Induction of mouse metallothionein-I mRNA by bacterial endotoxin is independent of metals and glucocorticoid hormones.

++Induction of metallothionein-I (MT-I) mRNA by bacterial endotoxin (LPS) was examined. A single injection of LPS induced MT-I mRNA accumulation in both liver and kidney comparable to that induced by heavy metals. Maximal message levels were achieved 6 hr after LPS administration, prior to any increase in either hepatic or renal Zn or Cu. Experiments in which LPS was administered to transgenic mice harboring recombinant genes made by fusing the MT-I gene promoter to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase structural gene revealed that the response to LPS is independent of glucocorticoid hormones. These experiments begin to define the region of the MT-I gene promoter required for the LPS response.