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Review
. 2010 Oct;80(4-5):243-8.
doi: 10.1024/0300-9831/a000030.

Gastrointestinal factors influencing zinc absorption and homeostasis

Robert J Cousins  1
Affiliations
Review

Gastrointestinal factors influencing zinc absorption and homeostasis

Robert J Cousins. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2010 Oct.

Abstract

Diet-derived luminal factors have a major influence on zinc available for uptake across the apical membrane of enterocytes. Malabsorption and possibly intestinal microbiota limit this zinc availability. The transporter ZIP4 is expressed along the entire gastrointestinal tract and acts as a major processor of dietary zinc for loading into enterocytes from the apical membrane. Zip4 and other Zip family genes expressed in the gastrointestinal tract are up-regulated in periods of dietary zinc restriction. This provides for powerful homeostatic control. The transporter ZIP14 is up-regulated along the entire gastrointestinal tract by proinflammatory conditions. Intracellular transporters such as ZnT7, influence the transcellular movement of zinc across the enterocyte. Metallothionein, an intracellular metal buffer, and the transporter ZnT1 at the basolateral membrane, regulate the amount of zinc released to the portal circulation for systemic distribution. Pancreatic release of zinc by acinar cells is through the secretory process and apical membrane and involves transporters ZnT2 and ZnT1, respectively. Expression of both transporters is zinc-responsive. Enterocytes and acinar cells constitutively express Zip5 at the basolateral membrane, where it may serve as a monitor of zinc status.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of major zinc transporters expressed in intestinal epithelial cells. ZIP4 is a major importer and is regulated by zinc. ZIP14 is responsive to proinflammatory conditions and is postulated to be at both the apical and basolateral surface of enterocytes. ZnT1 and ZIP5 influence zinc traffi cking at the basolateral membrane. ZnT7 influences the apparent transcellular movement of zinc.
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