metallothionein and Fever

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis; Asthma; Cytokines; Extracellular Matrix; Fever; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Inflammation; Leukotrienes; Metallothionein; Phagocytosis; Platelet Activating Factor; Prostaglandins

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) and metallothioneins (MTs) play important roles in protection against environmental stressors. The present study analyzes and compares the regulation of heat shock ( hsp70, hsc70-1 and hsp90alpha ) and metallothionein (MT-1 and MT-2) genes in the heart of common carp, in response to elevated temperature, cold shock and exposure to several heavy metal ions (As 3+ , Cd 2+ and Cu 2+ ), in whole-animal experiments. Among these metals, arsenate proved to be the most potent inducer of the examined stress genes; the hsp90alpha and MT-1 mRNA levels were elevated 11- and 10-fold, respectively, after a 24-h exposure. In contrast, Cd 2+ at 10 mg/L had no impact on the expression of hsp90alpha , and the MT genes also proved to be rather insensitive to Cd 2+ treatment in the heart: only a 2-2.5-fold induction was observed in response to 10 mg/L Cd 2+ . Heat shock resulted in a transient induction of hsp70 (19-fold) and hsp90alpha (15-fold), while elevated temperature had no effect on the expression of the MTs. Direct cold shock induced hsp70 expression (14-fold), while the hsp90alpha (26-fold) and MT-2 (2-fold) expressions peaked after the recovery period following a direct cold shock. The five stress genes examined in this study exhibited a unique, tissue-specific basal expression pattern and a characteristic sensitivity to metal treatments and temperature shocks.

Topics: Animals; Arsenic; Cadmium; Carps; Copper; Fever; Heart; Heat-Shock Proteins; Heat-Shock Response; Hypothermia; Metallothionein; Metals, Heavy; Temperature