ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Zinc homeostasis is regulated by ZnT and Zip zinc transporters. Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) is localized in insulin containing secretory granule membrane and transports zinc from the cytosol into the vesicles. ZnT8 was identified on peripheral lymphocytes, in subcutaneous adipose tissue, in a pancreatic β-cells and extra-pancreatic endocrine glands including pituitary, adrenal and thyroid. Autoantibodies to the ZnT8 are detected in the majority of type 1 diabe...

Zinc (Zn) is a crucial trace mineral that regulates the expression and activation of biological molecules such as transcription factors, enzymes, adapters, channels, and growth factors, along with their receptors. Bioinformatics analysis of the human genome discloses that Zn may bind ~ 10% of all of the proteins found in the human organism. This remarkable finding highlights the physiological significance of Zn in molecules involved in cellular processes and thereby i...

Background: Recent studies have revealed the presence of zinc and the expression of zinc transporter (ZnT) family members in most endocrine cell types. It has been demonstrated that the ZnT family plays an important role in the synthesis and secretion of different hormones. Furthermore, ZnT8Ab (zinc transporter-8 autoantibodies) together with GADAb (glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies), IAA (insulin autoantibodies) and IA-2Ab (islet antigen-2 antibodies) are markers of auto...