Papers of the Week

Chronic inflammatory pain is often caused by peripheral tissue damage and persistent inflammation. This disease substantially affects patients’ physical and social well-being. We investigated the role of metallothionein-3 (MT3) in modulating complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced intracellular Zn activity in an MT3 knockout mouse model of inflammatory pain in the hind paw. The results demonstrated that increasing intracellular Zn levels ameliorate deficits in motor behavior, as well as inflammation in the paw, spleen, and thymus. Furthermore, intracellular Zn was crucial in regulating oxidative stress markers (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde) and inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, in MT3 knockout mice induced with CFA. This study highlights the critical role of MT3 in coordinating the intracellular interaction with Zn, which is vital for the immune systems’s protective functions. These interactions are fundamental for maintaining metal ion homeostasis and regulating the synthesis of various biomolecules in the body.