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Zinc as an Alternative Signal to Calcium
Author(s) -
Rink Lothar,
Haase Hajo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.lb408
Subject(s) - intracellular , zinc , calcium , calcium in biology , chemistry , biophysics , immune system , cytosol , stimulation , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , endocrinology , biology , immunology , enzyme , organic chemistry
Cytosolic alterations of calcium ion concentrations are an integral part of signal transduction. Similar functions have been hypothesized for other metal ions, in particular zinc (Zn2+), but this still awaits experimental verification. Zn2+ is important for multiple cellular functions, especially in the immune system. Here we show that an increase of intracellular zinc ion concentration could be observed after specific cell stimulation by lipopolysaccharide, phorbolester, cytokines and other stimulants in T cells, monocytes, HEK cells and other cell types. However, an increase of the intracellular zinc ion concentration is not observed after every cell activation, but is stimulant‐dependent and alternative to calcium. For example, the phorbolester PMA induced an increase in intracellular zinc in Jurkat T cells, whereas the lectin phytohemagglutinin induced an increase in calcium. Furthermore, calcium and zinc signals are completely independent since the mercury‐induced zinc release still happens after exhaustion of intracellular calcium stores. In conclusion this function of Zn2+ is not limited to cells of the immune system, but seems to be another generalized signalling system based on intracellular fluctuations of metal ion concentration, acting parallel to Ca2+. This generalized role of zinc may explain the multiple effects observed in zinc deficiency.