K. Ghoshal et al., Influenza virus infection induces metallothionein gene expression in the mouse liver and lung by overlapping but distinct molecular mechanisms, MOL CELL B, 21(24), 2001, pp. 8301-8317
Metallothionein I (MT-1) and MT-H have been implicated in the protection of
cells against reactive oxygen species (ROS), heavy metals, and a variety o
f pathological and environmental stressors. Here, we show a robust increase
in MT-I/MT-II mRNA level and MT proteins in the livers and lungs of C57BL/
6 mice exposed to the influenza A/PR8 virus that infects the uppers respira
tory tract and lungs. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) had a pronounced effect on the i
nduction of these genes in the liver but not the lung. Treatment of the ani
mals with RU-486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, inhibited induction
of MT-I/MT-II in both liver and lung, revealing a direct role of glucocort
icoid that is increased upon infection in this induction process. In vivo g
enomic footprinting (IVGF) analysis demonstrated involvement of almost all
metal response elements, major late transcription factor/antioxidant respon
se element (MLTF/ARE), the STAT3 binding site on the MTI upstream promoter,
and the glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE1), located upstream of the
MT-H gene, in the induction process in the liver and lung. In the lung, ind
ucible footprinting was also identified at a unique gamma interferon (IFN-g
amma) response element (gamma -IRE) and at Sp1 sites. The mobility shift an
alysis showed activation of STAT3 and the glucocorticoid receptor in the li
ver and lung nuclear extracts, which was consistent with the IVGF data. Ana
lysis of the newly synthesized mRNA for cytokines in the infected lung by r
eal-time PCR showed a robust increase in the levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma
mRNA that can activate STAT3 and STAT1, respectively. A STAT1-containing co
mplex that binds to the gamma -IRE in vitro was activated in the infected l
ung. No major change in MLTF/ARE DNA binding activity in the liver and lung
occurred after infection. These results have demonstrated that MT-I and MT
-II can be induced robustly in the liver and lung following experimental in
fluenza virus infection by overlapping but distinct molecular mechanisms.