Metallothionein (MT) is a protein that can be induced by inflammatory mediators and participates in cytoprotection. However, its role in antigen-related inflammation remains to be established. We determined whether intrinsic MT protects against antigen-related airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin (OVA) in MT-I/II null (MT [–/–]) mice and in corresponding wild-type (WT) mice. MT (–/–) mice and WT mice were intratracheally challenged with OVA (1 µg per body) biweekly four times. Twenty-four hours after the last OVA challenge, significant increases were shown in the numbers of total cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from MT (–/–) mice than in those from WT mice. The protein level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was significantly greater in MT (–/–) mice than in WT mice after OVA challenge. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the formations of 8-oxy-deoxyguanosine and nitrotyrosine in the lung were more intense in MT (–/–) mice than in WT mice after OVA challenge. These results indicate that endogenous MT is a protective molecule against antigen-related airway inflammation induced by OVA, at least partly, via the suppression of enhanced lung expression of IL-1β and via the antioxidative properties. Our findings suggest that MT may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of antigen-related airway inflammatory diseases such as bronchial asthma.
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