Overexpression of human metallothionein-III prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human fibroblasts

FEBS Lett. 2002 Jun 19;521(1-3):175-9. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02870-3.

Abstract

Metallothioneins (MT) are ubiquitous low molecular weight metal binding proteins that may act as antioxidants. In the present study, the cloned human MT-III coding region was permanently transfected into GM00637 cells in order to investigate the antioxidative effects of this brain-specific MT isoform. GM00637/MT-III cells overexpressed MT-III mRNA versus pcDNA3 plasmid-transfected control cells (GM00637). When challenged with H(2)O(2), the GM00637/MT-III cells displayed significantly more resistance than the GM00637 cells, as determined by cell cytotoxicity, lactate dehydrogenase leakage, and lipid peroxidation. In addition, the GM00637/MT-III cells were highly protected from the H(2)O(2)-induced production of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage. These results directly support the antioxidative role of MT-III, and demonstrate MT-III can scavenge free oxygen radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants*
  • DNA Damage
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Gene Expression*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / toxicity
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Metallothionein / genetics*
  • Metallothionein 3
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Metallothionein 3
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Metallothionein
  • Hydrogen Peroxide