging. Transfection of SPAEC cells with MT protected against hyperoxia and tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide, but the determination of viable cell numbers was not performed until 1–2 d after oxidant exposure was initiated (Pitt et al. 1997Citation ). Again, it is difficult to separate the contributions of radical scavenging and cell recovery to cell survival. Finally, studies in heart-specific TG mice provide convincing evidence for an antioxidant role for MT (Kang 1999Citation ). When you factor in the astronomical level of MT expression in these mice (10- to 130-fold of normal), the weaker antioxidant defenses in mouse heart compared with liver, and the fact that the murine heart expresses very little MT, it cannot be assumed that the same results would be seen in the liver.

The lack of protection against acute, sublethal CCl4 hepatotoxicity by zinc supplementation (500 mg/kg diet) in any of the genotypes used in this experiment strongly suggests that the required dietary zinc level for mice (10 mg/kg diet) provides as much protection as is possible by dietary zinc. It also suggests that the hepatoprotective effects associated with zinc injections are not readily reproduced with dietary zinc. Combined with data from zinc deficiency studies, we see a plateau effect of dietary zinc against oxidative stress in the rodent model, just as we do with MT. Zinc-deficient diets render rodents more susceptible to oxidative stress. Zinc-adequate diets alleviate this condition, but supplemental dietary zinc provides no further protection. These results do not exclude a role for zinc and/or MT in protection against chronic CCl4 administration, however, as Zn and MT have been shown to function in hepatic regeneration (Arora et al. 1998Citation ).

The results of the experiments reported here illustrate the importance of MT expression in protection against oxidative stress but bring into question the impact of supplemental zinc and/or elevated MT expression in defense against oxidative stress. Further, the protection against oxidative stress appears to correlate with changes in zinc metabolism produced by MT expression.


    FOOTNOTES
 
1 Supported by National Institutes of Health Grant DK-31127, National Institutes of Health Institutional National Research Service Award DK-52412 and Boston Family Endowment Funds of the University of Florida. Back

3 Abbreviations used: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; CCl4, carbon tetrachloride; CK, control strain of metallothionein knockout mice; CT, control strain of metallothionein-overexpressing mice; KO, metallothionein knockout mice; MT, metallothionein; NPT, nonprotein thiols; TG, metallothionein overexpressing mice; TT, total thiols; Zn10, AIN-76A diets containing 10 mg Zn/kg; Zn500, AIN-76A diets containing 500 mg Zn/kg. Back

Manuscript received September 7, 2000. Initial review completed October 6, 2000. Revision accepted November 3, 2000.


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