Volume 10, Issue 3 pp. 213-231
Review Article

Reappraisal of metallothionein: Clinical implications for patients with diabetes mellitus

重新评价金属硫蛋白:对糖尿病患者的临床意义

Yongsoo Park

Yongsoo Park

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Research Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Hanyang University, College of Medicine and Engineering, Seoul, South Korea

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Jian Zhang

Jian Zhang

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Research Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

The Center of Cardiovascular Disorders, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China

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Lu Cai

Corresponding Author

Lu Cai

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Research Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Correspondence

Lu Cai, Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Louisville, 570 S. Preston Street, Donald Baxter Building, Suite 321A, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.

Tel: +1 502 852 2214

Fax: +1 502 852 5634

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 26 October 2017
Citations: 20

Abstract

en

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) are byproducts of cellular physiological processes of the metabolism of intermediary nutrients. Although physiological defense mechanisms readily convert these species into water or urea, an improper balance between their production and removal leads to oxidative stress (OS), which is harmful to cellular components. This OS may result in uncontrolled growth or, ultimately, cell death. In addition, ROS and RNS are closely related to the development of diabetes and its complications. Therefore, numerous researchers have proposed the development of strategies for the removal of ROS/RNS to prevent or treat diabetes and its complications. Some molecules that are synthesized in the body or obtained from food participate in the removal and neutralization of ROS and RNS. Metallothionein, a cysteine-rich protein, is a metal-binding protein that has a wide range of functions in cellular homeostasis and immunity. Metallothionein can be induced by a variety of conditions, including zinc supplementation, and plays a crucial role in mediating anti-OS, anti-apoptotic, detoxification, and anti-inflammatory effects. Metallothionein can modulate various stress-induced signaling pathways (mitogen-activated protein kinase, Wnt, nuclear factor-κB, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, sirtuin 1/AMP-activated protein kinase and fibroblast growth factor 21) to alleviate diabetes and diabetic complications. However, a deeper understanding of the functional, biochemical, and molecular characteristics of metallothionein is needed to bring about new opportunities for OS therapy. This review focuses on newly proposed functions of a metallothionein and their implications relevant to diabetes and its complications.

摘要

zh

活性氧以及活性氮(Reactive oxygen species, ROS;Reactive nitrogen species, RNS)是细胞中间营养物质生理代谢过程中的副产品。虽然生理防御机制可以迅速将这类物资转化成水或者尿素氮,  但是如果合成与清除之间失衡就会导致氧化应激(oxidative stress, OS),  这对细胞成分是有害的。这种OS可以导致生长失控,  或最终导致细胞死亡。另外, ROS和RNS都与糖尿病及其并发症的发生密切相关。因此,  许多学者都提出了通过清除ROS/RNS来预防或者治疗糖尿病及其并发症的治疗策略。一些在身体中合成或从食物中获得的分子参与了ROS与RNS的清除及中和过程。金属硫蛋白,  一种富含半胱氨酸的蛋白质,  它是一种金属结合蛋白,  在细胞内稳态以及免疫方面都有广泛的功能。许多状态下都可以诱导产生金属硫蛋白,  包括补充锌治疗,  它在介导抗OS、抗细胞凋亡、解毒以及抗炎等方面都有着极其重要的作用。金属硫蛋白能够通过调节多种应激诱导的信号通路(丝裂原活化蛋白激酶、Wnt、核因子-κB、磷脂酰肌醇3激酶、去乙酰化酶1/AMP活化的蛋白激酶以及成纤维细胞生长因子21)来缓解糖尿病以及其并发症。然而,  为了给OS治疗带来新的机遇,  需要我们更深入地了解金属硫蛋白的功能、生化以及分子特征。这篇综述聚焦于新近提出的金属硫蛋白功能以及它们与糖尿病及其并发症的关系。

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