Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
07:55
Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
1.7K
Zinc transporters and cardiac pathophysiology
Xinxin Cheng1, Huanhuan Zhao1, Qi Zhang2
1Department of Physiology & Pathophysiology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine
|February 20, 2026
Summary
Zinc is vital for heart health, regulating key functions through transporters. Imbalances in zinc (dyshomeostasis) contribute to cardiovascular diseases, highlighting transporters as potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Trace Element Metabolism
- Molecular Cardiology
Background:
- Zinc is an essential trace element crucial for cardiac structure and function.
- It regulates oxidative stress, mitochondrial homeostasis, and intracellular signaling.
- Zinc homeostasis relies on transporters (ZIP and ZnT families) and sensors (e.g., PIAS3).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of zinc dyshomeostasis in cardiac pathophysiology.
- To highlight the roles of zinc transporters in cardiovascular diseases.
- To identify zinc transporters as potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current advances in zinc metabolism and cardiovascular disease.
- Analysis of the roles of specific zinc transporters (ZIP2, ZIP7, ZIP8, ZIP13, ZIP14, ZnT1, ZnT5) and sensors (PIAS3).
- Discussion of the implications of zinc dysregulation in conditions like ischemia/reperfusion injury and diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Main Results:
- Zinc transporters (SLC39A/ZIP and SLC30A/ZnT families) play critical, context-dependent roles in cardiac physiology and pathology.
- Dysregulation of these transporters is linked to various cardiovascular diseases.
- Zinc-responsive sensors modulate transporter expression to maintain homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- Zinc dyshomeostasis is implicated in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases.
- Zinc transporters represent promising targets for novel therapeutic strategies in cardiology.
- Further research into zinc transport mechanisms could unlock new treatments for heart conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:44The Significance of Membrane Transport
42.9K
The transport of solutes across the cell membrane is essential for metabolic processes, like maintaining cell size and volume, generating the action potential, exchanging nutrients and gases, etc. Membrane transport can be either passive or active. It can be simple diffusion, facilitated, or mediated transport aided by transport proteins such as transporters and channels.
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
42.9K
01:29Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance
1.7K
Typical heart performance is influenced by heart rate, rhythm, myocardial contraction, and metabolism or blood flow. The cardiac muscle exhibits distinct electrophysiological features, including pacemaker activity and calcium channel control, which play a vital role in the heart's response to various drugs. The autonomic nervous system, comprising the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, regulates heart rate. Sympathetic activation increases heart rate, while parasympathetic activation...
1.7K
01:14Active Transport
2.3K
Active transport is a critical biological process that allows cells to move solutes against an electrochemical gradient. This process requires direct energy input and is characterized by its selectivity, saturability, and susceptibility to competitive inhibition.
Primary active transporters, like Na+, K+ and -ATPase, directly utilize ATP to move ions across the membrane. These transporters play significant roles in various physiological processes. For instance, Na+, K+ and -ATPase maintain...
Primary active transporters, like Na+, K+ and -ATPase, directly utilize ATP to move ions across the membrane. These transporters play significant roles in various physiological processes. For instance, Na+, K+ and -ATPase maintain...
2.3K
01:23Transcellular Transport of Solutes
4.9K
Transcellular transport of solutes is the movement of substances like monosaccharides and amino acids through polarized cells. This transport mechanism is primarily seen in epithelial and endothelial cells aided by membrane transport proteins such as channels and transporters. The tight junctions between these cells confine the membrane proteins to the two sides of the cell. The epithelial cells have distinct apical and basolateral domains. In contrast, the endothelial cells show the luminal...
4.9K
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
1.1K
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
1.1K
01:19Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm
9.9K
The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase...
9.9K