Metallothionein and HSP-72 are induced in the liver by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation but not by shock alone

Background. Previous reports have indicated that HSP-72 and metallothionein mRNA undergo induction in the liver after resuscitated hemorrhagic shock. In this study we investigated whether unresuscitated shock triggers induction and whether protein induction also occurs. Methods. Rats were subjected to resuscitated and unresuscitated shock protocols of varying severity; livers were isolated and processed for Northern, Western, and immunohistochemical analysis. Cadmium binding assay was used to measure metallothionein protein. Results. Unresuscitated shock led to no induction of HSP-72 or metallothionein. Severe resuscitated shock led to prompt induction of HSP-72 mRNA and protein in hepatocytes, up to 20-fold over sham group; metallothionein mRNA induction appeared later than HSP-72 and did not lead to elevated protein levels. Mild resuscitated shock had little effect. Conclusions. These findings indicate resuscitated severe shock, not shock alone, leads to induction of HSP-72 and metallothionein in the liver. Metallothionein expression lags behind HSP-72 expression.