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International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2020Zinc is a group IIB heavy metal. It is an important regulator of major cell signaling pathways in most mammalian cells, functions as an antioxidant and plays a role in... (Review)
Review
Zinc is a group IIB heavy metal. It is an important regulator of major cell signaling pathways in most mammalian cells, functions as an antioxidant and plays a role in maintaining genomic stability. Zinc deficiency leads to severe diseases in the brain, pancreas, liver, kidneys and reproductive organs. Zinc loss occurs during tumor development in a variety of cancers. The prostate normally contains abundant intracellular zinc and zinc loss is a hallmark of the development of prostate cancer development. The underlying mechanism of this loss is not clearly understood. The knowledge that excess zinc prevents the growth of prostate cancers suggests that zinc-mediated therapeutics could be an effective approach for cancer prevention and treatment, although challenges remain. This review summarizes the specific roles of zinc in several cancer types focusing on prostate cancer. The relationship between prostate cancer and the dysregulation of zinc homeostasis is examined in detail in an effort to understand the role of zinc in prostate cancer.
Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Clinical Studies as Topic; Disease Susceptibility; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Homeostasis; Humans; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Treatment Outcome; Zinc; Zinc Fingers
PubMed: 32340289
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082991 -
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association... Apr 2021
Topics: Acrodermatitis; Diaper Rash; Diarrhea; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Infant; Male; Zinc
PubMed: 33903138
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.201181-f -
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta.... Jan 2021Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient that is required for a wide variety of cellular processes. Tools and methods have been instrumental in revealing the myriad roles... (Review)
Review
Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient that is required for a wide variety of cellular processes. Tools and methods have been instrumental in revealing the myriad roles of Zn in cells. This review highlights recent developments fluorescent sensors to measure the labile Zn pool, chelators to manipulate Zn availability, and fluorescent tools and proteomics approaches for monitoring Zn-binding proteins in cells. Finally, we close with some highlights on the role of Zn in regulating cell function and in cell signaling.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Carrier Proteins; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Micronutrients; Signal Transduction; Zinc
PubMed: 32980354
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118865 -
Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism 2013Zinc is necessary for physiological processes including defense against infections. Zinc deficiency is responsible for 4% of global child morbidity and mortality. Zinc... (Review)
Review
Zinc is necessary for physiological processes including defense against infections. Zinc deficiency is responsible for 4% of global child morbidity and mortality. Zinc supplements given for 10-14 days together with low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution (Lo-ORS) are recommended for the treatment of childhood diarrhea. In children aged ≥ 6 months, daily zinc supplements reduce the duration of acute diarrhea episodes by 12 h and persistent diarrhea by 17 h. Zinc supplements could reduce diarrhea mortality in children aged 12-59 months by an estimated 23%; they are very safe but are associated with an increase in vomiting especially with the first dose. Heterogeneity between the results of trials is not understood but may be related to dose and the etiology of the diarrhea infection. Integration of zinc and Lo-ORS into national programs is underway but slowly, procurement problems are being overcome and the greatest challenge is changing health provider and caregiver attitudes to diarrhea management. Fewer trials have been conducted of zinc adjunct therapy in severe respiratory tract infections and there is as yet insufficient evidence to recommend addition of zinc to antibiotic therapy. Daily zinc supplements for all children >12 months of age in zinc deficient populations are estimated to reduce diarrhea incidence by 11-23%. The greatest impact is in reducing multiple episodes of diarrhea. The effect on duration of diarrheal episodes is less clear, but there may be up to 9% reduction. Zinc is also efficacious in reducing dysentery and persistent diarrhea. Zinc supplements may also prevent pneumonia by about 19%, but heterogeneity across studies has not yet been explained. When analyses are restricted to better quality studies using CHERG (Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group) methodology, zinc supplements are estimated to reduce diarrheal deaths by 13% and pneumonia deaths by 20%. National-level programs to combat childhood zinc deficiency should be accelerated.
Topics: Child; Child Mortality; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Incidence; Morbidity; Pneumonia; Public Health; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Zinc
PubMed: 23689111
DOI: 10.1159/000348263 -
Journal of Translational Medicine Nov 2010Zinc is important. It is the second most abundant trace metal with 2-4 grams in humans. It is an essential trace element, critical for cell growth, development and... (Review)
Review
Zinc is important. It is the second most abundant trace metal with 2-4 grams in humans. It is an essential trace element, critical for cell growth, development and differentiation, DNA synthesis, RNA transcription, cell division, and cell activation. Zinc deficiency has adverse consequences during embryogenesis and early childhood development, particularly on immune functioning. It is essential in members of all enzyme classes, including over 300 signaling molecules and transcription factors. Free zinc in immune and tumor cells is regulated by 14 distinct zinc importers (ZIP) and transporters (ZNT1-8). Zinc depletion induces cell death via apoptosis (or necrosis if apoptotic pathways are blocked) while sufficient zinc levels allows maintenance of autophagy. Cancer cells have upregulated zinc importers, and frequently increased zinc levels, which allow them to survive. Based on this novel synthesis, approaches which locally regulate zinc levels to promote survival of immune cells and/or induce tumor apoptosis are in order.
Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Apoptosis; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Zinc
PubMed: 21087493
DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-8-118 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Feb 2003
Topics: Diet; Humans; Nutritional Requirements; Zinc
PubMed: 12595353
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.326.7386.409 -
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology Apr 2010Trafficking and regulation of mobile zinc pools influence cellular functions and pathological conditions in multiple organs, including brain, pancreas, and prostate. The... (Review)
Review
Trafficking and regulation of mobile zinc pools influence cellular functions and pathological conditions in multiple organs, including brain, pancreas, and prostate. The quest for a dynamic description of zinc distribution and mobilization in live cells fuels the development of increasingly sophisticated probes. Detection systems that respond to zinc binding with changes of their fluorescence emission properties have provided sensitive tools for mobile zinc imaging, and fluorescence microscopy experiments have afforded depictions of zinc distribution within live cells and tissues. Both small-molecule and protein-based fluorescent probes can address complex imaging challenges, such as analyte quantification, site-specific sensor localization, and real-time detection.
Topics: Animals; Biosensing Techniques; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Zinc
PubMed: 20097117
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.12.010 -
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology Apr 2013The physiology and pathology of mobile zinc signaling has become an important topic in metalloneurochemistry. To study the action of mobile zinc effectively, specialized... (Review)
Review
The physiology and pathology of mobile zinc signaling has become an important topic in metalloneurochemistry. To study the action of mobile zinc effectively, specialized tools are required that probe the temporal and positional changes of zinc ions within live tissue and cells. In the present article we describe the design and implementation of selective zinc chelators as antagonists to interrogate the function of mobile zinc, with an emphasis on the pools of vesicular zinc in the terminals of hippocampal mossy fiber buttons.
Topics: Animals; Brain Chemistry; Chelating Agents; Hippocampus; Humans; Neurochemistry; Zinc
PubMed: 23478014
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2013.01.009 -
The American Journal of Clinical... Jul 2021Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is known to reduce zinc absorption; the effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and its long-term implications on zinc absorption...
Zinc absorption and zinc status are reduced after either sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in premenopausal women with severe obesity studied prospectively over 24 postoperative months.
BACKGROUND
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is known to reduce zinc absorption; the effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and its long-term implications on zinc absorption have not yet been studied.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate the effects of SG and RYGBP on zinc absorption and zinc status in premenopausal women with severe obesity up to 24 mo after surgery.
METHODS
Twenty-six premenopausal women undergoing SG [BMI (in kg/m2): 37.3 ± 3.2] and 32 undergoing RYGBP (BMI: 42.0 ± 4.2) were studied. A series of anthropometric, dietary, and zinc status parameters (plasma and hair zinc), and the size of the exchangeable zinc pool (EZP), as well as percentage zinc absorption from a standardized dose using a stable isotope methodology were evaluated in the patients before the surgical procedure and at 12 and 24 mo after SG or RYGBP. SG patients received 15 mg and RYGBP received 25 mg of supplemental Zn/d.
RESULTS
In premenopausal women, zinc absorption was decreased by 71.9% and 52.0% in SG and RYGBP, respectively, 24 mo postsurgery, compared with initial values. According to 2-factor repeated-measures ANOVA, time effect was significant (P = <0.0001), but not time × group interaction (P = 0.470). Plasma zinc below the cutoff point of 70 µg/dL increased from 0 to 15.4% and 38.1% in SG and RYGBP, respectively. Mean EZP was significantly reduced 24 mo after surgery, although no time × group interactions were observed. Hair zinc did not change across time or between groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Both SG and RYGBP have profound effects on zinc absorption capacity, which are not compensated for after 24 mo. Although zinc absorption reduction was similar in both types of surgeries, plasma zinc was more affected in RYGBP than SG, despite greater zinc supplementation in RYGBP.This trial was registered at http://www.isrctn.com as ISRCTN31937503.
Topics: Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; Biological Transport; Female; Gastrectomy; Humans; Obesity, Morbid; Premenopause; Zinc
PubMed: 33829230
DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab039 -
Nutrients May 2015It is well recognised that zinc deficiency is a major global public health issue, particularly in young children in low-income countries with diarrhoea and environmental... (Review)
Review
It is well recognised that zinc deficiency is a major global public health issue, particularly in young children in low-income countries with diarrhoea and environmental enteropathy. Zinc supplementation is regarded as a powerful tool to correct zinc deficiency as well as to treat a variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions. However, the dose and frequency of its use as well as the choice of zinc salt are not clearly defined regardless of whether it is used to treat a disease or correct a nutritional deficiency. We discuss the application of zinc stable isotope tracer techniques to assess zinc physiology, metabolism and homeostasis and how these can address knowledge gaps in zinc supplementation pharmacokinetics. This may help to resolve optimal dose, frequency, length of administration, timing of delivery to food intake and choice of zinc compound. It appears that long-term preventive supplementation can be administered much less frequently than daily but more research needs to be undertaken to better understand how best to intervene with zinc in children at risk of zinc deficiency. Stable isotope techniques, linked with saturation response and compartmental modelling, also have the potential to assist in the continued search for simple markers of zinc status in health, malnutrition and disease.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Feces; Humans; Isotopes; Nutritional Status; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Zinc
PubMed: 26035248
DOI: 10.3390/nu7064271