LAUSR

Zinc deficiency is rapidly emerging as one of the important concerns in public health nutrition. Early diagnosis of zinc deficiency remains a major challenge. We investigated the expression level of different zinc transporters in zinc-deficient condition induced by TPEN, an intracellular zinc chelator in different cell lines like human monocyte (THP-1), skeletal muscle (RD), bone (Saos-2), liver (HepG2), representing different tissues which play key roles in zinc homeostasis. Cells were exposed to TPEN at various concentrations (2, 5, 10 μM) for 2 to12 h and mRNA levels of ZnT1 and MT were analyzed using qPCR. Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way ANOVA. ZnT1 expression was significantly different at 4 h with TPEN concentration of 2 μM and 5 μM as compared to untreated controls in THP-1, whereas in HepG2, significant differences were observed at 5 μM and 10 μM TPEN concentration after 6 h. In RD, significant differences were observed at 4 h in presence of 2 μM TPEN and in Saos2 expression was significantly different at 2 h with 2 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM TPEN as compared to respective controls. Expression of MT in THP1 was significantly different at 2 h and 12 h control in presence of 2 μM, 5 μM and 10 μM TPEN, whereas in HepG2 significant differences were found at 2 μM, 5 μM, and 10 μM TPEN after 6 h of treatment. RD MT expression was significantly different in 10 μM for 12 h. Similarly, Saos2 expression was significantly different in the presence of 5 μM and 10 μM TPEN. Conclusions: This study may help in understanding the molecular cross talks among different zinc tissue storage depots during zinc deficiency and identification of early biomarkers for zinc deficiency.