Figure 1
From: Zinc-bound metallothioneins and immune plasticity: lessons from very old mice and humans
Schematic mechanism of the interplay between Metallothionein (MT), inflammation and stress. Infections and stress trigger an inflammatory response by increasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines which, in turn, stimulate the gene expression of Metallothioneins (which are produced as apo-MT). These proteins need zinc to properly absolve their function of zinc "releasers" during stressing condition. The zinc signal produced by release of zinc from Zn-MT is necessary to activate zinc dependent antioxidant and repairing enzymes, such as PARP-1, thus contributing to down-regulate stress and inflammation. The zinc pool which act as Zn++ reservoir for Zn-MT, is strictly dependent upon the dietary intake of this trace element, so that also dietary habits also contributes along with the genetic background to immune efficiency and plasticity.