Zinc metabolism in airway epithelium and airway inflammation: basic mechanisms and clinical targets. A review.
In addition to basic housekeeping roles in metalloenzymes and transcription factors, dietary zinc (Zn) is an important immunoregulatory agent, growth cofactor, and cytoprotectant with anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory roles. These properties of Zn are of particular importance in maintaining homeostasis of epithelial tissues which are at the front line of defense. This review is about the role of Zn in airway epithelium (AE). The first part focuses on the cellular biology of Zn, and what is known about its distribution and function in AE. The second part of the review considers evidence for altered Zn metabolism in asthma and other chronic diseases of airway inflammation. Important issues arise from a potential therapeutic perspective as to the optimal ways to monitor circulating and epithelial Zn levels in patients and the most effective means of supplementing these levels.
Zalewski
Peter D
PD
Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia 5011, Australia. peterzalewski@adelaide.edu.au
Truong-Tran
Ai Q
AQ
Grosser
Dion
D
Jayaram
Lata
L
Murgia
Chiara
C
Ruffin
Richard E
RE
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
D015032:Zinc