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Query: UMLS:C0011849 (diabetes)
 277,896 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Obesity is associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial and myocardial dysfunction, although interaction among which remains elusive. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of the free radical scavenger metallothionein on high-fat diet-induced myocardial, intracellular Ca(2+), and mitochondrial dysfunction. FVB and metallothionein transgenic mice were fed a high- or low-fat diet for 5 months to induce obesity. Echocardiography revealed decreased fractional shortening, increased end-systolic diameter, and cardiac hypertrophy in high-fat-fed FVB mice. Cardiomyocytes from high-fat-fed FVB mice displayed enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, contractile and intracellular Ca(2+) defects including depressed peak shortening and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening, prolonged duration of relengthening, and reduced intracellular Ca(2+) rise and clearance. Transmission microscopy noted overt mitochondrial damage with reduced mitochondrial density. Western blot analysis revealed enhanced phosphorylation of nuclear factor Foxo3a without changes in Foxo3a, Foxo1a, pFoxo1a, silent information regulator (Sirt), and Akt and pAkt in hearts of high-fat diet-fed FVB mice. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha), a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, was significantly depressed by high-fat diet feeding and in vitro palmitic acid treatment. RT-PCR further depicted reduced levels of the PGC-1alpha downstream nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2, mitochondrial transcription factor A, and mitochondrial DNA copy number in hearts of high-fat-fed FVB mice. Intriguingly, the high-fat diet-induced alterations in ROS, myocardial contractile, and mitochondrial and cell signaling were negated by metallothionein, with the exception of pFoxo3a. These data suggest that metallothionein may protect against high-fat diet-induced cardiac dysfunction possibly associated with upregulation of PGC-1alpha and preservation of mitochondrial biogenesis.
Diabetes 2007 Sep
PMID:Metallothionein prevents high-fat diet induced cardiac contractile dysfunction: role of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha and mitochondrial biogenesis. 1757 86

Carotid artery stenosis (CS) is a well-established risk factor for stroke. Increased proinflammatory chemokines, enhanced metallothionein (MT), and altered metal homeostasis may play roles in atherosclerosis progression and plaque destabilization. MT may sequester zinc during chronic inflammation, provoke zinc deficiency, and modulate NK cell cytotoxicity. A recent investigation of older patients with diabetes and atherosclerosis showed an association between the -209 A/G MT2A polymorphism, CS, and zinc status. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between two MT2A polymorphisms (-209 and + 838 locus), metal status, and inflammatory/immune response in older patients with CS only (the CS1 group) or with CS and previous cerebrovascular episodes (transient ischemic attack or stroke) (the CS2 group). A total of 506 individuals (188 CS1, 100 CS2, and 218 healthy controls) were studied. Atherosclerotic patients (CS1 and CS2) showed increased levels of MT, MCP-1, and RANTES, reduced NK cell cytotoxicity, and altered trace element concentrations (zinc, copper, magnesium, iron). The +838 C/G MT2A polymorphism was differently distributed in CS1 and CS2 patients, who displayed the GG genotype (C-) with significantly higher frequency than elderly controls. C- carriers showed increased MCP-1 and decreased NK cell cytotoxicity, CD56+ cells, and intracellular zinc availability along with decreased zinc, copper, and magnesium content in erythrocytes and increased iron in plasma. C- carriers also showed a major incidence of soft carotid plaques. In conclusion, the +838 C/G MT2A polymorphism seems to influence inflammatory markers, zinc availability, NK cell cytotoxicity, and trace element status, all of which may promote CS development.
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PMID:The +838 C/G MT2A polymorphism, metals, and the inflammatory/immune response in carotid artery stenosis in elderly people. 1762 11

Epidemiological evidence, associating diabetes with zinc (Zn) deficiencies, has resulted in numerous research studies describing the effects of Zn and associated metallothionein (MT), on reducing diabetic complications associated with oxidative stress. MT has been found to have a profound effect on the reduction of oxidative stress induced by the diabetic condition. Over expression of MT in various metabolic organs has also been shown to reduce hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress, organ specific diabetic complications, and DNA damage in diabetic experimental animals, which have been further substantiated by the results from MT-knockout mice. Additionally, supplementation with Zn has been shown to induce in vivo MT synthesis in experimental animals and to reduce diabetes related complications in both humans and animal models. Although the results are promising, some caution regarding this topic is however necessary, due to the fact that the majority of the studies done have been animal based. Hence more human intervention trials are needed regarding the positive effects of MT and Zn before firm conclusions can be made regarding their use in the treatment of diabetes.
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PMID:Diabetes, metallothionein, and zinc interactions: a review. 1805 51

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is normally produced from hepatocytes and various other cells and tissues, including the pancreas, and is known to stimulate islet cell replication in vitro, prevent Fas-mediated beta-cell destruction and delay the onset of diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice. Recently, however, the notion that IGF-I stimulates islet cell growth has been challenged by the results of IGF-I and receptor gene targeting. To test the effects of a general, more profound increase in circulating IGF-I on islet cell growth and glucose homeostasis, we have characterized MT-IGF mice, which overexpress the IGF-I gene under the metallothionein I promoter. In early reports, a 1.5-fold-elevated serum IGF-I level caused accelerated somatic growth and pancreatic enlargement. We demonstrated that the transgene expression, although widespread, was highly concentrated in the beta-cells of the pancreatic islets. Yet, islet cell percent and pancreatic morphology were unaffected. IGF-I overexpression resulted in significant hypoglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, and improved glucose tolerance but normal insulin secretion and sensitivity. Pyruvate tolerance test indicated significantly suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis, which might explain the severe hypoglycemia after fasting. Finally, due to a partial prevention of beta-cell death against onset of diabetes and/or the insulin-like effects of IGF-I overexpression, MT-IGF mice (which overexpress the IGF-I gene under the metallothionein I promoter) were significantly resistant to streptozotocin-induced diabetes, with diminished hyperglycemia and prevention of weight loss and death. Although IGF-I might not promote islet cell growth, its overexpression is clearly antidiabetic by improving islet cell survival and/or providing insulin-like effects.
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PMID:A general and islet cell-enriched overexpression of IGF-I results in normal islet cell growth, hypoglycemia, and significant resistance to experimental diabetes. 1827 Mar 1

It has been suspected for a long time that zinc has a role in various aspects of diabetes, but specific molecular targets of zinc remained largely elusive. Recent discoveries of associations between diabetes and polymorphisms in human genes now suggest that proteins that control the cellular availability of zinc ions are involved. One protein is the zinc transporter ZnT-8 that supplies pancreatic beta-cells with zinc. The other is metallothionein 1A, a member of a protein family that links zinc and redox metabolism. Changes in the availability of zinc ions modulate insulin signaling and redox processes. Both zinc and metallothionein protect cells against the redox stress that occurs in diabetes and contributes to its progression towards diabetic complications, including heart disease.
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PMID:A role for metallothionein in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its cardiovascular complications. 1824 47

Podocytes are critical components of the selective filtration barrier of the glomerulus and are susceptible to oxidative damage. For investigation of the role of oxidative stress and podocyte damage in diabetic nephropathy, transgenic mice that overexpress the antioxidant protein metallothionein (MT) specifically in podocytes (Nmt mice) were produced. MT expression was increased six- and 18-fold in glomeruli of two independent lines of Nmt mice, and podocyte-specific overexpression was confirmed. Glomerular morphology and urinary albumin excretion were normal in Nmt mice. OVE26 transgenic mice, a previously reported model of diabetic nephropathy, were crossed with Nmt mice to determine whether an antioxidant transgene targeted to podocytes could reduce diabetic nephropathy. Double-transgenic OVE26Nmt mice developed diabetes similar to OVE26 mice, but MT overexpression reduced podocyte damage, indicated by more podocytes, less glomerular cell death, and higher density of podocyte foot processes. In addition, expansion of glomerular and mesangial volume were significantly less in OVE26Nmt mice compared with OVE26 mice. Four-month-old OVE26Nmt mice had a 70 to 90% reduction in 24-h albumin excretion, but this protection does not seem to be permanent. These results provide evidence for the role of oxidative damage to the podocyte in diabetic mice and show that protection of the podocyte can reduce or delay primary features of diabetic nephropathy.
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PMID:Podocyte-specific overexpression of the antioxidant metallothionein reduces diabetic nephropathy. 1884 87

Besides participating in tissue zinc homeostasis and protecting against heavy metal toxicities, metallothionein (MT) is known as an antioxidant. Increased MT activity can ameliorate diabetic hyperglycemia, and subjects with less MT synthesis are more prone to diabetic complications. However, whether tissue MT status is varied in the subjects with diabetes mellitus remains unclear. This study was undertaken to measure tissue MT levels in laboratory mice (serum, liver, and epididymal adipose tissue) and humans (serum) with hyperglycemia. Tissue MT levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that MT status in serum and adipose tissue did not markedly differ between the subjects with and without hyperglycemia. In addition, streptozotocin- and high-fat-diet-induced hyperglycemic mice had higher while ob/ob mice had lower liver MT levels than that of normal control mice. Furthermore, serum MT levels tended to correlate with glycemia values in mice. The results of this study indicate that serum MT value does not differ in subjects with hyperglycemia and cannot be used as an index to evaluate the susceptibility or progress of diabetes mellitus.
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PMID:Tissue metallothionein concentrations in mice and humans with hyperglycemia. 1895 2

Pancreatic injury induces replacement of exocrine acinar cells with ductal cells. These ductal cells have the potential to regenerate the pancreas, but their origin still remains unknown. It has been reported that adult pancreatic acinar cells have the potential to transdifferentiate to ductal progenitor cells. In this regards, we established novel adult pancreatic duct-like progenitor cell lines YGIC4 and YGIC5 and assessed the usefulness of these ductal progenitors in the cell therapy of diabetic rats. Acinar cells were cultured from pancreata of male Sprague Dawley rats and gradually attained ductal cell characteristics, such as expression of CK19 and CFTR with a concomitant down-regulation of amylase expression over time, suggesting transdifferentiation from acinar to ductal cells. During cell culture, the expression of Pdx-1, c-Kit, and vimentin peaked and then decreased, suggesting that transdifferentiation recapitulated embryogenesis. Overexpression of pancreas development regulatory genes and CK19, as well as the ability to differentiate into insulin-producing cells, suggests that the YGIC5 cells had characteristics of pancreatic progenitor cells. Finally, YGIC5 cells coexpressing Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 under the activation of a zinc-inducible metallothionein promoter were intravenously infused to STZ-induced diabetic rats. Hyperglycemia was ameliorated with elevation of plasma insulin, and GFP-positive donor cells were colocalized in the acinar and islet areas of recipient pancreata following zinc treatment. In conclusion, after establishing pancreatic progenitor cell lines YGIC4 and YGIC5 under the concept of acinar to ductal transdifferentiation in vitro, we demonstrate how these adult pancreatic stem/progenitor cells can be used to regulate adult pancreatic differentiation toward developing therapy for pancreatic disease such as diabetes mellitus.
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PMID:Reversal of diabetes in rats using GLP-1-expressing adult pancreatic duct-like precursor cells transformed from acinar to ductal cells. 1912 29

The first health effects of cadmium (Cd) were reported already in 1858. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms occurred among persons using Cd-containing polishing agent. The first experimental toxicological studies are from 1919. Bone effects and proteinuria in humans were reported in the 1940's. After World War II, a bone disease with fractures and severe pain, the itai-itai disease, a form of Cd-induced renal osteomalacia, was identified in Japan. Subsequently, the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of Cd were described including its binding to the protein metallothionein. International warnings of health risks from Cd-pollution were issued in the 1970's. Reproductive and carcinogenic effects were studied at an early stage, but a quantitative assessment of these effects in humans is still subject to considerable uncertainty. The World Health Organization in its International Program on Chemical Safety, WHO/IPCS (1992) (Cadmium. Environmental Health Criteria Document 134, IPCS. WHO, Geneva, 1-280.) identified renal dysfunction as the critical effect and a crude quantitative evaluation was presented. In the 1990's and 2000 several epidemiological studies have reported adverse health effects, sometimes at low environmental exposures to Cd, in population groups in Japan, China, Europe and USA (reviewed in other contributions to the present volume). The early identification of an important role of metallothionein in cadmium toxicology formed the basis for recent studies using biomarkers of susceptibility to development of Cd-related renal dysfunction such as gene expression of metallothionein in peripheral lymphocytes and autoantibodies against metallothionein in blood plasma. Findings in these studies indicate that very low exposure levels to cadmium may give rise to renal dysfunction among sensitive subgroups of human populations such as persons with diabetes.
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PMID:Historical perspectives on cadmium toxicology. 1934 54

We have demonstrated that Zn supplementation mediated up-regulation of cardiac metallothionein (MT) as a potent antioxidant prevented the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. The present study was undertaken to test whether induction of renal MT synthesis by Zn supplementation protects the kidney from diabetes-induced damage. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with and without Zn supplementation at 5 mg/kg in drinking water for 3 months. Diabetic renal damage was detected by examining renal pathological alterations and 24-h urinary protein levels. Three-month Zn supplementation immediately after the onset of diabetes, partially but significantly, prevented the kidney from diabetes-induced increases in 24-h urinary proteins and pathological alterations. Diabetes-induced renal oxidative damage, inflammation and up-regulated expression of profibrosis mediator connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were also markedly attenuated by Zn supplementation, along with significant increases in Zn levels concomitant with MT expression in renal tubular cells. Direct exposure of renal tubular (HK11) cells to high levels of glucose (HG) induced CTGF up-regulation predominantly through ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase)1/2-dependent, and partially through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent pathways. Pretreatment of HK11 cells with Zn or cadmium induced MT expression and also significantly suppressed HG-induced CTGF expression. These results provide the first evidence for Zn supplementation to attenuate diabetes-induced renal pathological changes, likely through prevention of hyperglycemia-induced CTGF expression by Zn-induced MT in renal tubular cells.
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PMID:Zinc supplementation partially prevents renal pathological changes in diabetic rats. 1936 54


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