Cell Mol Life Sci 2003 Jan;60(1):185-97
Penkowa M, Espejo C, Martinez-Caceres EM, Montalban X, Hidalgo J.
Department of Medical Anatomy, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen,
2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Metallothioneins I+II (MT-I+II) are antioxidant, neuroprotective factors.
We previously showed that MT-I+II deficiency during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) leads to increased disease incidence and clinical symptoms.
Moreover, the inflammatory response of macrophages and T cells, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death during EAE were increased by MT-I+II deficiency.
We now show for the first time that demyelination and axonal damage are significantly increased in MT-I+II deficient mice during EAE.
Furthermore, oligodendroglial regeneration, growth cone formation, and tissue repair including expression of trophic factors were significantly reduced in MT-I+II-deficient mice during EAE.
Accordingly, MT-I+II have protective and regenerative roles in the brain.