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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
Zinc Transporters in Diseases, Including Diabetes and Related Conditions
Wenjun Xu1, Xuan Wang1, Yukun Gao1
1Institute for Regenerative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Cardiology and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Zinc is an essential trace element that participates in a wide range of physiological processes. Cellular zinc homeostasis is tightly controlled by two families of transporters: the Zrt/Irt-like protein (ZIP/SLC39) family, which mediates zinc influx into the cytoplasm, and the zinc transporter (ZnT/SLC30) family, which facilitates zinc efflux or sequestration into intracellular organelles. Growing evidence implicates dysregulated expression or function of zinc transporters in the onset and progression of diverse pathological conditions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular regulation and recent advances on ZIPs and ZnTs in diabetes and related disorders, including obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and immune dysregulation. We also discuss ongoing scientific controversies regarding the mechanistic roles of zinc transporters, particularly ZnT8, in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Finally, we provide perspectives on the translational potential of zinc transporter-targeted strategies in precision medicine.
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