Zinc depletion during diabetes projects a role for zinc nutrition in this condition. This study explored whether zinc supplementation annuls diabetes-induced zinc dyshomeostasis through modulation of zinc transporters and metallothionein. Groups of hyperglycemic rats were exposed for six weeks to supplemental zinc (5 or 10-times the normal level). Intracellular zinc concentration and zinc transporter and metallothionein expression levels in different tissues were analysed. Depleted zinc concentrations in different organs were restored by zinc supplementation. Zinc ions cross biological membranes with the aid of membrane proteins, belonging to zinc transporter families – ZIPs (responsible for the influx) and ZnTs (responsible for intracellular traffic/efflux). Up-regulated expression levels of zinc efflux proteins and influx proteins were beneficially modulated by zinc treatment, which also induced metallothionein expression in tissues to mitigate oxidative stress. Thus, zinc supplementation has a significant benefit in controlling zinc fluxes during diabetes, exerted through a protective influence on the modulation of the expression of zinc transporters and metallothionein.

中文翻译：

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锌的补充通过调节锌转运蛋白和金属硫蛋白的表达来减轻实验性糖尿病大鼠的动态平衡障碍。

在这种情况下，糖尿病期间的锌耗竭对锌营养起着重要作用。这项研究探讨了锌的补充是否通过调节锌转运蛋白和金属硫蛋白消除了糖尿病引起的锌动态异常。高血糖大鼠组暴露于补充锌中达六周（正常水平的五倍或十倍）。分析了不同组织中细胞内锌的浓度，锌转运蛋白和金属硫蛋白的表达水平。通过补充锌可以恢复不同器官中锌的消耗。锌离子借助膜蛋白跨过生物膜，属于锌转运蛋白家族-ZIP（负责流入）和ZnT（负责细胞内运输/流出）。锌处理有效地调节了锌外排蛋白和流入蛋白的表达水平，这也诱导了组织中金属硫蛋白的表达以减轻氧化应激。因此，通过对锌转运蛋白和金属硫蛋白表达的调节产生保护性作用，补充锌对控制糖尿病期间的锌通量具有显着的益处。