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Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 16, 2019
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B cell activation and proliferation increase intracellular zinc levels
Johanna Ollig1, Veronika Kloubert1, Kathryn M Taylor2
1Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
|November 19, 2018
Summary
Cellular proliferation and activation, not immortalization, elevate intracellular free zinc levels. This finding is crucial for understanding homeostasis and cancer, highlighting the role of zinc transporters like ZIP7.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Zinc ions are critical second messengers regulating cell proliferation and homeostasis.
- Altered zinc transporter expression, leading to elevated intracellular zinc, is observed in cancer cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cell immortalization versus proliferation in elevating intracellular free zinc.
- To examine zinc transporter expression and intracellular zinc levels in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells.
Main Methods:
- Human B cells were infected with EBV to create immortalized cells.
- ZIP7 RNA and protein expression, and ZIP7 phosphorylation were analyzed.
- Intracellular free zinc levels were measured in EBV-transformed cells, in vitro activated B cells, and freshly isolated activated B cells.
Main Results:
- EBV-transformed B cells exhibited increased ZIP7 RNA and protein expression and phosphorylation.
- Elevated intracellular free zinc levels were detected in EBV-transformed B cells.
- Both in vitro activated B cells and freshly isolated activated B cells showed comparatively increased intracellular zinc levels.
Conclusions:
- Cell activation and proliferation are key factors in elevating intracellular free zinc.
- Immortalization itself does not appear to be the primary driver of increased intracellular zinc.
- These findings contribute to understanding zinc homeostasis and its dysregulation in cancer.
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