Cardiac overexpression of metallothionein rescues cold exposure-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction through attenuation of cardiac fibrosis despite cardiomyocyte mechanical anomalies

► We examined the effect of metallothionein overexpression on cold stress. ► Metallothionein rescues cold-induced cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. ► The beneficial effect of metallothionein is related to the inhibition of oxidative stress. ► Metallothionein inhibited TGF-β and Smad-2/3-mediated cardiac fibrosis.