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Biomolecules
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Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition
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Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2025) | Viewed by 15018

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xiang-Ping Chu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108-2792, USA
Interests: acid-sensing ion channel; zinc; glucose; patch-clamp recording; stroke; drug addiction; brain injury
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following a very successful first run, we are pleased to announce the launch of a second edition of the Special Issue “Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions”.

Zinc, the second most prevalent trace element in the body, functions as a signaling molecule that regulates a variety of physiological activities. Evidence from both basic and clinical studies suggests the importance of zinc homeostasis in physiological condition and disease states. For example, zinc, via the modulation of a variety of targets, is critical for maintaining the balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition, while an imbalance between excitation and inhibition may cause seizures. However, the relationship between zinc signaling and disease states is complex, as both extracellular and intracellular zinc can produce either protective or detrimental effects. This Special Issue welcomes studies that provide functional (cellular and molecular) evidence on the involvement of zinc in physiology, pathology or pharmacology, as well as those exploring the potential of targeting biomolecules associated with zinc signaling or homeostasis as a therapeutic strategy. Original manuscripts and reviews focused on any aspects of zinc are also encouraged.

Dr. Xiang-Ping Chu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • zinc
  • physiology
  • disease
  • regulation/modulation
  • function
  • pathology

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 137 KiB  
Editorial
Zinc in Health and Disease Condition—2nd Edition
by Xiang-Ping Chu, Qian Jiang and Yuyang Chu
Biomolecules 2025, 15(5), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050609 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 152
Abstract
Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes, including immune function, antioxidant defense, cellular signaling, and growth [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition)

Research

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18 pages, 3694 KiB  
Article
ASIC1a-Dependent Potentiation of Acid-Sensing Ion Channel Currents by Cyanide
by Qian Jiang, Felix Yang, Amber Sun, Yuyang Chu, Joseph Cascone, Dylan Glaser and Xiang-Ping Chu
Biomolecules 2025, 15(4), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040479 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Cyanide (CN) is a potent, fast-acting toxicant that impacts endogenous biomolecules in the nervous system, including acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which play a vital role in various neurological and psychological conditions. Here, we demonstrate that CN rapidly potentiates ASIC currents in cultured mouse [...] Read more.
Cyanide (CN) is a potent, fast-acting toxicant that impacts endogenous biomolecules in the nervous system, including acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which play a vital role in various neurological and psychological conditions. Here, we demonstrate that CN rapidly potentiates ASIC currents in cultured mouse cortical neurons in a dose-dependent manner while causing a leftward shift in the pH dose–response curve. Notably, this potentiation was unaffected by a 30-min CN treatment or the presence of ATP in the recording pipette. Further investigations into the role of zinc revealed that TPEN, a high-affinity zinc chelator, did not enhance ASIC currents following CN pretreatment, nor did CN influence the potentiation of ASIC currents induced by TPEN. Low-affinity zinc blocked the potentiation of ASIC currents by CN. CN potentiated ASIC currents in cortical neurons from ASIC2 but not from ASIC1a knockout mice. In experiments with CHO cells expressing homomeric ASIC1a and heteromeric ASIC1a/2, CN potentiated ASIC1a currents but had no effect on homomeric ASIC1b, ASIC2a, or ASIC3 channels. Mutating lysine 133 (K133) to arginine (R) in the extracellular domain of ASIC1a abolished CN’s effect, suggesting that CN potentiates ASIC1a currents primarily via high-affinity zinc binding, with K133 being critical for this modulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 1530 KiB  
Article
Zinc Protects against Swine Barn Dust-Induced Cilia Slowing
by Christopher D. Bauer, Deanna D. Mosley, Derrick R. Samuelson, Jill A. Poole, Deandra R. Smith, Daren L. Knoell and Todd A. Wyatt
Biomolecules 2024, 14(7), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14070843 - 12 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1573
Abstract
Agricultural workers exposed to organic dust from swine concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have increased chances of contracting chronic lung disease. Mucociliary clearance represents a first line of defense against inhaled dusts, but organic dust extracts (ODEs) from swine barns cause cilia slowing, [...] Read more.
Agricultural workers exposed to organic dust from swine concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have increased chances of contracting chronic lung disease. Mucociliary clearance represents a first line of defense against inhaled dusts, but organic dust extracts (ODEs) from swine barns cause cilia slowing, leading to decreased bacterial clearance and increased lung inflammation. Because nutritional zinc deficiency is associated with chronic lung disease, we examined the role of zinc supplementation in ODE-mediated cilia slowing. Ciliated mouse tracheal epithelial cells were pretreated with 0–10 µg/mL ZinProTM for 1 h, followed by treatment with 5% ODE for 24 h. Cilia beat frequency (CBF) and protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) activity were assayed. ODE treatment resulted in cilia slowing after 24 h, which was reversed with 0.5 and 1.0 µg/mL ZinPro pre-treatment. No zinc protection was observed at 50 ng/mL, and ciliated cells detached at high concentrations (100 µg/mL). ZinPro alone produced no changes in the baseline CBF and showed no toxicity to the cells at concentrations of up to 10 µg/mL. Pre-treatment with ZinPro inhibited ODE-stimulated PKCε activation in a dose-dependent manner. Based on ZinPro’s superior cell permeability compared to zinc salts, it may be therapeutically more effective at reversing ODE-mediated cilia slowing through a PKCε pathway. These data demonstrate that zinc supplementation may support the mucociliary transport apparatus in the protection of CAFO workers against dust-mediated chronic lung disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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22 pages, 1014 KiB  
Review
Zinc Deficiency and Zinc Supplementation in Allergic Diseases
by Martina Maywald and Lothar Rink
Biomolecules 2024, 14(7), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14070863 - 19 Jul 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5359
Abstract
In recent decades, it has become clear that allergic diseases are on the rise in both Western and developing countries. The exact reason for the increase in prevalence has not been conclusively clarified yet. Multidimensional approaches are suspected in which diet and nutrition [...] Read more.
In recent decades, it has become clear that allergic diseases are on the rise in both Western and developing countries. The exact reason for the increase in prevalence has not been conclusively clarified yet. Multidimensional approaches are suspected in which diet and nutrition seem to play a particularly important role. Allergic diseases are characterized by a hyper-reactive immune system to usually harmless allergens, leading to chronic inflammatory diseases comprising respiratory diseases like asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR), allergic skin diseases like atopic dermatitis (AD), and food allergies. There is evidence that diet can have a positive or negative influence on both the development and severity of allergic diseases. In particular, the intake of the essential trace element zinc plays a very important role in modulating the immune response, which was first demonstrated around 60 years ago. The most prevalent type I allergies are mainly based on altered immunoglobulin (Ig)E and T helper (Th)2 cytokine production, leading to type 2 inflammation. This immune status can also be observed during zinc deficiency and can be positively influenced by zinc supplementation. The underlying immunological mechanisms are very complex and multidimensional. Since zinc supplements vary in dose and bioavailability, and clinical trials often differ in design and structure, different results can be observed. Therefore, different results are not surprising. However, the current literature suggests a link between zinc deficiency and the development of allergies, and shows positive effects of zinc supplementation on modulating the immune system and reducing allergic symptoms, which are discussed in more detail in this review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 2501 KiB  
Review
Zinc, Copper, and Calcium: A Triangle in the Synapse for the Pathogenesis of Vascular-Type Senile Dementia
by Masahiro Kawahara, Ken-ichiro Tanaka and Midori Kato-Negishi
Biomolecules 2024, 14(7), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14070773 - 28 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1537
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential for normal brain functions. In particular, Zn and Cu are released to synaptic clefts during neuronal excitation. Synaptic Zn and Cu regulate neuronal excitability, maintain calcium (Ca) homeostasis, and play central roles in memory formation. However, [...] Read more.
Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential for normal brain functions. In particular, Zn and Cu are released to synaptic clefts during neuronal excitation. Synaptic Zn and Cu regulate neuronal excitability, maintain calcium (Ca) homeostasis, and play central roles in memory formation. However, in pathological conditions such as transient global ischemia, excess Zn is secreted to synaptic clefts, which causes neuronal death and can eventually trigger the pathogenesis of a vascular type of senile dementia. We have previously investigated the characteristics of Zn-induced neurotoxicity and have demonstrated that low concentrations of Cu can exacerbate Zn neurotoxicity. Furthermore, during our pharmacological approaches to clarify the molecular pathways of Cu-enhanced Zn-induced neurotoxicity, we have revealed the involvement of Ca homeostasis disruption. In the present review, we discuss the roles of Zn and Cu in the synapse, as well as the crosstalk between Zn, Cu, and Ca, which our study along with other recent studies suggest may underlie the pathogenesis of vascular-type senile dementia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition)
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25 pages, 501 KiB  
Review
The Role of Zinc in Developed Countries in Pediatric Patients: A 360-Degree View
by Flavia Padoan, Elena Piccoli, Angelo Pietrobelli, Luis A. Moreno, Giorgio Piacentini and Luca Pecoraro
Biomolecules 2024, 14(6), 718; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14060718 - 17 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2686
Abstract
Zinc is an important trace element for growth and health at pediatric ages. Zinc is fundamental in inflammatory pathways, oxidative balance, and immune function. Zinc exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by modulating Nuclear Factor-kappa (NF-κB) activity and reducing histamine release from basophils, leukocytes, and mast [...] Read more.
Zinc is an important trace element for growth and health at pediatric ages. Zinc is fundamental in inflammatory pathways, oxidative balance, and immune function. Zinc exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by modulating Nuclear Factor-kappa (NF-κB) activity and reducing histamine release from basophils, leukocytes, and mast cells. Furthermore, its antioxidant activity protects against oxidative damage and chronic diseases. Finally, zinc improves the ability to trigger effective immune responses against pathogens by contributing to the maturation of lymphocytes, the production of cytokines, and the regulation of apoptosis. Given these properties, zinc can be considered an adjunctive therapy in treating and preventing respiratory, nephrological, and gastrointestinal diseases, both acute and chronic. This review aims to deepen the role and metabolism of zinc, focusing on the role of supplementation in developed countries in pediatric diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition)
22 pages, 1292 KiB  
Review
Modulation of Adverse Health Effects of Environmental Cadmium Exposure by Zinc and Its Transporters
by Ana Cirovic, Aleksandar Cirovic, Supabhorn Yimthiang, David A. Vesey and Soisungwan Satarug
Biomolecules 2024, 14(6), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14060650 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2531
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) is the second most abundant metal in the human body and is essential for the function of 10% of all proteins. As metals cannot be synthesized or degraded, they must be assimilated from the diet by specialized transport proteins, which unfortunately [...] Read more.
Zinc (Zn) is the second most abundant metal in the human body and is essential for the function of 10% of all proteins. As metals cannot be synthesized or degraded, they must be assimilated from the diet by specialized transport proteins, which unfortunately also provide an entry route for the toxic metal pollutant cadmium (Cd). The intestinal absorption of Zn depends on the composition of food that is consumed, firstly the amount of Zn itself and then the quantity of other food constituents such as phytate, protein, and calcium (Ca). In cells, Zn is involved in the regulation of intermediary metabolism, gene expression, cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and antioxidant defense mechanisms. The cellular influx, efflux, subcellular compartmentalization, and trafficking of Zn are coordinated by transporter proteins, solute-linked carriers 30A and 39A (SLC30A and SLC39A), known as the ZnT and Zrt/Irt-like protein (ZIP). Because of its chemical similarity with Zn and Ca, Cd disrupts the physiological functions of both. The concurrent induction of a Zn efflux transporter ZnT1 (SLC30A1) and metallothionein by Cd disrupts the homeostasis and reduces the bioavailability of Zn. The present review highlights the increased mortality and the severity of various diseases among Cd-exposed persons and the roles of Zn and other transport proteins in the manifestation of Cd cytotoxicity. Special emphasis is given to Zn intake levels that may lower the risk of vision loss and bone fracture associated with Cd exposure. The difficult challenge of determining a permissible intake level of Cd is discussed in relation to the recommended dietary Zn intake levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc in Health and Disease Conditions: 2nd Edition)
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