title: Zinc as an essential trace element in the acceleration of matrix vesicles-mediated mineral deposition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc (Zn) has a potent stimulatory effect on osteoblastic bone formation and an inhibitory effect on osteoclastic bone resorption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The effect of Zn on the function of matrix vesicles (MVs) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Zn on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of osteoblasts and in the initial biological MVs-mediated mineral deposition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Osteoblasts were treated with varying concentrations of Zn dissolved in culture medium. After three, five, and seven days of culture, ALP activity was assayed. For the detection of a low level of calcium concentration in MVs, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were applied. The effect of Zn for the transformation of calcium phosphate was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope fitted with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ALP activity of osteoblasts in culture medium supplemented with 1 × 10(-5) M of Zn was significantly increased at both five and seven days. XRF data demonstrated higher levels of calcium concentration over time in the Zn-supplemented group. EDX data showed that mineral deposits beginning on day 3 were transformed from whitlockite to calcium phosphate near hydroxyapatite, and that Zn accelerated this transformation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proper concentration of Zn increased the ALP activity of osteoblasts after five and seven days of incubation. The present XRF and EDX data suggest that the increase of mineral deposition with Zn exposure for one to five days might be mediated by the activation of ALP and calcium-binding proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawakubo
authors.forename: Tsunenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishizaki
authors.forename: Shizuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D008903:Minerals; D014131:Trace Elements; C020243:calcium phosphate; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D015032:Zinc