The most important proteins regulating cellular zinc homeostasis belong to two protein families of zinc transporters, the solute carrier family 30 (SLC30A) and solute carrier family 39 (SLC39A). We aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the SLC30A and SLC39A genes and its association with blood and vaginal tissue zinc levels since vaginal tissue zinc level may play a role in vaginal remodeling and pathological conditions of the vagina. Blood and vaginal tissue samples were collected from women undergoing surgery for benign gynecological reasons. SNPs of twenty-four zinc transporters were determined by PCR/Sequence method, and the concentration of zinc was assessed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Sequencing of selected exons revealed 16 SNPs, including five previously unidentified SNPs. Our data showed an association between the number of SNPs (more than six SNPs vs. less than six) per patient and high zinc vaginal tissue levels (67% vs. 33%, p < 0.01). The SLC39A4 SNP 590c A (rs17855765) was significantly more frequent in the group of women with high zinc vaginal tissue levels compared to the group without SNP (93% vs. 7%, p = 0.02). Also, our analysis revealed that the number of SNPs in SLC39A4 was significantly more frequent in patients with low zinc blood levels (76% vs. 24%, p = 0.01). Our findings indicate that different SNPs of the zinc transporter genes may have a significant effect on the blood and vaginal tissue zinc levels.

调节细胞锌稳态的最重要蛋白质属于锌转运蛋白的两个蛋白质家族，溶质载体家族 30 (SLC30A) 和溶质载体家族 39 (SLC39A)。我们旨在鉴定 SLC30A 和 SLC39A 基因的单核苷酸多态性 (SNP) 及其与血液和阴道组织锌水平的关联，因为阴道组织锌水平可能在阴道重塑和阴道病理状况中发挥作用。从因良性妇科原因接受手术的女性采集血液和阴道组织样本。采用PCR/Sequence法测定24个锌转运蛋白的SNP，采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定锌浓度。选定外显子的测序揭示了 16 个 SNP，包括 5 个以前未识别的 SNP。我们的数据显示每名患者的 SNP 数量（超过 6 个 SNP 对少于 6 个）与高锌阴道组织水平（67% 对 33%，p < 0.01）之间存在关联。与没有 SNP 的组相比，具有高锌阴道组织水平的女性组中 SLC39A4 SNP 590c A (rs17855765) 的频率明显更高（93% 对 7%，p = 0.02）。此外，我们的分析显示，SLC39A4 中 SNP 的数量在低锌血液水平的患者中明显更频繁（76% 对 24%，p = 0.01）。我们的研究结果表明，锌转运蛋白基因的不同 SNP 可能对血液和阴道组织的锌水平有显着影响。与没有 SNP 的组相比，具有高锌阴道组织水平的女性组中 SLC39A4 SNP 590c A (rs17855765) 的频率明显更高（93% 对 7%，p = 0.02）。此外，我们的分析显示，SLC39A4 中 SNP 的数量在低锌血液水平的患者中明显更频繁（76% 对 24%，p = 0.01）。我们的研究结果表明，锌转运蛋白基因的不同 SNP 可能对血液和阴道组织的锌水平有显着影响。与没有 SNP 的组相比，具有高锌阴道组织水平的女性组中 SLC39A4 SNP 590c A (rs17855765) 的频率明显更高（93% 对 7%，p = 0.02）。此外，我们的分析显示，SLC39A4 中 SNP 的数量在低锌血液水平的患者中明显更频繁（76% 对 24%，p = 0.01）。我们的研究结果表明，锌转运蛋白基因的不同 SNP 可能对血液和阴道组织的锌水平有显着影响。