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  • Title: The "metal transcription factor" MTF-1: biological facts and medical implications.
    Author: Lichtlen P, Schaffner W.
    Journal: Swiss Med Wkly; 2001 Dec 01; 131(45-46):647-52. PubMed ID: 11835113.
    Abstract:
    Metallothioneins (MTs) are a class of small, cysteine-rich proteins that have an important function in heavy metal metabolism and detoxification and in the management of various forms of cell stress. Several lines of evidence suggest a role for metallothioneins in therapy resistance of malignant tumours, regulation of blood pressure and protection against some neurological diseases. Basal and heavy metal-induced expression of the stress-inducible metallothionein-I and -II genes and some other stress-regulated genes depends on the zinc-finger transcription factor MTF-1. MTF-1 acts as a cellular stress-sensor protein and, besides its crucial role in metallothionein expression, is essential for liver development since mice null mutant for MTF-1 die in utero due to hepatocyte degeneration. Under pathological conditions, MTF-1 seems to be involved in clinically important processes such as tumour angiogenesis and drug resistance. It thus seems generally advisable to monitor MTF-1 activity in stress-related processes including aging and carcinogenesis.
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