Regulació de la metal.lotioneïna en àrees cerebrals i en cultius primaris de neurones i glia. Comparació amb la metal.lotioneïna hepàtica

Metallothionein (MT) is an ubiquotous protein in nature. Most of the knowledge about it is limited to the liver; in contrast, the knowledge about brain MT is escarce. On the other hand, the control as well as the physiological function of the MT are not clear. In the present project we will study the regulation of brain MT, in comparison with liver MT, by factors such as the essential metals Zn and Cu, glucocorticoids, catecholamines, endogenous opioids, citokines (IL-1"alpha", IL-1"beta", IL-6, TNF, IFN-"gamma") and oxygen free radicals. Its possible antioxidant role will be studied in an animal model of Parkinson disease. Studies "in vivo" will be performed (in up to 8 brain areas: frontal cortex, cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, midbrain, pons + medulla, cerebellum and striatum, and in the liver) and also studies "in vitro" (in primary cultures of neurons, astroglia and hepatocytes)